Outrage over flights and hotels sold by doomed budget travel firm that were NEVER booked
A COUPLE who booked their anniversary getaway through Lowcostholidays are £600 out of pocket after being told they weren't even on the flight.
Gary Sproson called Ryanair to confirm their flights weren't affected by the budget travel firm going into administration.
But the 40-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent was shocked to find he was never due to fly out to Benidorm - despite being sent confirmation from Lowcostholidays back in February.
He is among thousands of people who have been told their holidays weren't paid for, as many are forced to pay for their hotel TWICE.
Gary said: "It makes me think - did they already known in February that they were going into administration?
"It's fraudulent in my opinion.
"We had no reason to suspect anything was wrong after being sent our travel confirmation."
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Gary and his wife Sarah, who are due to celebrate 16 years together in November, were even promised an extra night for free by Lowcostholidays in May.
But now the couple face missing out on their romantic getaway after being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
He said: "It is just a kick in the teeth.
"I just don't know what to think now.
"I'm absolutely gutted about it."
Today The Sun revealed Lowcostholidays tried to tempt new customers with a 60 per cent sale just hours before it went bust.
At 10am yesterday the troubled firm tweeted “Summer sale – up to 60pc off – extended ends midnight Tues 19 Jul”.
Just hours later the company ceased trading, leaving thousands of holidaymakers in limbo.
More than 27,000 people already on holiday are poised to hear whether or not they will be left stranded abroad.
There are a further 110,000 who have booked but not travelled yet.
Mr and Mrs Sproson aren't the only ones who have been caught up in the chaos and vented their frustration about Lowcostholidays.
A mum-of-eight whose daughter faces being stranded abroad after the firm went bust is raising cash to stop her being thrown out her.
Stacey Stevens, from Suffolk, says hotel staff in Ibiza have demanded her 18-year-old pays €1,000 – or face being thrown out.
Have you been caught up in the chaos? Email [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
Richard Troop told The Sun online: "We booked a holiday with Lowcostholidays for myself and my 2 children all inclusive to Gran Canaria on the 7th August, I then found out on social media that the company had gone bust.
"So phoned the hotel in Gran Canaria to find out there was no record of us at that hotel, they hadn't even booked us into the hotel after taking my money."
Hayley Campbell from Surrey says she has lost £2,000 after being forced to pay for her hotel in Portugal AGAIN because the company did not have an ATOL licence.
"It has been such a shock," Hayley told The Sun Online.
"I burst into tears when I heard the news as I was getting my holiday pedicure done.
"I have been working so hard at work, ready to enjoy to my holiday and then this happens.
"A holiday is meant to be stress-free but thanks to Lowcostholidays I am now more stressed than usual."
"I think they knew they were in trouble months ago," said Alannah Richardson.
"I accidentally clicked the wrong hotel in a booking.
"Straight away I got on the phone to amend it and they said it was non refundable booking and non exchange.
"I contacted the hotel directly and they had not received any money from Low Cost Holidays for the booking. This was early May time.
"I ended up losing the money on the hotel I accidentally booked and I had to pay for the hotel I actually wanted."
The Sun Online has attempted to contact Lowcostholidays for comment.
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