Rebekah Richardson, 38, and Dale Wood, 46, wanted to take their children - Jacob, eight, and Oliver, seven - on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Universal Studios in Orlando. But when they compared the price of going in September during term time to the October half term there was a staggering jump in price.
Rebekah, a hairdresser, from Clowne, Derbyshire, said: “We’re being treated as criminals for taking our young kids on holiday. I feel as parents we’re penalised for everything now. Dale, an army veteran who now works for a water company, had been suffering from PTSD after his brother, Gavin, died suddenly aged 35. The holiday - from September 12 to September 27 - was in part to help with his suffering mental health, and the destination was his late brother's favourite place.
The couple are currently disputing the amount, due to their financial circumstances changing. The family is now behind on every bill and have had to set up a direct debit to pay £170-a-month to pay off the fine and say they're struggling.