Is it time to bring back deposits??
New topic and copioed from the block booking thread. Time I was back abed. 
Hi everyone. I have posted this before, but will copy it into this thread for those who have not seen it and to try and balance things a little.
Whenever I read posts on 'booking systems and deposits', I always think of a couple of comments that someone made in the early days of C.T.
Some years ago the CC used to take deposits. By taking deposits, the Club found that if folk decided to cancel, individuals felt under no obligation to let the site know as they'd payed their deposit, therefore site staff still couldn't let pitches as they didn't know if the person who booked the pitch would turn up or not.
Secondly, after the Club ditched the idea of deposits, members were much better at informing sites if they were unable to fulfil their obligation.
Thirdly, when I attended the Midland Region Question time session earlier on this year, Grenville Chamberlain said that to re-introduce booking deposits would now cost the about an extra £1 a night per pitch to implement this. Obviously, I cannot comment on how this figure was calculated, but I'm sure the Club will have done it's homework.
Fourthly, a comment on the '72 hour rule'. No system will ever be perfect, but one way of looking at it is that not everyone is able to book all their sites straight away when the booking opens in September. By allowing a 72 hour cancellation period, thisopens up some late booking possibilities for those who find it difficult to book months ahead. If there were deposits, as I mentioned above, folk do not feel obliged to let the site know if they are not coming (they don't feel obliged to do so as they have foregone their deposit). The 72 hour rule does open up some possibilities, which otherwise would leave pitches empty.
Just trying to help.
Best wishes
David
The deposit system finished quite a while ago David. Could be a different story now as there were many other factors. I have no idea when deposits were removed. I do know that I rarely booked any distance ahead. Certainly not in December as I find I need to now for the year. I wonder, at the time of deposits, how far ahead people were booking? I remember going away for 7 weeks in the main school jolidays some 15 years ago and only booking Saturday nights (except bank holiday) to leave me free to move at liesure over 9 sites. I booked just over a week before departure.
Last year I booked Caernarvon site a few weeks ahead and had to cancel due to a family illness. Iried to rebook a week later (in April outside schoolholidays) and it was full booked the non facility site at Anglesey and could only get 4 nights (also tried the facility site on Anglesey and that was also Full.). Late cancellation on the Wednesday let me book Thursday and on Thursday there were Friday cancellations. On both days there were more than one cancellation. There were at least 3 for Friday morning on the Thursday because the warden syopped me to tell me as I had asked about it. So it may have made little difference when the booking fees were in place but then I, for one would rarely book more than a couple of weeks ahead at most. Now I book in December for over 16 sites (April/May, June /July. September, Christmas.) apart from Christmas none only the May one is likely to include a bank holiday. At the time when deposits were required I suspect that there was little need in many ways. Today times have changed. If I want weekends away at peak school holiday times I now would be booking in December for August. I never did 15 years ago. In booking weekends in August during December If I was working and had children I would have no idea as to my availabilty in August. Howeve under the present syten I could cancel the Tuesday before any weekend so why worry? Fine this does enable late weekend bookings dor a few but anyone wanting to go away for a couple of weeks but booking in July for August may well be struggling. Take, for example, my experience in mid September this year. The previous year I took 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 weeks reaks and a week at Christmas as my eldest looked after the cat. Even though she lived only half a mile away and 'owed me a few favoues' for worh done at her house I was loathe to ask her to call by to feed the cat more often than she did and did not want the cat in a cattery. The cat died early this year and so all holidays have been extended by a week. In December last year I booked 3 weeks over 4 sites in September. No cat and so we said 'if weather is reasonable we will book an extra 6 nights on a site near home at Chirk as there are some nice walks. On Sunday 16th September I was able to book 4 nights to to arrive at Chirk on Sunday 23rd leave on Wednsday 27th. Not enough but by Tuesday evening 18th I was able to book two extra days and so the system worked out OK for me. My neighbour on the Chirk site wanted to stay a couple of days more. and by the tuesday found he could.due to a cancellation and so it worked for him.
The latest Club move meaning that you get a black mark if you don't cancel a booking 3 days ahead is a step in the right direction. However I think that instead of 3 days it should be more like 4 weeks. I also think that despite what Grenville said times have changed. I believe tha tit is time to bring back deposits. or a similar system.
I would suggest that when bookin credit/debit card details are provide and if you don't cancel your bookingd 4 weeks ahead you loose £20/£25 for each site (insurance is available) - maybe the club could offer it to cover for medical situations for members and relatives. If you did not cancel within 3 days then add in the present black mark.
As Dillon said 'The times they are a changing'.
Anybody reading this post don't think 'poor bugger up till turned 3am'. I was asleep early and woke up at 3am. Back to my pit soon!! I think I will start a new thread using this post though before re-retiring..