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Frootbat - did you actually ask for your money back? If so what was their response?

If you havent already I asked I think you may have missed the boat but perhaps a polite letter  asking for some kind of goodwill gesture would be worth a try.

Quote: Originally posted by emvid1 on 27/5/2008

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Frootbat - did you actually ask for your money back? If so what was their response?

If you havent already I asked I think you may have missed the boat but perhaps a polite letter  asking for some kind of goodwill gesture would be worth a try.

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Hi emvid1

We asked the warden about a refund and what happens in these sorts of situations as unfortunately reception was closed at the time our tent had broken. The warden didn't really say alot just pointed out about the fact he had about 20 broken tents! and we'd need to get in contact with the site owners. He couldn't help at all really.

We're trying to compose a polite email at the moment, I'm going to give it a try and ask, I think if they're as half as good as they come across then they should do something about it but we'll have to wait and see. I've had fairly mixed opinions on here as you probably read, I suppose its a bit of a grey area really.

Quote: Originally posted by Caroline M on 28/5/2008

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If it were a package holiday you have to pay up front and there are no refunds whatsoever for bad weather- thought it was the same priciple for campsites!!

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But if the wind blew down your hotel I imagine that the holiday company would offer you some alternative accomodation.

Quote: Originally posted by Trifecta on 28/5/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by Caroline M on 28/5/2008

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If it were a package holiday you have to pay up front and there are no refunds whatsoever for bad weather- thought it was the same priciple for campsites!!

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But if the wind blew down your hotel I imagine that the holiday company would offer you some alternative accomodation.

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The site have fulfilled their side of the contract.

They have provided a pitch for you to erect your accomodation.  If you cannot erect your accomodation, through no fault of the campsite, I fail to see why the site should issue a refund.

Quote: Originally posted by TekkieAnne on 27/5/2008

I have never, ever and never will pay the full price up front. I'm more than happy to pay a reasonable deposit and if the T&Cs said it was non refundable, I could live with that - although I would probably ask if it could be refunded in a case like this. I wouldn't hold out too much hope though. lol

"The requirement to hand over extortionate deposits is also becoming rife. I'm happy to pay a deposit of between 10% and 25% but beyond that is just plain greedy on the part of the sites.

Of course, package deal operators require payment in full, up front if travelling within a few weeks of booking, but then there is much more to take care of ie flights, hotels, transfers etc etc. All site operators have to do is mow the grass and clean the toilets."

To Clear up a few issues we gave a full refund to a customer whos tent pole snapped and thus he was unable to erect his tent and had to go home, the reason for the full refund was that he was part of a group who had booked and paid a sizeable deposit well in advance.  The rest of the group carried on camping and had a lovely time thank you very much and I guess they will return.

I do take offence at comments like vics above, I for one am NOT a greedy campsite owner, obviously I have to make a profit in order to live ( infact up to this year my hubby has been out to work to support our living expenses!) but in no way am I 'greedy'. 

This year we have implemented a 50% non refundable deposit before arrival, the reason for this is the amount of NO shows and whats more the lack of communications from no shows.  Even with this system we have still had people whom have not turned up and whats more not called to let us know they are not going to turn up.  Believe me over the years we have tried no deposits - 10% deposits still with a significant amount of people having a complete lack of respect and not informing of their no show.  Indeed this whitsun we have turned away many many people and still had people not turn up - who suffers?

As for the comment that all that site owners have to do is mow grass and clean toilets - I am shocked - if this was all I had to do then blimey my life would be wonderfully easy, and in any case does this alone not take up quite a bit of time/money?  I can only speak for us but we do a darn site more than mow grass and clean toilets  - what about maintenence of the buildings?  paying of the electrics/gas/fuel/business rates?  ensuring the play equipment is in good order? taking the bookings? administering the bookings? dealing with customer enquiries? ensuring the customer is happy?  ensuring customers are respectful to other customers?  and that's just in the day to day..... I could go on in terms of ensuring the facilities  are to a standard including spending the last 3 winters developing the park to ensure customers have a pleasant time whilst on the park including spending a significant of money on a new amenity building, new pitches, 16amp electric, new dishwash laundry, new reception, new games room to name but a few - maybe we should give away pitches??!!!

Rant over cos I've run out of steam

Liz

Quote: Originally posted by Jakers on 28/5/2008

"The requirement to hand over extortionate deposits is also becoming rife. I'm happy to pay a deposit of between 10% and 25% but beyond that is just plain greedy on the part of the sites.

Of course, package deal operators require payment in full, up front if travelling within a few weeks of booking, but then there is much more to take care of ie flights, hotels, transfers etc etc. All site operators have to do is mow the grass and clean the toilets."

To Clear up a few issues we gave a full refund to a customer whos tent pole snapped and thus he was unable to erect his tent and had to go home, the reason for the full refund was that he was part of a group who had booked and paid a sizeable deposit well in advance. The rest of the group carried on camping and had a lovely time thank you very much and I guess they will return.

I do take offence at comments like vics above, I for one am NOT a greedy campsite owner, obviously I have to make a profit in order to live ( infact up to this year my hubby has been out to work to support our living expenses!) but in no way am I 'greedy'.

This year we have implemented a 50% non refundable deposit before arrival, the reason for this is the amount of NO shows and whats more the lack of communications from no shows. Even with this system we have still had people whom have not turned up and whats more not called to let us know they are not going to turn up. Believe me over the years we have tried no deposits - 10% deposits still with a significant amount of people having a complete lack of respect and not informing of their no show. Indeed this whitsun we have turned away many many people and still had people not turn up - who suffers?

As for the comment that all that site owners have to do is mow grass and clean toilets - I am shocked - if this was all I had to do then blimey my life would be wonderfully easy, and in any case does this alone not take up quite a bit of time/money? I can only speak for us but we do a darn site more than mow grass and clean toilets - what about maintenence of the buildings? paying of the electrics/gas/fuel/business rates? ensuring the play equipment is in good order? taking the bookings? administering the bookings? dealing with customer enquiries? ensuring the customer is happy? ensuring customers are respectful to other customers? and that's just in the day to day..... I could go on in terms of ensuring the facilities are to a standard including spending the last 3 winters developing the park to ensure customers have a pleasant time whilst on the park including spending a significant of money on a new amenity building, new pitches, 16amp electric, new dishwash laundry, new reception, new games room to name but a few - maybe we should give away pitches??!!!

Rant over cos I've run out of steam

Liz

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Rant away Liz if it makes you feel better. It's a relief that you ran out of steam. If you'd gone on any longer, you may have popped a rivet!!!!

Why are site owners so sensitive to criticism? I know only too well that profit has to be made in order to continually improve facilities and I'm sure the paying public in the main understand this.

I also know that a great deal of hard work has to go into developing and running a successful site. However, it is the manner in which SOME of the sites ply their trade which rankles.

My remark about mowing the grass and cleaning the toilets was meant to be tongue in cheek, but reading it again, I can see that I may have touched a raw nerve with some.

I have should have inserted the "winking" emoticon.

Never mind dear, have a nice day!!!!!

Post last edited on 29/05/2008 09:55:15