Track day gift vouchers could be worthless after firm’s collapse

There may be no end in sight to the economic gloom but at least we can escape for a few hours on a track. As long as it’s not with the firm Easytrack.

Gift vouchers for track days with the firm are potentially worthless after it ceased trading, cancelling 12 events at circuits across the country including Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park.

Customers with vouchers worth hundreds of pounds have been advised there is no guarantee of a refund.  The vouchers were supposed to be exchangeable for track time at any of the 12 events. 

MSV, which owns the tracks, announced Easytrack’s demise through Facebook.

The message posted by MSV said: ‘As of Thursday 11 April 2013, Easytrack has ceased to trade. Therefore regrettably all future events booked by Easytrack on MSV circuits have been cancelled. For more information please contact Easytrack directly.’

Richard Heighton, 42, from Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, has £270 of vouchers bought by his wife and daughter. He said he had been unable to contact Easytrack.

Heighton said: “I have heard nothing at all from Easytrack. To be honest I’m not particularly hopeful of getting the money back at this stage.” 

Sophie Elworthy, insolvency administrator at Jamesons Accountants, said: “Meetings have been called for May 31 in order to place the company into liquidation.

“If people have made payments by credit or debit card, they can go to their card provider and seek a refund from them. We are issuing notices to all known creditors, those who have paid deposits, with that advice, and also advising that they can make a claim during liquidation.”

Elworthy said around 70 such notices had so far been issued. She said she could not provide any assurance that refunds would be given.

The car side of the business appears to be under new ownership, trading as Track & Tour Events Ltd, but a statement on their website says: “Track and Tour Events Ltd has no affiliation or connection with the company or business of Easytrack Ltd. We cannot assist with enquiries about that company. As an act of goodwill we are welcoming previous car track day customers of that company to our events. As we operate only car based events we cannot assist with any enquiry at all regarding bike track days.”