A community group has been left £375 out of pocket after a cancelled coach trip.

Calderdale Family History Society booked through Huddersfield-based tour company Abbeyways.

The group, which meets at Brighouse Library, won a county court judgement against the firm but is still waiting for its money.

Society chairman Clifford Drake told how the group arranged a visit to the village-run Eyam Museum in Derbyshire in September last year.

They booked a coach for a party of about 40 people and paid the full £325 up front.

When the coach failed to arrive on time they rang Abbeyways’ office in Upperhead Row to be told the driver was ill.

The firm offered to send a replacement at 11.30am but that was when the party was booked in at the museum and they declined.

Mr Drake said: “We later received another phone call in which we were offered a full refund and another free trip to the same value.

“The refund never arrived so we went to the Small Claims Court and were awarded judgement for £375 which included the £50 court fees.”

Mr Drake said Abbeyways did not respond to the court and judgement was made against them.

To enforce the judgement the society must pay another £100 to send in the bailiffs but even then there was no guarantee they would secure payment.

“We have had to refund all our members and we are not a wealthy group,” said Mr Drake. “We can’t afford to lose another £100.”

The Examiner has previously reported other complaints from customers who lost money after being let down by Abbeyways.

We reported how a Calderdale Unison trip to Doncaster Races ended with some passengers being left stranded in South Yorkshire and how two friends were left to claim refunds after an Abbeyways trip to Harrogate Flower Show was cancelled at the last minute.

The firm was also chased for payment by another coach company, Voel Coaches of Rhyl, North Wales, which came to the rescue when an Abbeyways coach broke down.

David Davies, managing director of Abbeyways Tours Ltd, said he would investigate Calderdale Family History Society’s claims.

Speaking on Tuesday morning he said: “This week alone we have taken 72 bookings so we have many satisfied customers.”

Mr Davies said Abbeyways Tours Ltd had previously used coaches from a Halifax-based company, also called Abbeyways, run by Steven Ives.

Mr Davies had now invested in his own vehicles and wanted to move forward.

He added: “Most refunds due for last year have now been paid and I will deal with this one.”

The Traffic Commissioner has held a public inquiry into the passenger transport licence held by Steven Ives trading as Abbeyways.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) had looked into vehicle maintenance issues.

The Examiner understands Mr Ives’ licence has been revoked and a decision notice will be published later this week.

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