Inquiry launched as Islington-based travel firm ufly.com shuts its doors at Business Design Centre

Published: 17th December, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

A TRADING Standards investigation has been launched into a firm of travel agents which suddenly cancelled scores of paid-for flights – inflicting Christmas heartbreak on travellers.

About 70 people fear they have lost hundreds of pounds paid to Islington-based ufly.com for trips to see friends and family over the holiday period.

Frustrated travellers seeking their money back have found the firm’s offices in the Business Design Centre at Angel shut and abandoned.

Rita Ubani, 50, of Caledonian Road, Holloway, paid nearly £600 for a return flight to Nigeria to visit her husband and children.

She said: “I was in such a state of shock when I learned I couldn’t go. I’m devastated but I’m trying not to fall into a depression.”

Islington Council this week announced an investigation into the affair by its Trading Standards department.

Security staff at the Design Centre in Upper Street gave out leaflets to customers visiting ufly.com’s office, directing them to a lawyer based in Stratford, east London.

But the solicitor, Farhat Ahmed of Daybells law firm, said he was not acting for ufly.com. He added: “I’ve had 60 or 70 calls about this. Most are complaining they’ve lost money or they’ve paid money and the tickets have been cancelled.

“Most were flying back for Christmas or funerals, going back to be with families and friends – mostly African countries.” He said ufly.com contacted him two weeks ago about insolvency proceedings but failed to give him sufficient information to take on the case.

He revealed that the company was not protected by the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) insurance scheme so customers will have a tough job getting their money back. 

Ms Ubani responded to a ufly.com newspaper advert offering cheap Christmas flights if booked early.

She paid £592 in cash to the firm at its other office in Seven Sisters Road, South Tottenham. She said that ufly.com refused to accept credit card payment.

On November 30 she received a BA e-ticket in the post for a direct flight from Heathrow to the Nigerian capital Abuja. But she had bought an Egyptair flight to Abuja via Cairo and when she rang BA to query the arrangements she was told the ticket had been cancelled. The South Tottenham office has also been abandoned and no one answers the ufly.com phone.

Ms Ubani said: “Christmas is special in Nigeria. A lot of relatives who live abroad come back and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opp­ortunity to see them. That’s why I booked early”

She is eager to see her husband, Paul, 58, and children Princewill, 25, Precious, 20, and Gospel, 18, at their village outside Abuja.

She is now considering borrowing the fare on her credit card and travelling in January. “What can I do?” she asked. “I’m desperate.” 

According to documents lodged at Companies House, the firm is owned by Nabeel Shav­aiz, 28, of Ferndale Close, Tunbridge Wells. The Tribune was this week unable to contact him.

A council spokeswoman said: “We’d advise anyone who has purchased tickets with this company to check with the airline to see whether the booking has been confirmed.”

She urged concerned customers to contact the national Consumer Direct watchdog body on 08454 04 05 06.