CHRISTMAS hamper firm Farepak went into administration five years ago but one Newport family has yet to see a penny of the more than £800 they are owed.

Christine Bennett and her son and daughter, Nicolas and Kerry Bennett, were making their last payment when they were told that the firm had collapsed in 2006.

The episode left the family significantly out of pocket – without the hampers, vouchers and gifts they had ordered – just months before Christmas.

Grandmother of nine Christine Bennett, 62, from Alway, told the Argus she will never trust a hamper company again, and said the cash taken by administrators could have been spent on compensation.

Earlier this month liquidators BDO revealed that the cost of winding up the firm came to £8.2 million – with only £5.5 million set aside for compensation.

The Bennetts, three of the 120,000 customers who were left out of pocket by the firm, were owed £1,012 in orders, according to Debbie Harvey, their former agent and secretary of the Farepak Victims Committee.

The three had made £840.70 in payments, and at the currently estimated rate of compensation are only likely to get back £126.

Items ordered included an engraved bracelet gift ordered by mum of three Kerry Bennett, 32, for her mother, and a stereo system ordered by Nicolas Bennett, 38.

“At the time I felt devastated,”

said Christine Bennett, who had been paying for a hamper and a fruit basket.

“I had to get a loan to get the food shopping, about £300 to £400.

“Five years on and I have not had a penny. I know there’s talk about 15 pence in the pound but what’s that?”

Ms Bennett said there should be an insurance policy for hamper firms, so that if they go bust victims would be able to claim.

“That £8 million could have gone towards the money that was owed,” she added.

Plea to sign petition

BDO said that work by joint liquidators meant that the estimated dividend to those owed money by Farepak has increased from nothing to 15p in the pound.

A spokeswoman couldn’t confirm when compensation would be paid, and said work was continuing to increase the money available.

She said it would be more efficient for liquidators to ensure that all money is available before paying out to keep costs as low as possible.

Debbie Harvey has called for people to sign the Farepak Victims’ Committee e-petition at the No 10. Downing Street website.

If the petition gets 100,000 signatures a debate on the issue would have to be heard in the House of Commons. For more information visit http://epetitions.direct. gov.uk