A YORK woman has claimed that she went to a Global Vacations presentation after being promised a Gucci watch - but is still waiting for her gift.

Heather Knowlson, of Rawcliffe, spoke out as still more worried customers contacted the Evening Press to tell of their concerns about the firm, with the total now known to have been paid out to Global topping £40,000.

The paper has faxed ten key questions to the firm about the problems experienced by its customers, including: will it apologise for the poor service given to clients, and will it give refunds to those demanding them?

Mrs Knowlson claimed she went to a presentation put on by Global at its former offices in Barleycorn Yard, York, on July 6, having received a phone call telling her she had won a Paolo Gucci watch worth £500 and then a letter saying she had won a free holiday.

"I said: "No strings attached?" and they said: "No. Absolutely nothing."

But she said that when she turned up and asked for her free gifts, staff said they knew nothing about it and accused her of being aggressive when she pressed her demands. She said she was eventually told one would be forwarded to her, but nothing has since arrived in the post. She said she had not paid out any money.

A Global Vacations spokeswoman said today that there had been delays in importing the Paolo Gucci watches that had been promised to customers. But she said that all customers promised the watches would receive them. The spokeswoman said other questions faxed to the firm would be answered later this week and added that the firm was still trading, and had simply closed down its York office because the marketing operation in the area was thought to have run its course.

Meanwhile a stream of other readers have continued to call us to tell they had paid Global sums of up to £4,995 and were concerned about the poor service they had received in response.

York trading standards department said it has received more than 120 complaints and queries about Global Vacations from people who have paid the firm a total of £64,000.