Brits hit by holiday firm collapse told: Pay twice or leave hotel
Stock photo, Turkey: PA
Holidaymakers affected by the collapse of tour operator Holidays 4 U have been given an impossible ultimatum: pay twice or be kicked out of your hotel.
Businesses and hotels in Turkey are scared they will never see the money owed to them by the firm, so are demanding Brits pay cash, or leave their accommodation.
Many of the 13,000 tourists still in Turkey also say they have been left in the lurch, despite assurances from travel authorities that they can carry on with their summer holidays.
Some said it would take up to two years to get a refund on cancelled holidays.
Danny Milner told ITV News: 'We've been told we are not going to get home. We have to pay money to stay in the hotel. We haven't got a penny to do that. Where do we go? What do we do? We are stuck here.'
Michelle Walker said: 'Holiday from hell. If we don't pay they are putting us out tomorrow.'
But it's not all horror stories. Paula Lewis, from Lincoln, who is on holiday in Marmaris with son Shaun, 13, and daughter Shelby, 12, said: 'Staff here have been brilliant. They're not going to charge us any extra so we can still enjoy our holiday.'
According to the Express, the Civil Aviation Authority has said Holidays 4 U customers will be able to turn up at the airport for their return flight as normal and that they will ensure all hoteliers are paid what they are owed.
But many have still not been paid for losses going back four years with the collapse of other tour operators, including XL, Scot Travel and Goldtrail.
The CAA has advised tourists that if they do have to pay out, it will refund them on their return.
But refunds could take up to eight months, leaving many out of pocket. Holidaymaker Scott Marshall, 36, from Dundee, warned: 'We've been told that it may take up to two years.'
Bob Atkinson, of travelsupermarket.com, said: 'It's hard to say how many people will be asked to pay for their hotels again, but when Goldtrail went bust, a lot of people had to fork out. If you do have to pay up, make sure you get a full receipt and then check it against your statement when that arrives. You should also then send the receipt to the CAA for a refund.'
A spokesman for the CAA said: 'We are trying to get the message to hoteliers in Turkey that they will get paid. But some will unfortunately still make tourists pay again. We will give those holidaymakers their money back.'
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