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Quote: Originally posted by Ang/Ken on 27/8/2011

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I appreciate that lots of people arent keen on up front payments systems. We took our touring caravan to a site in Cornwall last year and was asked for full payment. When people travel abroad everyone has to pay in advance - so really whats the difference?

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Ang

I think that only applies if you book in advance through the likes of the Clubs. On the few occassions I have booked in advance its only been the deposit. Generally we don't book when we go to Europe. Also in Europe it very unusually to pay the campsite fees before the day you leave!

David

Hi only been camping since last year, but have always paid in advance.  Can't see the problem.

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by bestyman on 29/8/2011

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My advice would be to take credit/debit card payments, say first nights payment when booking. I never have a problem with paying up front, why should I?

As a plumber I now ask for deposits for emergency work out of hours. I was sick and tired of leaving the house at midnight and driving for 10 miles to be phoned and told that I was no longer needed as Uncle Fred / Next door neighbour etc had fixed it

I pay 30p per debit card payment and 2% for credit cards . Minimum fees are £25 a month and I can take payments on laptop or on my iphone.

On another point, perhaps you could state on your listing that you are happy to accept  small campervans ( VW and transit type?)  or even smal caravans? Might be helpfull to state the width of the narrow lane.

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I think we are going to change things for next years Bank Holidays, We had people book for the weekend, Thursday to Monday, but then left on Sunday as they wanted to leave whilst the awning was dry (which was late Sunday) so lost one night.  I think whilst we won't ask for payment before, we will request paying within 24hrs of arriving.

keigcf - when do people actually pay for their pitch? we take balances on arrival and if someone were to leave early because they did not want their awning to get wet then that is their decision, they wouldnt get a nights refund though.

Im sure most parks wont take payment on departure, it is not a restaurant.

We always have been very considerate. We never ask for money straight away, I tell people to go and set up and have a cup of tea etc and I'll see them later. When it comes to leaving, I appreciate that it takes time to pack up, and theres nothing worse than having to get up early to ensure kids are fed before having to be off pitch by 11 say. It's only when things like this happen that I get a bit miffed really.

I am generally a last minute camper, which is why I always find it hard to find a pitch in peak times, I dont book too far in advance because i dont want to have to cancel and let the owner down.  Having said that, when I do book (normally a couple of days before I go) i would be more than happy to pay in full, most of the sites normally just let me pay on arrival though, but we always pay in full for the whole time we are planning on staying and when we have left early we would never expect a refund.  Only once have I paid a deposit and then we paid for the first nights camping as a deposit and paid for the rest upon arrival.

I really feel for you site owners with people not turning up, its not fair at all either to you or the people who you may have turned away because you thought you were full!  The last site we stayed on we had only booked 4 nights initially and loved it so much we wanted to stay but we couldnt as they were fully booked, the owner told us to back the night before we were due to leave though as people often didnt turn up (despite paying deposit) and sure enough we were able to stay a further 2 nights!

I do agree that owners need to be able to be contacted one way or another every day they are open.

Looking at the timing issue, we state arrivals from 12 noon and departures by 12 noon during high season, but at other times we have no problem with people leaving by 4pm. On the other hand if they decide to leave early evening because of traffic/weather what ever we wouldnt issue a refund because basically they have been on the pitch all day and would not be able to be booked out to someone else.