FAMILIES in Alton and Bordon are facing a bleak Christmas this year, following the collapse of the Christmas hamper firm, Farepak. Administrators were called in to take over the company on October 13, just weeks before many customers were due to pay their final instalment. Customers will not be offered compensation and will not receive the hampers and vouchers for which they have already paid. Debbie Harman, of Manor Estate in Alton, has four children aged 15, 13, eight and four. Mrs Harman told The Herald: "We've lost £600. We had virtually paid for Christmas and the last payment was due when they went bankrupt. Now we'll have to scrape something together." Mrs Harman's whole family has been affected by the Farepak fiasco; her mother-in-law was their agent for Farepak and both her sister and sister-in-law were customers. Between the four of them, the family have lost £1,800. Debbie and her sister, Julie Bone, would normally do their Christmas shopping at the end of November after receiving their Farepak vouchers. This year though, the shopping plans have changed. "It's going to be a struggle. If I have a few spare quid in my purse and I see a nice present, then I'll buy it there and then," said Mrs Bone. Claire Cresswell, from Woodside Close in Bordon was an agent for Farepak. Mrs Cresswell had 14 of her family and friends, including herself as customers. Collectively they have lost £2,800. Referring to the unfairness of the Farepak situation, Mrs Cresswell said: "It's worse than having your house burgled - at least then there's a chance of getting your goods back." As the Farepak directors and The Halifax Bank of Scotland become embroiled in a blame game, ex-customers of Farepak are left wondering how to provide a Christmas for their families. Mrs Bone told The Herald: "The directors live in wonderful houses. They don't have to explain to their children that Father Christmas can't afford to get them the present they want. They'll get what they want." Farepak bosses are widely blaming the bank for the demise of the company, arguing that by taking back Farepak's overdraft facilities, HBOS was essentially sealing Farepak's fate. Managing director Gilodi Johnson has been quoted as saying: "Despite our efforts to resolve the situation, it was ultimately forced into receivership after HBOS terminated its long-standing credit facility. I honestly thought there was a workable solution." The Halifax Bank of Scotland however, denies these claims. A spokesman for the bank was quoted as saying it had supported Farepak "right through a difficult five months when the company had significant financial problems. "HBOS neither ran the company nor owned it". Bosses have yet to explain why they continued to take money from customers up to five months after they realised they were facing a financial crisis. Mrs Bone said: "Farepak knew in July that they were in trouble. They waited until the last possible payment before admitting the problem." So cheated do the customers of Farepak feel, they have launched their own on-line support forum called "unfairpak". The directors of Farepak have struggled to inform their customers of any developments, leaving many of them in the dark. Mrs Cresswell, who was an agent for 20 years, said: "I didn't hear anything from the company. A friend told me after he saw it in the news." It was then up to Mrs Cresswell to call her customers and tell them what she had heard. "They left me to do their dirty work. I rang the customers and told them the news on Monday. Black Monday. I felt very guilty," she added. A new charity has been launched to support the families affected by the crisis. The Farepak Response Fund has been launched by the registered charity, The Family Fund, and has already raised a substantial amount of money to help those families provide the Christmas they were dreaming of. Figures from the response fund as of Tuesday show large donations from business and individuals. Marks and Spencers and Tesco have pledged £250,000 each; Argos, Morrissons and Asda have donated £150,000; Boots and the Co-op have donated £100,000 each; WH Smith and Alliance and Leicester have pledged £25,000 to the cause. The Halifax Bank Of Scotland has given £2 million to the response fund, and the former rival hamper fund, Park Group, has given £1 million. A spokesman for the fund said: "The Farepak Response Fund is seeking donations from private companies, charitable trusts and members of the public to enable vouchers to be provided to affected families." Donations must be received by November 24 and will then be distributed directly to those affected, no later than December 18. If you would like to make a donation: By credit and debit card payments, call 0845 260 1096. Call centre opens Mon – Fri 8 am – 7 pm, Sat/ Sun 10 am-4 pm. By cheque, payable to Farepak Response Fund, to Unit 4, Alpha Court, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York. YO32 9WN. Individuals or businesses wishing to make a large donation by BACS or CHAPs should contact the Farepak Response Fund on 01904 550 038.
