A Bermuda holiday company which used a businessman whose firm was closed down by British authorities because of an Internet scam insisted yesterday that no customers have lost the vacations they were promised.

reported yesterday that American Craig Bosio, who has done consultancy work for Back to Bermuda, was secretary of a company described by the British judge who closed it down as “thoroughly disreputable”.

Britain's Department of Trade and Industry, in a news release last December under the headline ‘(Consumer Minister) Melanie Johnson condemns ?3 million holiday Internet scam' stated: “Hundreds of holidaymakers were misled into paying thousands of pounds for huge holiday savings which failed to materialise by six companies (including Mr. Bosio's) that have been wound up by the High Court in the public interest following an investigation by the DTI's Companies investigation Branch.”

Yesterday Back to Bermuda, which promises customers discounts of up to 70 percent and tries to get them to buy travel club memberships, admitted Mr. Bosio did consultancy work for them.

But Back to Bermuda Company president Stephen Taylor said: “There has never been a situation where any of our clients has requested a vacation and been disappointed or did not receive what they were promised.

“At this time, we have Bermudians travelling in the Caribbean for a fraction of the normal rates and spending time in beautiful accommodation - as promised.”

Mr. Bosio admitted he was a director and secretary of Leisuremasters Ltd - one of the six related companies which the DTI wound in December - but yesterday he said he only worked for it for four months.

British judge Mr. Registrar Jacques said there was no evidence offered against the petitions to wind up Leisuremasters Ltd and another company, but there was evidence Leisuremasters continued to operate after a provisional liquidator had ordered it into provisional liquidation.

Mr. Registrar Jacques said: “These are thoroughly disreputable companies undertaking thoroughly disreputable practices and it is just and equitable for the companies to be wound up.”

Yesterday, Mr. Taylor said the company had spoken to government agencies in the UK and “we have been told that although Leisuremasters Ltd employed Mr. Bosio for four months, there has been absolutely no finding of any wrongdoing and the case is only a civil matter, and it closed without any convictions or findings or wrong-doings on Mr. Bosio's behalf.

“Because of Mr. Bosio's employment by that company for even the short period of time it lasted, we were unable to hire him and he is involved only on a consultancy basis from the US.”

Mr. Taylor works from the same office as Mr. Bosio in Grand Cayman.

A Bermudian employment agency stated yesterday that were owed to $3,500 for non-payment for a member of staff they provided to Back to Bermuda.

Mr. Taylor said Back to Bermuda had contacted the company asking for documentation supporting the claims but had been told there was none.

But the employment agency boss flatly rejected that last night, saying the company had documentation to the Bermudian owners and had been unsuccessfully trying to get money from Mr. Bosio.

She said: “We were asked to send them the documentation by fax to a number in Cayman which doesn't work, and we also gave the documentation to the Bermudian owners.

“Once they took a decision to employ our member of staff they received confirmation by email and we have a copy of that.”

Mr. Taylor accused of “sensationalism” and claimed the newspaper did not give Back to Bermuda the chance to respond.

In fact, the day before the story was published, the newspaper left messages with Mr. Bosio in Grand Cayman and at Back to Bermuda's St. George's office, but did not receive an answer.

left a further message at the home of the company's Bermudian majority shareholder Joya Kezas at lunchtime yesterday seeking comment.

Mrs Kezas said she left a message on the voicemail of reporter Stephen Breen and in the newsroom last night, but the newspaper can find no evidence that messages were left.

Back to Bermuda's website boasts of having “established relationships with some of the island's best resorts and hotels,” and lists Ariel Sands, Aunt Nea's Inn, The Reefs and Cambridge Beaches as properties it “recommends”.

But the hotels said they either had not heard of Back to Bermuda or had not signed any deals with them.

Mrs. Kezas, who is involved in Back to Bermuda with her husband George, said in statement yesterday that as far as she knew “the hotels mentioned in the article were probably approached about the idea of marketing plans aimed at getting tourists to come back to the Island and discussions were in the preliminary stages, with nothing finalised”.

Mrs. Kezas states she “wishes to make it clear that she and her husband George are known in Bermuda as people of trust, integrity, faith and good character, and since she has not had the opportunity to be interviewed by Mr. Breen, questions him, his motives, and the way this article was published on the front page of newspaper today”.

Meanwhile, the newspaper can reveal Mr. Bosio was granted voluntary discharge from the Bankruptcy Court of the Middle District of Florida in April last year when he was trading with the company Private Club Marketing.

When asked about the bankruptcy yesterday, Mr. Bosio said: “That is a private matter and I have no comment on that.”

editor Bill Zuill said yesterday: “We made extensive efforts to get in touch with the Kezas's, Mr. Bosio and the company. It is possible Mrs. Kezas called back, but we cannot find the messages.

“In no way did the story question the integrity of the Bermudian parties or of the Kezas's, but the background issues concerning other people in the company are something the public should know about.

“We made every effort to get both sides and are still prepared to interview them anytime, anywhere.

“We stand by all the facts of the story and there is no question of any improper motivation in the story.”