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Call for hamper schemes safeguard Protection for hamper scheme cash
(40 minutes later)
Money paid into Christmas savings schemes, such as the failed Farepak hamper business, should be protected says a government review. Money paid into Christmas savings schemes, such as the failed Farepak hamper business, will now be protected following a government review.
The review says the government should consider a campaign to publicise different ways of saving for Christmas. The hamper industry has agreed that from now on customers' savings will be kept in ring-fenced accounts.
However, it also points out that hamper and voucher schemes are often a convenient way of saving and avoiding going into debt. The Treasury review was carried out after 150,000 people lost an average of £400 when Farepak failed last year.
About 150,000 people lost an average of £400 when Farepak failed last year. The Office of Fair Trading will find out if there is enough competition in the Christmas savings market.
"It is clear that many people, particularly those on low incomes, have valued the kind of scheme run by hamper companies because they have provided a convenient and disciplined way of saving for Christmas and helped keep them out of debt," said the report's author Brian Pomery, chairman of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce. "Ring-fencing contributions will ensure that customers' money can only be returned to customers and agents should the company go bust," said Consumer Minister Ian McCartney.
"However it is essential that money paid in advance to the companies that run such schemes is protected; arrangements need to be put in place urgently to secure this. "Families will then be able to put something aside for Christmas in the confidence that their money is safe and there will never be another Farepak," he added.
"It is also important to ensure that what the schemes provide is competitive and represents good value for money," he added. Sarah Miller of Citizens Advice welcomed the plan.
"It is essential that people's money is protected properly in the future to prevent the misery that thousands of Farepak customers suffered last year," she said.
FarepakFarepak
Mr Pomeroy's report does not look at the reasons for the collapse of Farepak or suggest ways for regulating hamper and voucher schemes. The Treasury review did not look at the reasons for the collapse of Farepak or suggest ways for regulating hamper and voucher schemes.
These issues are being examined by the Department for Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.These issues are being examined by the Department for Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.
Farepak's administrators, BDO Stoy Hayward, concluded recently that the collapse of the business was caused by the fact that £33m it lent to its parent company, European Home Retail, was not paid back.Farepak's administrators, BDO Stoy Hayward, concluded recently that the collapse of the business was caused by the fact that £33m it lent to its parent company, European Home Retail, was not paid back.
But in the light of the company's collapse the government wanted to know who saves with these schemes, why they use them, and if conventional savings organisations could offer a better deal.But in the light of the company's collapse the government wanted to know who saves with these schemes, why they use them, and if conventional savings organisations could offer a better deal.
As well as calling for customers' money to be ring-fenced, the report also suggests that: "It is clear that many people, particularly those on low incomes, have valued the kind of scheme run by hamper companies because they have provided a convenient and disciplined way of saving for Christmas and helped keep them out of debt," said the report's author Brian Pomeroy, chairman of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce.
Changes
Other changes are being made following the Pomeroy report.
Among them are:
    • the OFT examines the Park Group's dominance of the hamper market and whether that has led to a poor deal for customers
      		•
    • an advertising campaign highlighting alternatives to Christmas voucher or hamper clubs
    • retailers should make their own savings schemes more attractive, giving greater security for their savings cards
      		•
    • the launch of a Christmas savings account by the Post Office.
    • the Post Office and credit unions should be encouraged to set up Christmas savings schemes.
      • "To ensure that customers are fully aware of their saving choices I have today asked the OFT to conduct a £1m awareness campaign," said Economic Secretary Ed Balls.
      "Nobody in the future should suffer the hardship that Farepak customers endured last Christmas," he added.
      The report also suggested that retailers should make their own Christmas savings schemes more attractive by improving the security of their members' savings cards.