Farepak Help

Joe Public · Sat 18 Nov, 2006 10.10

Hi All

I have some information that may be of use if you or anyone you know has been affected.

If you paid Farepak using your HSBC credit card you may be able to claim your money back under section 20 (i think) of the Consumer Credit Act.
You may be able to do this with other credit card providers but you would have to contact them. I can only speak for HSBC.

Contact them on 08457 404404 and ask for further details.

Hope this helps.

iSon · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 15.51

Joe Public wrote:Hi All

I have some information that may be of use if you or anyone you know has been affected.

If you paid Farepak using your HSBC credit card you may be able to claim your money back under section 20 (i think) of the Consumer Credit Act.
You may be able to do this with other credit card providers but you would have to contact them. I can only speak for HSBC.

Contact them on 08457 404404 and ask for further details.

Hope this helps.

Do you have a copy of the Tyne Tees show The Roxy?

Pete · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 16.59

I have a tape of Postman Pat if that's any help??!

Gluben · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 17.05

Which episodes?

Pete · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 17.06

please refrain from participating in in-jokes which you do not understand

Gluben · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 17.23

Fair enough, point taken.

Gavin Scott · Sun 19 Nov, 2006 18.06

Most credit cards offer the same purchase protection that HSBC do, but I suspect that will be of little use to the many people who used Farepak hampers.

Without generalising too much, a large proportion of those who need to pay-up a Christmas hamper are likely to be those who can't get a credit card.

A colleague's daughter is out of pocket to the tune of £600, so I'll certainly mention this to her mother - but I doubt she paid by Visa.

peterrocket · Mon 20 Nov, 2006 09.02

Perhaps i'm just naive or well... silly.

What exactly did Farepak do for these people that made them want to join?

AIUI people paid in a certain amount a week/month to a "savings club", which then is built up over a period of time to allow them to buy products for Christmas from a set catalogue.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wouldn't using a bank and the Argos catalogue be the same thing?

Gavin Scott · Mon 20 Nov, 2006 12.04

peterrocket wrote:Perhaps i'm just naive or well... silly.

What exactly did Farepak do for these people that made them want to join?

AIUI people paid in a certain amount a week/month to a "savings club", which then is built up over a period of time to allow them to buy products for Christmas from a set catalogue.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but wouldn't using a bank and the Argos catalogue be the same thing?

When I think of a hamper I think of food - but £600 seems a lot to spend on Christmas dinner. I suppose there must be much more than food involved.

Presumably there are some significant savings to be made from such a scheme? Otherwise, like you, I can't see the point.

Maybe Joe can tell us.

peterrocket · Mon 20 Nov, 2006 12.28

I know my family Christmas dinner never cost more a few hundred, and that was for four people.

I did find...

What is Farepak?
Farepak is, or rather was, a Christmas savings club. Customers chose Christmas hampers and vouchers months in advance, and then made regular payments towards the goods over the course of the year.[/quote]

It all seems to be vouchers so it looks basically it was a form of bank but your restricted to what you can do with your investment in the form of a hamper or voucher.
http://web.archive.org/web/200501250845 ... pak.co.uk/

Vouchers would be the most people would want, so 5% off and they're for agents, and retail value for everyone else?

Kinda makes Farepak pointless and indeed makes me wonder why people were daft enough to invest with them.

Dr Lobster* · Mon 20 Nov, 2006 12.52

some of the items you get in the hampers include cheapo danepak stuff imported from europe and other unbranded savouries.