CALLS to York Credit Union (YCU) have grown since the collapse of the Christmas hamper firm Farepak, with more people signing up as members.

Manager Mike Horncastle believes the fresh interest is a sign of people "growing wise" to high-interest doorstep lenders and starting to shop around for a better deal.

The news comes as a renewed appeal goes out for donations to the York-based Farepak Response Fund before the final deadline this Friday.

Vouchers with major retailers will then be distributed to customers through the Farepak agents.

Staff at The Family Fund, at Monks Cross, launched the emergency appeal to ease the financial hardship among low-income savers devastated by the failure of the Farepak voucher scheme.

Donations from businesses have so far reached £4,375,000 while individual donations have hit £111,000.

Mr Horncastle said it was impossible to say how many of YCU's new customers had been affected by the demise of Farepak.

However, the ensuing bad press surrounding such saving schemes had resulted in "quite a number of inquiries to York Credit Union", and most, if not all, have become members.

"People are getting wise to these very high-interest charging organisations and organisations that are not regulated in the same way as ours," he said.

"If something similar happened to York Credit Union as it did to Farepak, all our members would get their money back. We are a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme."

As a result of the Farepak debacle, YCU is launching a Christmas Savings Scheme in January which will allow people to save with the credit union for next Christmas.

It will run parallel to members' ordinary YCU savings accounts and will be paid out on December 1, 2007. It will also have earned a dividend.

Mr Horncastle admitted that many people were still unaware of YCU which was launched earlier this year after eights years in the planning.

"It is up uphill struggle because credit unions aren't well-known in York," said Mr Horncastle. "But that's beginning to change."

The Farepak Response Fund is still seeking donations from private companies, charitable trusts and members of the public to enable vouchers to be provided to the families in time for Christmas.

To donate by credit and debit card, tel: 0845 260 1096. Cheques payable to Farepak Response Fund should be sent to Farepak Response Fund, Unit 4, Alpha Court, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York YO32 9WN.

Donations can also be made online at www.farepakresponsefund.org.uk. Individuals or businesses wishing to make a large donation should phone 01904 550 038. Victims of Farepak should register with the administrator, BDO/Stoy Hayward on 0870 0669826.