Don't some sites want new business???

[LADA]

Booked a long weekend for not one but two caravans at a small site in the North East - purely to try out our new caravans before we go off on longer summer holiday. Unfortunately had to cancel due to work commitments and was advised that our £50 deposit would be forfeited. Asked if we could change the date to save losing depost and told no, company policy is any cancellation within 7 days of arrival means nothing they can do.

I then asked if they could simply hold onto the money as we would like to try their site and as it's quite local they would be getting the business of two families on a regular basis. Guess what? Sorry company policy blah, blah, you are cancelling within 7 day rule....Needless to say they will never get any bookings from us as they haven't the foresight to look at the bigger picture and realise they are turning away regular income. Is this sort of attitude from campsites the norm I wonder - has anyone else experienced this or did we just happen to chose a site so popular that losing new customers won't effect their turnover?

 

[LMH]

Some sites will stipulate if they re-let your pitch, you will get your deposit back. Some won't refund your deposit no matter what.

Cancelling a pitch within a week is very short notice and if its a small site, I can see their reasons behind a refund.

I was looking at a campsites website the other day and in the event of any cancellation at their site, you cannot get your deposit back and neither can you re-book and use the deposit you'd paid.

I gave nine weeks notice of my cancellation to a site once and didn't get a refund.

My tip to you is read the bookings terms and conditions and if you see any terms you don't like, then don't book that site.

If you join the Caravan Club, no deposit is required but most of the good sites are booked up well in advance anyway.

Lisa

 

[Julie_374476190]

I have come across a site recently whereby four friends have booked on for bank holiday weekend in august (for 3 nights only). I tried to book and they are now saying minimum of 5 nights. Think that they are just edging their bets because it is school holidays.

 

[Dustydog]

Lada

You're lucky you only lost your deposit. Legally, in most cases, the site could demand full payment from you.

If you tried to cancel an "overseas package" holiday for the reasons stated you can forget getting your money back.

Sorry to sound unsympathetic but these small sites need every penny of income to survive. The summer months income is crucial to their winter survival.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[LADA]

appreciate your thoughts and comments guys.

I did email the campsite stating I understood their need to keep deposits and that I wasn't complaining or anything - it was just the fact that they are a very local site we didn't know about and as a family with two caravans we would use them regularly if the first visit had gone well.

My question to them was, in these circumstances, couldn't they have held the deposits until they had dates available we could use but no, they had staff to pay so it was up to us to decide whether or not to try them in the months ahead!

Mmmmm, still not convinced they take customer service seriouslyy enough for us to try them out. Have now booked two other breaks we can definitely make so looking forward to the summer of caravanning. Regards to all, LADA.

 

[DomDom]

I can see both sides of the argument there but would agree it does grate somewhat when you get an automaton reading the T's & C's to you.

We had the same thing with a CCC site a few months back when all that snow came down. Apparently the "Site was still open" but unfortunately all the roads leading to it weren't.

Anyway, suffice to say we put it down to experience and will never book there again. I understand the site's need to make the money in the summer when peak season is upon us but this was winter. Such sites will probably not survive in the longer term as more people become aware of their practices.

I personally favour the CC policy of not taking deposits. Yes it does lead to a lot of cancellations and there are rumours that this might change. But, if like my good lady you're handy with the internet, last minute bookings are plentiful. Many times I've been told on a friday to "Go get the van, we're going to X". Spontaneity isn't everyone's cup of tea but it suits us.

Also worth noting that the best sites are usually full at the weekends as well. For me, the best sites have the best wardens, the ones with a human side who leave you with a good experience. Perhaps they're also the ones who understand the power of the internet and how one bad review can lead to many lost bookings. I know we always read the reviews before booking, or at least, SWMBO does.

 

[Steve_374341117]

I had to cancel a C&CC booking 2 weeks ago, due to family illness, within 7 days and lost my deposit.

I was already on a CC site, and been for one night intending to stay for seven, before moving on to the C&CC site but had to leave immediately.

When I took the barrier key back to reception on the CC site and explained the reason for early departure I was given a full refund of the nights I had paid for but would not now be staying for. Very understanding I thought, unlike the C&CC.

I know it's within the T&Cs but it is a CLUB and I am a member (for now!!)