A 23-year-old jobseeker who accepted a position as a tour guide after meeting a recruiter at a Paisley employment fair has discovered the company appears to operate without legitimate premises, functioning buses, or formal hiring procedures. The discovery has left multiple new recruits questioning whether they were victims of an elaborate deception.
Ella was approached by Darryl Smith, identified as founder and chief executive of Haggis Waggon Tours, during a jobs fair organised by Invest in Renfrewshire and the Department of Work and Pensions in June. She was offered employment on the spot without undergoing a formal interview process.
Within seven days of this initial meeting, Ella's photograph and profile appeared on the company's website listed as a "guest favourite"—despite her never having conducted a tour or interacted with any customers. An email purporting to come from the HR department then requested her home address, right-to-work documentation, and bank account details.
When asked about the absence of formal interviews, Smith responded by email that candidates instead received training designed to allow them to assess whether the role suited them.
What raised suspicion about the company's legitimacy?
On 9 July, the group of newly hired staff members were invited to participate in what was described as a "training exercise" walking around Paisley. Ella noticed immediately that the bus Smith claimed to have brought was nowhere to be seen. The group was then directed to a building on Paisley High Street that Smith identified as the company's head office. The premises were vacant and secured with locks.
The same address had been displayed on the business website under a "contact us" section. However, when contacted by a national broadcaster, the building's landlord confirmed that Smith held no lease on the property. The website's contact information has since been updated to list an Edinburgh address instead. Smith told the broadcaster that the Paisley location had only ever served as a meeting point for tours departing from that town and that listing it had been an error on his part.
Despite these warning signs, Ella chose to proceed and agreed to shadow a Harry Potter-themed tour scheduled for 13 July. She and three others were to be collected by a Haggis Waggon Tours coach from Paisley at 8am. After waiting four hours, no vehicle arrived.
Smith attributed the failure to a mix-up and cited personal domestic difficulties. When Ella raised concerns about the buses, she noted that Smith had previously explained that the images displayed on the company's social media and website were artificially generated because the fleet had not yet been fully branded.
"I think to this day none of us have actually seen the buses. They don't exist, do they?"Ella said.
Smith responded that the coaches "do in fact exist" and reiterated that online images were AI-generated because the company was new and coaches were still being wrapped with branding.
What happened to the job applicants?
Ella spent weeks researching Scottish history and witch trials without payment in preparation for a role that never materialised. She now faces returning to the job search.
"I'd never thought about being a tour guide before, but when I actually was standing there that day and I put some thought into it and I would love to do that job. It leaves you feeling a bit helpless. What am I supposed to do now?"she said.
Jennifer, another member of the recruitment group who requested anonymity, also met Smith at the Paisley jobs fair. She recalled that Smith appeared credible at the time, wearing a kilt and a polo shirt bearing the Haggis Waggon Tours logo.
"[He] seemed dead friendly,"she said. She discovered she had been hired without interview only when added to a WhatsApp group chat. Her photograph was also posted to the company website. After the bus failed to arrive on 13 July, she requested removal of her personal information.
Jennifer has since applied for Universal Credit and expressed frustration at not understanding Smith's intentions.
"What really annoys me the most is just the fact that I don't know why. I feel disheartened. I thought I was getting a job, and it was a decent job, a good job, a fun job and something I could take pride in about my own country. You put your trust in someone and then they sort of rip it from underneath you. And it just really concerns me that he has personal details of me, and I don't want that coming back on me."
What is known about Smith's other business activities?
Haggis Waggon Tours does not appear in the Companies House register, but Smith is listed as a director of two other businesses. One of these, Mó Chroi Travel Ltd, accumulated multiple reviews on TripAdvisor describing cancelled tours, delayed refunds, and experiences characterised as scams. Mó Chroi Travel Ltd was subject to a compulsory strike-off order on 21 July and was dissolved on 28 July.
Jennifer reported the situation to Job Centre staff who had originally encouraged her to attend the jobs fair. A Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson stated:
"We are sorry to hear about these jobseekers' experiences and are considering new measures when engaging with prospective employers. Our priority remains supporting people into work – our Work Coaches continue to provide personalised employment support tailored to individual need."
What claims does the company make about itself?
The Haggis Waggon Tours website describes the business as offering "expertly crafted" experiences, including Outlander and Harry Potter tours. Smith is characterised as the company's founder and chief executive, described as "the heart, humour, and unstoppable energy" behind the operation, overseeing everything from route design and guest experience to team culture and the "iconic blue fleet".
Until contacted by a national broadcaster, the website displayed a logo suggesting a partnership with VisitScotland. A VisitScotland spokesperson clarified:
"Haggis Waggon Tours is not 'in partnership with' VisitScotland."The site also previously featured a logo indicating the business had received a TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award. TripAdvisor confirmed that no experience provided by Haggis Waggon Tours had ever received this recognition.
However, VisitScotland's website continues to list a Harry Potter Day Tour attributed to Haggis Waggon Tours as a bookable product with year-round departure dates and pricing from £60. The listing describes the tour as a one-day coach experience led by a driver guide for groups of 31 or more, classified under film and television themes.
What do the company's terms and policies state?
The company's legal and booking page, last updated on 5 August 2026, provides separate contact email addresses for bookings and complaints, with a stated commitment to respond to complaints within 48 hours. The page also indicates that complaints can be raised with a guide on the day of a tour or submitted by email.
What should affected individuals do?
Those who believe they have been defrauded should retain all proof of sale and contact their bank to initiate a fraud claim, according to Police Scotland's guidance on holiday fraud. A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council advised anyone with concerns about a business to contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or visit www.consumeradvice.scot.
BBC Scotland understands that Haggis Waggon Tours did not have an established relationship with Invest in Renfrewshire and was invited to the jobs fair by a partner organisation.
Key Facts
- Ella and other jobseekers were hired without formal interviews after meeting Darryl Smith at a Paisley jobs fair in June
- The company's listed head office on Paisley High Street was found to be empty and locked, with the landlord confirming Smith held no lease
- A scheduled tour on 13 July failed to materialise, with no bus arriving after a four-hour wait
- Smith's previous business, Mó Chroi Travel Ltd, was dissolved in July following complaints of cancelled tours and unrefunded payments
- Haggis Waggon Tours does not appear in the Companies House register, though it continues to be listed on VisitScotland's booking platform
