Worthing family failed by Christmas saving plan

Pat Dunn and her daughter Belinda both opened accounts with the Post Office Christmas Club saving scheme in January, to help them manage their money for the expensive festive period.

However, their cards, with hundreds of pounds stored on them, failed to work in shops and the pair have only managed to get their money back a few days before Christmas - leaving barely enough time to buy presents.

Belinda, 47, of Lansdowne Road, said: "I have got two kids and I have not done any Christmas shopping. I am just tearing my hair out over it.

"That is my money they have held for over a month. I just can't believe it."

Farepack collapse

The family started the saving scheme following the collapse of the saving club Farepak which saw thousands of families lose their annual savings.

Yet what seemed a good idea at the beginning of the year has turned into a nightmare, with the family left heartbroken, angry, and worrying about having to face a bleak Christmas.

Parkinson's sufferer Pat, 70, also of Lansdowne Road, said: "It took a month to get the money back. I would never, never do it again.

"We only heard from a friend of mine who said the Post Office was doing a scheme this year but they obviously did not get it off the ground properly. I am sure other people must have had the same problem."

Savings card

The family were sent their saving cards at the beginning of November but it soon became obvious there was something wrong when the cards did not work in the shops.

"With several of the shops who were in the scheme their tills rejected the card '” it was so embarrassing," said Pat.

"JJB sports was very good, with the manager of the shop holding all my things I wanted to buy for about two weeks. In the end I had to buy it myself."

When the family went back to the Post Office they were given replacement gift cards but these cards also failed to work.

Apology issued

What followed was a long list of excuses and broken promises.

When they finally received the money from the Post Office it came in the form of a postal order and a 5 admin charge had been deducted.

A spokeswoman for the Post Office, said: "The Post Office is concerned to hear of the problems experienced by Mrs Dunn when using her Post Office Christmas Club Card.

"A refund has now been issued and we do, of course, apologise for any inconvenience."

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