Felix Travels Shut Down After Ripping Off Holidaymakers
A travel agency has been hauled before the High Court and shut down after bungling holidays and leaving customers out of pocket. Felix Travels and Tours Limited (FTT) cancelled trips at the last minute and failed to deliver what holidaymakers paid for, forcing hundreds to fork out again for hotels, transfers, and park passes.
300 Customers Owed Nearly £600,000
- Felix Travels, trading as Felix Holidays, folded at London’s High Court on 2 July.
- They sold packages including flights, accommodation, transfers, Disneyland tickets, and ski passes.
- But many clients got short-changed, some having to rebook essentials from other companies.
- Almost 300 customers are chasing close to £600,000 in refunds.
Holiday Horror Stories
Some holidaymakers who paid in full arrived at their destinations only to find parts of their packages missing. Others had their trips cancelled with minimal notice, leaving them stranded or scrambling for last-minute replacements.
Call centre staff reportedly told customers on payment plans to stop paying up when it became clear the holidays couldn’t be fulfilled.
“Felix Travels claimed to be a trusted travel agency, but many customers had packages cancelled last minute or were left without paid services,” said Cheryl Lambert, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service.
“Around a quarter of their customers are owed refunds nearing £600,000. Such objectionable trading left us no choice but to push for the company’s closure to protect future travellers.”
Misleading Customers About ATOL Protection
FTT falsely led customers to believe their holidays were covered by ATOL protection. A legitimate travel agency working with FTT cut ties and reported them to Action Fraud. The company, set up in April 2020 with a call centre in Sri Lanka, stopped trading by February 2023, failing to pay suppliers and keep operations running.
Trade suppliers are also owed around £7,000.
Insolvency Service Investigates
Since August 2023, FTT has refused to fully cooperate or provide current financial accounts amid investigations. The Insolvency Service is working to recover money for affected customers and suppliers.
If you booked with Felix Travels and were left out of pocket, it’s vital to seek advice on your refund options.
