Alert local travel agent reduces impact of 'Goldtrail' collapse

THE number of people from the Ballymoney area caught up in the 'Goldtrail' collapse was reduced because an alert local travel firm had kept a close eye on the company.

Derek Wray, a director with McCurdy Hamilton in Ballymoney Main Street, revealed to the Times that only one booking involving three people through them was affected by the 'Goldtrail' nightmare.

Tens of thousands of Goldtrail customers from around the UK were snared in the collapse but Mr Wray said at McCurdy Hamilton they were "wary" of the firm as it appeared the cheap deals involved profit margins that were undoubtedly unsustainable.

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Mr Wray told the Times: "It was not a company that we had much faith in so therefore we don't have many clients that are affected."

He said the three local customers affected were in a hotel who had not been paid by Goldtrail and the hotel was demanding that the clients pay for the hotel.

Mr Wray said McCurdy Hamilton was doing all they can to assist.

Mr Wray said the three people are due to end their holiday on July 21 and he said they will be able to claim compensation but did not know how long that will take because of the large number of people caught up in the Goldtrail collapse.

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Mr Wray said the whole saga outlined the benefits of booking holidays through travel agents as in the event of a collapse.

But it is known that the Goldtrail situation has thrown the travel plans of some people in north Antrim into chaos.

Ballybogey man Alan Ashcroft and his family have booked two weeks in Turkey from August 16 through Lowcost Holidays who he said are an agent of Goldtrail and the flights part of the package was organised through Goldtrail.

He said they will be able to get compensation but that could take up to three months to come through and in the mean time he has to organise new flights at an estimated cost of at least 500 more than originally scheduled.

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On Monday he said he tried in vain to contact the travel firm in an attempt to get an assurance that the flights will be paid for as part of his original arrangement.

"I am a working class man and I don't fancy having to pay at least 500 or more extra on my holiday," said Alan.