First Choice

  • Posted: February 2nd, 2011 - 10:51am by Doug Powell

    Some 1,200 people have, according to legal-types in the U.K., been sickened after staying at the First Choice-owned Holiday Village Turkey resort since 2005.

    Although First Choice has paid out over £100,000 to 34 claimants who stayed at the hotel in 2005 and 2007, solicitors say it has "refused to accept responsibility" over more recent cases.

    First Choice said they were in negotiations with the law firm to resolve the issue amicably and couldn't comment further, but they did manage to keep talking and do further damage:

    "First Choice would like to take this opportunity to assure all its customers that we closely audit all the resorts to which we operate, including the Holiday Village Turkey, to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained.

    "Reports of sickness in 2010 were minimal; in particular, out of the 46,000 customers who have stayed there this year, only 0.42 per cent have reported minor ailments such as a mild stomach upset.

    "This figure is extremely low, and has been substantiated by the Health Protection Agency, who have confirmed that they have received no reports of infection at the property this year.”

    Telling 193 paying customers that their barfing was a statistical anomaly isn’t going to win future customers. And won’t help in court.
     

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  • Posted: January 10th, 2011 - 9:10am by Doug Powell

    A group of 107 angry travellers say they fell ill after eating under-cooked food and using a swimming pool contaminated by human waste at Sarigerme Holiday Village in Dalaman, Turkey in 2009.

    The group is suing First Choice Holidays and Flights for compensation.

    A High Court writ claims buffet food was lukewarm and items like chicken were not cooked properly.

    Flies and wasps also allegedly infested food areas and a pool had human waste in it.

    Last night a First Choice spokeswoman said their lawyers are in talks with a no-win no-fee legal firm to resolve the case.

    "We closely audit all the resorts to which we operate, including the Holiday Village Turkey, to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained."
     

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  • Posted: October 26th, 2010 - 8:21am by Doug Powell

    In July 2008, Amanda Lakin took her 12 and 13-year-old sons and her 75-year-old mother, who had battled cancer, on an all-inclusive trip from the U.K. to the Royal Park Hotel, Bulgaria.

    The family faced dead flies on food in the buffet, which staff seemed reluctant to throw away, and birds sat feeding off the buffet.

    “I also saw staff filling the water bottles, which we all took drinks from, with the hose they used to water the garden. There was the most appalling lack of hygiene everywhere.”

    After several days Miss Lakin made it down to the reception where she was stunned by what she found.

    “It was like a film, there was so many sick people. There was little kids being carried by parents with drips coming out of their arms. I’ve never seen anything like it. Everyone was trying to get help.”

    Law firm Irwin Mitchell is taking legal action on behalf of 276 clients against First Choice after it denied responsibility for the outbreak of illness suffered by guests between June and October 2008.

    The firm has already successfully recovered a substantial settlement for 95 holidaymakers who fell ill at the resort in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

    The Bulgarian currency is the lev. Amy’s got a bunch for sale on craigslist.

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