Fear grips East Kilbride Holidaymakers as travel firm folds

Aug 26 2009 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

DOZENS of East Kilbride holidaymakers have been caught up in the collapse of package specialists Cambuslang Travel.

The firm, which was due to celebrate its 25th anniversary in business this year, ceased trading last week.

Alarm bells started ringing when customers tried last week to contact the firm’s office in East Kilbride or its Cambuslang headquarters.

Angela McNicol, from The Murray, told the News she had wondered if the firm was in difficulty when she visited its office in the Olympia Arcade in East Kilbride Shopping Centre last week to confirm arrangements for her holiday.

Angela is due to fly out to Tunisia in October for a much needed two-week holiday. It has been booked for many weeks to coincide with her husband, Duncan, who suffers from dementia, going into respite care.

Said Angela: “When I visited the office last week I found the staff sitting in darkness. I was told there had been a power cut but I wondered about that as there seemed to be no problems in neighbouring premises.

“Then on Friday I tried to phone them and got no answer. I had an awful feeling.

“Staff at a nearby travel agency said they had heard the firm had gone under.

“I went to their Cambuslang office and there were customers there shouting and bawling – wondering what was going to happen with their holidays.

“I have been using Cambuslang Travel for 14 or 15 years and have always been pleased with the service I received.

“My holiday for Tunisia has been fully paid and I have been given a tentative assurance by ABTA I should be able to go. But obviously I am worried – I really need this holiday. It is booked when my husband is in respite care and the friend I am going with has also booked time off and might not be able to change it.

“I don’t need the hassle and I feel really sorry for people due to go on holiday in the next week or two who will not have any idea whether or not they will be going.”

Devastated staff at Cambuslang Travel were given news of the collapse of the firm by managing director John Wilson.

The firm employed more than 25 people, some of whom have been with the company for most of its existence.

The company's website has shut down but the firm have yet to appoint a liquidator.

Any retail claims arising from the failure of Cambuslang Travel will be handled by independent claims management firm Cega.

Customers with forward bookings should e-mail abtaclaims@cegagroup.com or call 01243 621500.

An ABTA spokeswoman said people who had paid upfront should be able to claim their money back.

Those who are on Cambuslang Travel holidays are unaffected, she added.