The owner of an independent travel agency fears customers are turning their backs on agents after Lyne Barlow was jailed last week for scamming 1,400 holidaymakers.
Melanie Robson’s agency business called Mel’s Travel – part of Hays Travel Independence Group – is based in Ferryhill, County Durham, around a 30-minute drive from Stanley where Barlow lived.
Barlow set up her own business, called Lyne Barlow Independent Travel, in November 2019, having previously worked as a travel agent. Durham police said she gained a reputation for being able to provide cut-price holidays.
In October 2022, Barlow pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud and a further charge of money laundering, estimated in the region of £1.2 million. Last week she was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Robson (pictured) said: “Because Lyne Barlow was working in our area, it has affected the agents in County Durham the worst.
“We’ve seen a reduction in enquiries over the last week or so. I do not know if that’s a coincidence but it’s unusual to be this quiet.
“We’ve seen comments from customers saying that they would not use an independent agent again.”
Robson, who employs four staff members, said normally around 80% of her agency’s bookings come via Facebook. However, since Barlow’s sentencing, no bookings have been made through social media.
“We’re lucky in a way because we have this shop whereas a homeworker does not,” she explained.
“We’ve still had some bookings in the shop but none on social media or through our website. I would compare the number of enquiries in the past week with the quietest November or December that we’ve had.”
Robson added that she wanted to tell customers “not to tar all travel agents with the same brush”, adding: “One bad apple does not mean we’re all bad. Use an agent who is an Abta member and has been recommended. If the price is too good to be true it often is.”
Any messaging issued by Hays Travel or trade groups must try to win back customers’ trust, Robson added.
Asked whether she had heard about Barlow before she was caught, Robson said: “I had never heard from her before I became a personal travel consultant for Hays prior to launching my own business.
“In early 2020, people were messaging me saying that Lyne Barlow was advertising an all-inclusive break to Dubai for £500. It was so unrealistic. It was not possible to match those prices.
“I also heard people who booked through her were turning up at the airport without tickets ever being booked.”