Dream holiday turns to living nightmare
Mum left in the dark with ATOL and coronavirus
take ‘ 90 days’ the party booked a replacement two week break to Florida for April 18 on their credit cards.
Now just a month before the departure date they have still not received any money.
And the coronavirus pandemic means their trip looks likely to be cancelled yet again.
Valerie said: “It’s the first time I have ever been going away on holiday and I’m not excited. Until we are actually sitting on that plane I won’t be able to relax.
“We expected to get it back by Christmas but we need to get it back now.
“We booked this holiday assuming we would have the money in.
“It has been booked on credit cards assuming we would have that in. Are they going to pay my credit card bill because it’s running over – I don’t think so.
“ATOL and is supposed to be a safety net but for anyone that thinks it is an easy process, it definitely is not.”
Valerie says after filling her online application she heard nothing back for months until they eventually asked her to send in holiday documents and bank details.
The housewife says she sent the information by special delivery – but claims the company lost their confidential information.
The mum- of- two said: “They say the hold up is because it’s been booked on four different cards, but it should be, it’s been all broken down for them. I sent them all the information next day delivery but a month later they said they were still waiting for my bank statements.
“A manager eventually admitted that they had lost them so I have had to send them again. It just seems like an endless task.
“It’s unbelievable. That is our data protection, our bank statements, signatures, account numbers and everything. You couldn’t make it up.
“This has put me under so much stress. It’s been a long hard road and because I’m the one phoning and trying to sort it out it’s got to the point I feel I’m letting the family down.
“I know that’s not the case but that’s how I feel.”
Due to being approached by the Post, ATOL has now contacted the family to say refunds will be made.