I have spoken to Consumer Direct who have logged my details. However, because I paid by credit card they believe I will get all my money back under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 Section 75.

If you paid by Credit Card you should be okay to get money back. If you paid by Debit Card - specifically Visa Debit from current account - speak to the bank about Chargeback form. The staff in bank do not seem very aware of this but get them to speak to their Head Office (it's a little known process recently covered by Watchdog). Fill in the Chargeback form with the bank and give as many details as possible -keep track on it though as there is a time limit from raising form and confirming you want to proceed (also bank staff not very up to date on this). The bank will recredit your account with the money in about 7 days. Meanwhile they run an investigation into the dispute. Spring Blue have to prove they have delivered the goods and service as agreed and on the dates agreed (extremely unlikely as they appear to have vanished off face of the earth ... well from Guildford to somewhere in Marbella mysteriously). Not sure where you stand if cheque payment but worth pressing the issue with your bank. Doesn't matter when you made original payment e.g. if paid in November you can still claim back. Your bank will have the details of the account your payment was made into. The cost of the fully inclusive hotel they told us to book into when they didn't show with our furniture is another matter .....

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 states that the lender of money for a purchase is jointly responsible with the seller for the purchaser getting the goods or service purchased, or receiving a full refund if they do not receive the goods or service. What this means in practice is that if you paid more than £100 by a UK issued personal credit card (but not a debit or charge card), or borrowed money under a loan agreement regulated by the CCA74 and arranged by the trader, then you can claim ALL the money you paid (irrespective of how you paid it) provided that the maximum contract value does not exceed £30,000, back from the card company or lender if you do not get what you bought. If you used a credit card and borrowed money (or used two credit cards) you could claim the full amount from either or both. In October 2007 the House of Lords confirmed that the use of credit cards is covered for overseas purchases under the CCA Act.

For non-delivery the claim is made under breach of contract. You will need to prove (1) that you paid more than £100 by credit card. (2) You will also need to provide evidence of any other payments made (for cheques, copy bank statements). (3) Formal evidence that the company cannot deliver your goods i.e. some evidence that the company no longer trades

It's important when you write to the credit card company that you head the letter:

"Claim under S75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974"

and you should include the following paragraphs:

- a statement of what you bought, where and when, enclosing any relevant copies.
- A list of all payments with copies of supporting evidence.
- A statement that you have not received or cannot obtain the goods and that it is breach of contract. Enclose any relevant copies to support this statement.
- A request that the credit card company refund the whole amount paid.

Companies often automatically reject your first attempt but you should persist and if the lender refuses then you could contact the Financial Ombudsman (South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, LONDON, E14 9SR) complaining about the conduct of the lender.

Excellent post, Popcorn

Hi,
I have the bank they deal with as soon as I get home will post and the phone no also the clearing bank was loyds tsb will pass on addresses etc when I get home
sans.
I don't think I stand a chance as I paid with a cheque

Hi Popcorn,
How do we stand if we paid by cheque(which we did)?-----------H

Hi All
Here the details of their bank in spain

Spring Blue Business Sl is the name the account is in
Banco De Sabadell Sa
Sabadell
Spain
the phone no is 0034937289690 on this no ask for Fossas
or 0034937287605

The clearing bank in England is
Lloyds TSB
Cheque and Collection Department
5th Floor
PO Box 63
2 Brindley Place
Birmingham
this is their sort code
309634
crossing International

I hope this will help someone please keep in touch as I said earlier I have been told by trading standards to send recorded delivery letters to both address's of spring blue give them 7 days to reply then I have to phone them again.
sans

Sorry, I am not sure of any automatic procedure and as the company is registered in Spain it will be subject to Spanish law. I do suggest, however, that someone coordinates a list of people who did pay by cheque so that if you need to take legal action in Spain to recover money that you can act as a group and split legal costs. In the UK it's always essential to move fast at first wind of a company in trouble in order to get a default judgment and order made before the official winding up action.

There are a number of other purchasers buying in other countries, including Italy and Bulgaria, who are also victims and have offered the following advice:

"Whichever method you have used, Consumer Direct 08454 040506.
They will give you a reference number applicable only to you. They will then send all the details to Trading Standards in Guildford who will decide if we there is a firm enough case from them to proceed. Apparently we should hear from them in about 7 days. I cannot reiterate it is imperative we all do this so that we have more clout. Also you need to contact your bank and explain and they will hopefully take up the matter with their fraud investigation team .

"It may be a very good idea also to contact Watchdog on BBC as I feel personally that if we all give them our details regarding the same company they will be more likely to act on our behalf."

A number of people have now contacted Watchdog - but the more people that do the more likely it is that they will investigate on your behalf.

Someone else has also advised that if you paid by cheque you verify that the cheque has not been amended in anyway. If it has then this will be fraud and your bank should investigate the matter and you can automatically get a full refund.

Hi,
I've got an appointment tmrw to see the bank manager has anyone any ideas that may help when I get there.
I am ? them about why my cheque was allowed when I hadn't put my initials on when the company had stamped their name on it does anybody have anything else please
sandra