Several GoFundMe pages have been set up by customers in an attempt to fund a new holiday.
Around 140,000 holidaymakers were hit by the collapse of online travel agency Lowcostholidays last week – with family holidays, weddings and honeymoons being thrown into chaos.
The firm went into administration on Friday, 15 July, blaming ‘the recent and ongoing turbulent financial environment’ – meaning customers have lost out on thousands of pounds on bookings for the summer season.
With news circulating this week that customers may only be entitled to £7.78 compensation from the firm, families have been turning to GoFundMe in a desperate attempt to raise funds towards a new holiday.
Beverley Smith set up a GoFundMe page for her sister and brother-in-law as they were due to go on their honeymoon with their sons this month. She wrote on the page: “After paying £,3700 in good faith the company have effectively stolen all the money and they have lost their honeymoon and my 2 nephews’ holiday and all the money is gone with no chance of a refund. I just want to give them some form of honeymoon.”
https://www.gofundme.com/2es7bhht
Steph Leese set up a page after saving for two years for a family holiday to Lanzarote. She wrote on the page: “Lowcostholidays have screwed us over with no insurance. We have lost a holiday we saved two years for. The flights are safe but the hotel is not paid for. Any offers to help [are] gratefully received to get my family on that well-earned holiday”
https://www.gofundme.com/2eqqwac
Melanie Lewis booked her family holiday on Christmas Eve and was devastated to tell her children they may no longer be able to go. She wrote on her GoFundMe page: “We are totally gutted as you can imagine. Like most people these days we have no rainy day money put aside for emergencies.”
https://www.gofundme.com/2eqhk8s
Stacey Stevens’ set up a GoFundMe page as, like many Lowcostholidays customers, her daughter’s flights were still covered through the site, however, she had to re-pay for a hotel while abroad after booking with the firm. She wrote on the page: “Maisey and her friends are on holiday and Lowcostholidays have gone bust. She has hardly any money left and she isn’t covered for this in her insurance.”
https://www.gofundme.com/2eqt92s
GoFundMe, the world’s most popular fundraising website, provides a platform for people to organise their own campaign to raise money for personal causes and life events and invite those in their community to support their fundraising.
To date, GoFundMe fundraisers have raised £1 billion since launch for a whole host of different causes from medical expenses, education costs, volunteer programmes, youth sports to funerals & memorials – even animals and pets.
For more information, or to set up a fundraising page, visit www.gofundme.com or follow GoFundMe on Twitter or Facebook.
-Ends-
For further press information, please contact:
Natalie Garland
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8924
E: [email protected]
About GoFundMe
GoFundMe was launched on 10 May 2010 and has quickly become the world’s most popular fundraising website for personal causes and life events, raising $840 million dollars since launch!
GoFundMe provides an ideal platform for people to organise their own campaign to raise money and invite those in their community to support their fundraising. People can use GoFundMe to raise money for themselves, a friend or loved one during life’s important moments. They can also share their campaign with my built-in connections via Facebook, Twitter or email.
People can use GoFundMe for things like medical expenses, education costs, volunteer programmes, youth sports, funerals & memorials – even animals and pets.
For more information, or to set up a fundraising page, visit www.gofundme.com or follow GoFundMe on Twitter or Facebook.
