The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Travel staff help holidaymakers claim refunds
THOMAS COOK: Former staff in Perth and Arbroath assisted people with Atol claims
Perth holidaymakers left out of pocket following the collapse of Thomas Cook were helped by former staff as they attempted to claw money back from their bookings yesterday.
Former employees hosted an event for customers at Willows Coffee Shop in Perth and a similar event in Arbroath.
The High Street branch will reopen under the Hays name on Monday
Former Thomas Cook staff at Perth helped customers fill out Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) refund claims made on Atol-protected bookings.
Customers included Perth couple Angela and Martin Gibson, who spent £8,000 on a holiday to Salou in Spain for nine members of their family and the first with their 16-month-old granddaughter Lacey Grant.
Angela said: “We were taking all the family. It was money that was left from my mum dying. We used all the money to take all the family on holiday. The whole holiday was paid in full.”
Hermine Damie from Perth spent £2,500 on a holiday to New York with her daughter Natalie.
She said: “We’ve booked again, so I’m just hoping to get our money back because it’s a lot of money to be forking out.”
Sisters Pat and Irene Lamond’s winter cruise to the Canaries, booked through Thomas Cook, is safe – however, the pair popped in to chat with the staff.
Pat said: “We are so happy that that travel agency is still going to be open because we really feel we need it in Perth.”
Jackie Sutherland, manager of the Perth Thomas Cook store, said: “Last week the team all sat down and decided we want to do something for our customers.”
She added: “It is a huge relief to know as of Monday I start working for Hays Travel doing the job I love doing.
“Anybody who has got claims from the CAA we’re helping them process them.
“A lot of customers have really just popped in to say hello.
“It is overwhelming for us.” Staff of the former Thomas Cook in Arbroath also hosted a help station yesterday afternoon to help customers with claims with the CAA.
Manager Stuart Betty also had some good news when he confirmed the Arbroath store has been taken over by Hays Travel and all the staff are being kept on.
The event took place in the Townhouse on the High Street.
Mr Betty said that when the axe fell they were not only devastated for themselves, but also for all their loyal customers.