Dozens of families in Oxfordshire are set to endure a second Christmas without the money they lost following the collapse of a festive hamper scheme.
It is estimated that families in the county lost more than £120,000 when Farepak called in the administrators. But none will receive any share of the money (expected to be about 5p in the pound) they are owed before Christmas, it was revealed yesterday.
The news came as a new report said low-paid women had been caught in a "cycle of debt" since Farepak's implosion. Research by union Unison revealed feelings of "anger, anxiety and depression" among savers who lost money.
It found many had been forced to borrow from relatives or had taken out loans. Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: "It adds insult to injury to the victims that the investigations are taking so long. When the official inquiry reports, if the directors are found liable, they should be made to pay compensation."
About 140 people in the county acted as agents for the firm. The delay in paying back the money is due to the huge number of claims filed with the administrators against the company.
Customers lost about £40m nationally when Farepak went into administration. Last month, the company officially went into liquidation.
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