Leicestershire family stranded in hotel after holiday firm collapses
A family have been left living on hand-outs from other guests on a Spanish holiday after the collapse of their tour operator.
Kimbra Ball, from Wigston, her daughter Remi , 15, and son Sam, 12, have also been hiding from hotel staff, who threatened to throw them out of their room.
-
Calella de Mar in Catalonia
They have been relying on hastily-arranged loans following the collapse of tour operator Sun4U.
Their nightmare ordeal in Calella de Mar, in Catalonia, is because, although the family paid £1,020 for an all-inclusive package deal, starting last Wednesday, Sun4U had not forwarded the money to the hotel.
When the firm when into administration, staff refused to serve them meals or clean their room until Ms Ball paid up.
She refused to leave and has spent the trip in a cat-and-mouse game avoiding staff at the H-Top Olympic hotel.
The holiday is covered by the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) financial protection scheme meaning Ms Ball could claim back any expenses for alternative accommodation and food.
But she did not have the money to pay the hotel.
The 40-year-old teaching assistant at Water Leys Primary School, Wigston Fields, said: "We've been walking around on eggshells, trying to dodge the staff in case they try to make us leave.
"It is supposed to be an all-inclusive holiday, but the hotel won't give us any meals so we are having to eat out but I don't really have the money to do that.
"Because it was all inclusive and pre-paid, I didn't think we would need that much money.
"I don't even have a credit card.
"Some of the other guests have been giving us rolls and drinks to help us out.
" I'm proud and I don't like to accept charity, but we have had no choice."
Ms Ball, who is going through a divorce, has borrowed £200 from a friend in Spain to tide the family over.
Ms Ball added: "We contacted ATOL but they said we should just pay again and claim the money back. I can't afford to do that.
"This is the first time I have been abroad on my own with the kids.
"It was supposed to be a nice relaxing break for us to help us forget about some of the problems at home but it has become a complete nightmare. I just keep breaking down in tears and I don't like the kids to see me like that."
Ms Ball's father, Trevor Backus, from Wigston, said: "Kim's quite a tough one but this has all been too much for her. All she wanted was a nice week away and this has happened."
As reported in Saturday's Mercury, a 36-strong Leicester party look set to miss out on a package tour to Majorca they paid more than £12,000 for.
Five generations of the Breaker family have been told by their hotel that they will have to pay again.
Family member Paul Burdett, 37, from Oadby, said: "If we can all scrape the money together in the next two weeks, we could still go but it is looking really unlikely now."
Nobody from Sun4U was available to comment.
13 Comments
View all
by Bumble, LFE
Thursday, August 19 2010, 1:13AM
“Peter, single parents are entitled to go away too you know. I am sure she has worked hard saved up her cash and gone away only to then find issues she has not the cash to sort out. We have just returned from holiday, 2 professionals on a decent wage with a teenager , we had saved up and booked earlier this year. The week before we went our car went for its MOT and failed needing much work paying for (more than anticipated and for a car that was just 3 years old), then my partners car was damaged as a result of vandalism, the cat then decided he would climb a tree, being blind in one eye, couldn't get down and fell out of it - vets bill. No matter whether you plan well, save everything you have and go away, sometimes events mean you do not have the funds to cover everything. Lucky for some that they have friends or relatives that can help out with accomodation, flights and food at the drop of a hat.”
by paula swain, anon
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 8:53PM
“we went to that hotel 6 weeks ago and most of the staff there are quite rude. we got told our transfer from hotel to airport was at 6.15am in fact it was at 5.15 and we missed it so the our last bit of cash had to go on a taxi which cost us 60 euros and that was to pay our carpark fees back at the east mids airport, the reception staff did nothing to help us at all, they just shuffed there shoulders.”
by John, Leicester
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 9:36PM
“Hardly the most important news item of the day I think. Presumably there was no travel insurance taken out.”
by Richard Dalby, Mablethorpe
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 8:16PM
“Mr.LFE you can't just jump on the next plane like a bus--I had to come back unexpectedly a few years ago for a family tragedy(our daughter in law died and her unborn child only lived a short time) and it took us 3 days of constant trying until we managed to get aflight back--and then we could only get to Cardiff --even though we lived in Leicester.That was all that was available!!She is probably unable at this time,the height of the season,to get seats for 3 people. Show a bit of sympathy -- she deserves it!!!”
by Peter, Cambridge. Massachusetts
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 3:29PM
“I have compassion, but am perplexed as to how a single parent, with two children and apparently on the edge financially, can afford to take a holiday as described. If it is as the story implies a lack of access to cash, then she is pretty irresponsible traveling. Unforeseen stuff happens on trips.
I would expect she is compensated later for all additional costs incurred. That is when a story follow up in the LM would be of value I think. In the mean time her Dad, father of the kids and friends should help her out.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 1:45PM
“Mr LFE,
What is the burden?
Don't read it. Simples.”
by G, Leicester
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 1:19PM
“Mr LFE has got one on him today not had a good word to say on any of the issues but at least its gets ya talking”
by Mr LFE, LFE
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 1:16PM
“Ah, well, y'see there anon, Leics, there's a difference in doing something about it and putting up with it, as Alan5547, leics pointed out, they could have got a flight back instead of doing the 'British' thing of putting up with it and having a miserable 'holiday' ¿ probably moaning about it for all that time!
Why burden us with this story when they could have done something about it ¿ looking for the sympathy vote, or warning people not to be as stupid?
Why burden us with this story of idocity?”
by Alan5547, leics
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 12:52PM
“I had a near-miss with a holiday company.
We got out to Majorca and the very next day the holiday company went bust
.
Fortunately they had paid the hotel and flight bills and we were not affected but it was a close call.
I hope this family get themselves sorted soon.
If there is a lesson to be learned it would be to book with one of the larger travel companies and, use a credit card to pay for it.
good luck.”
by anon, Leics
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 12:46PM
“Mr LFE, LFE
Nice to know that there are still some people with compassion out there, I don't think! It must be wonderful to sit in your perfect ivory tower and make pointless comments on the more unfortunates amongst us. I only hope this lady can eventually put this all behind her and move on with her life. Good luck.”