Members of the public who have fallen victim to a so-called National Limousine Hire firm have been advised to contact a Fraud investigation company.

The advice comes as hundreds of prom-goers were let down after booking a limousine from a number of locally and nationally branded companies disappeared, leaving them stranded and hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

‘Sussex Limousine Hire’, ‘Hampshire Limousine Hire’ and ‘National Limousine Hire’ have apparently  taken deposits from parents throughout the country at the beginning of this year even though the operations were dissolved in 2011 according to Companies House. Customers checking their bookings were simply faced with a message on the company’s website notifying them they are no longer in business.

Emails have been sent to TheChauffeur.com from numerous victims – one said; “I have just tried to contact National Limousine Hire to check our booking for next Friday and noticed the company has ceased trading. I haven’t said anything to anyone as yet as I’m hoping we can arrange something else for the children as we had 16 children booked in for the Hummer.  This was booked back in Feb so that we had no problems finding a Hummer, but it’s now turned out to be a disaster and I’m not sure what I am to do now?”

Another read; “We are another group of prom-goers who were hugely let down by this company. I booked a Chrysler 300 in February 2012 for 8 friends to travel to their school prom in Nottinghamshire – I have lost £150 deposit. I felt uneasy following the booking as it was so easy when other parents had struggled to book something. I was concerned when no one had contacted us during the week leading up to the prom. Luckily our local community bus took them and made a huge effort to try and make it special.’

One group of prom-goers from Hampshire were recently rescued after a local chauffeur firm stepped-in and supplied a number of vehicles and drivers to make sure the children got to their special night on time (pictured).

Now, Action Fraud, which is the UK’s national fraud reporting centre has advised anyone who has paid a deposit to report it through its website. It also advised other operators with information regarding similar scams to do the same. https://reportfraud.actionfraud.police.uk/fraudreport/