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Because of this we are now thinking of taking a deposit and like on our static hire, ask for the balance to be paid 4 weeks prior to arrival. 

We ourselves have a touring caravan and are planning to visit a park in cornwall in October.  Their payments are deposit followed by the balance paid 6 (not 4) weeks prior to arrival.  I can see why they are doing this and lots of other people will also understand, its just that for camping & caravanning its has not been the norm. 

Lots of other types of holidays are paid for in advance so why is it we caravanners dont expect to? I've been a camper / caravan for many years and never thought it was needed but after owning a site for 14 years i do now see the need. No idea why but its a sign of the times i am afraid!

Unfortunately for our customers, we now request a 50% deposit for this very reason, operating this particular site for the past 7 years we have found that there was a dramatic increase in NO SHOWS.   The way we operate is approx 4 weeks prior to booking we send a letter confirming the booking dates, type of unit etc and ask for a 50% deposit to be paid by cheque by a certain date.

We tried taking a smaller value deposit but found that we were getting messed about just as much.

We have found 50% deposit has had a significant difference to whether folks had actually intended showing up in the first place, and allows us plenty of time to re allocate the pitch to those who had little intention in the first place.  We have had one no show this bank holiday weekend and that was a 'late booker' in any case so not so problematic.

Happy Days for us and all those who wish to enjoy our site and its facilities.

Liz

We also have been caught this week, we were turning people away as we were up to our maximum on the electric, and one caravan never showed up,very annoying when its for a week and we could have let the pitch 10 times over! One lady only booked the day before but never showed up. We will be asking for deposits for next years Victorian Festival as it is a busy week. I know I would appreciate a phone call.

I know it has been raining lately, but our field was still firm, oh well you live and learn.

well we failed to show up at pillaton in may couldnt remember if we had booked rang to check and they said we hadnt so booked elsewhere then had a phone call to ask what time would we be arriing oops (and when we had booked I had paid in full !!!)

we have no cancelled a trip away yet but if we had to we would ring to let them kno (actually thats a lie we cancelled at le croix du viex pont gave at least 6 weeks notice and they said ou deposit would be ok to use next year )

I'm self employed too (dog groomer) and no shows are a pain in the ass, last year I lost over £1000 in earnings through it, I have some who are regularly unreliable then ring up a fortnight later to book without even apologising and then moan when I have a waiting list.

In fact one of my regular no shows didn't turn up yesterday.

If I find a customer is a regular "no-show"er (it happens more than twice), then I ban them from ever visiting us again. That person is then welcome to plague somewhere else!

Quote: Originally posted by Ang/Ken on 31/8/2010

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daft point here but did you know its cheaper for us to take card payment than it is to take cash!!  why because the banks charge us more for paying in the cash!

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Quote: Originally posted by Francophile1947 on 01/9/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Ang/Ken on 31/8/2010

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daft point here but did you know its cheaper for us to take card payment than it is to take cash!!  why because the banks charge us more for paying in the cash!

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That`s why i have a giggle to myself when people ask" any deals for cash" Quite why we should be doing deals anyway

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