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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Olivia Tobin & Lottie Gibbons

Thomas Cook holidaymaker 'held hostage' in Tunisian hotel over payment row

A holidaymaker has described the terrifying moment he was locked in a hotel during a payment dispute with Thomas Cook.

Peter Haynes, 67, from Ellesmere Port, was enjoying a vacation with his partner at Les Orangers in Tunisia until hotel staff imprisoned him, he claims. 

On Saturday September 21, at about 10.45 pm, Mr Haynes says the gates were closed and guards were stood next to it, not letting people out.

Mr Haynes with the Thomas Cook rep (Lisa Han)

He said some guests had missed their flights today and weren't allowed to leave - however Thomas Cook say this has now been resolved.

Speaking at the time of the incident, Mr Haynes said: "They've locked us in and they've locked all the gates.

"There are people who we have met in here who have been receiving bills of up to £3,000 and they're being told to pay them or else they won't be able to leave.

"Our rep [in the hotel] has been telling us not to pay it.

We've been told even if we do pay it, we might not even be able to go.

"Our rep, to his credit, is trying hard to get in touch with Thomas Cook, but he's just getting nowhere at the minute."

Mr Haynes, who is due to fly home next week, added: "They're not letting anybody out. They've got the guards stood by the doors and they've locked the gates.

"It was starting to get aggressive, we tried to get some it on video but they have turned the WiFi off for us to send.

"People are getting very, very worried and they're angry. I think some people have missed their flights today.

"We're not in any danger at all, people are just really angry. There's talk about moving us to another hotel, but we don't know."

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook told the ECHO : "We are aware that a small number of customers were asked to pay for their hotel room before leaving Les Orangers in Tunisia yesterday.

"This has now been resolved and customers flew home as planned. We continue to support our customers in all our resorts."

"The hotel staff were slipping notes under people's doors last night saying they owe thousands of pounds." (Lisa Han)

Speaking to the ECHO this morning , Mr Haynes said: "It's hard to say whether it's been resolved.

"It seems to be but you just don't know.

"It was so unexpected, the hotel staff were slipping notes under people's doors last night saying they owe thousands of pounds.

"Everything seems to alright, but whether it's been resolved, I'm not sure."

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