The French are at it again...... I'd call it Ransom.

[Steve Pyro]

I have spoken to my contact in Bangalore and he is arranging for a claim form to be sent to me personally - at least I think that is what he said.

F

Bloody call centres. 

[smokie]

I only sent my stuff this week. I sent a covering letter with the ticket numbers, told them which ones I'd used, and how much I thought I was due, with a copy of the booking confirmation.

[garyfrogeye]

In my case (having bought it using a credit card) I asked the card company for a claim form.
Then sent them with the claim form, a hard copy of my confirmation email from Speedferries along with the page from Speedferries website confirming that they had gone into receivership.
My card company then did an instant refund before investigating the claim. Only if the claim turns out to be unjustified do they then take it out of my account.
I really couldn't ask for better than that.

[landman]

Received this yesterday: -

   
Since SpeedFerries ceased trading last month prices on the Channel have begun increasing. Great deals can still be found online by booking at www.ferrycheap.com with prices from just £25.

Early booking offers for 2009 are now available online too... if you know your dates book early; big savings will be made. Simply click on the operator below to book the cheapest crossings to France.









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Landman

[garyfrogeye]

I called them up and they don't even do a price comparison, they are just a broker of travel company. You browse all the different ferry company's links on their website then just choose the company and the crossing that you require and then pay them. You do all the work What's the point in that!
They struck me as vultures picking over the bones of Speedferries.

[smokie]

Just got a claim form from my cc company - apparently they claim through Mastercard International, so they've sent me their form to complete and return. It says within 14 days. Maybe I should ask for the same when I return the claim.

[smokie]

Just for the record, the letter I have from the Administrators states that the reasons were essentially:

Company had incurred tax losses each year from 2004
Company had incurred trading losses of £15m from inception to July 2008
Dramatic fuel increase and decline in revenue during 2008
In October they had cash flow problems, being unable to hedge against very volatile fuel and not wanting to pass these costs on to customers. Also lower than forecast ticket and retail sales

Previous losses had been funded by existing shareholders who declined to give further support

Management entered discussions with c20 potential investors

Received a summons from Port of Boulogne for unpaid harbour fees of c £1.3m. Speed One arrested 6 Nov 2008.

As a result of the above, and inability to trade whilst the ship remained arrested, administrators were appointed.



Further down is a list of creditors, which includes:

Port of Boulogne £1.3m
Dover Harbour Board £238k
HMRC £1.1m     <<<"Our money" !!
plus a total of 134,753 pre-bought tickets worth £3.6m (which to me sounds like they'd oversold their capacity as well!!)

Yet further down there is the Directors Statement of Affairs, which the Administrators had to "reformat" (i.e. correct). The Directors state assets of £14.5m. The Administrators state £2.3m. This is due to a £12m "oversight" by the Directors. Astonishing!


Anyway, from the look of that sorry mess, if the French hadn't done it then someone else would have...