Booking Fees for the Honeypots

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Comments

  • petertr
    petertr Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited February 2017 #152

    My last reply was as much at a number of people / the overwhelming feeling than it was directly at you.

    My apologies, I should have split it into different posts - I didn't think that through properly, but I was rather annoyed at the time for obvious reasons - although that's no excuse.

  • petertr
    petertr Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited February 2017 #153

    If my posts seem like they don't apply to you, then they probably don't.  I'm heartened to see someone post what you have - obviously not everyone feels the same way.  Many people do indeed have empathy.

    I do, however, get the overall feeling that the people posting in this thread enjoy having the benefit of the current system, and are outraged at the idea that it might be changed.  Claiming something is "fair for all" isn't the same as actually being as fair as something can be.

    I really hope the club changes, as its by far the best network of sites in the UK, but until the culture changes, I will always feel that I cannot be part of a club that discriminates - my direct debit is cancelled, which I'm sure will make a few people rather happy (and/or smug)

    Anyway, that's my last post on the matter. And since another (very good, I might add) poster left behind a rather cryptic quote about clothing, I'll leave my own, something which drives me forwards:

     

    “Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”

     

    Thanks for engaging with me, enjoy your holidays and best wishes,
    Peter

     

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2017 #154

    I suspect that there are many retired folk that don't want to book peak times such as bank holidays and school holidays etc. As an example I very much doubt if my bookings stop other members on most of the sites that I use. One of the busiest times that I see on sites is September when a lot of oldies make the best of late Summer into Autumn after the school holidays.

    As for the honey pot sites they hold no interest for me. I do however like to be able to book for the year but when booking opening date is makes no odds nor what time of day.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #155

    Thank you for the apology.

  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Forum Participant Posts: 438
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    edited March 2017 #156

    This thread has now covered 16 pages with over 156 comments, so it would appear that it is a bone of contention one way or the other for members. Looking through the posts most (but not all ) seem happy with not having to pay deposits and want the status quo.

    I've continually checked the dates we wanted in December but no joy. We will want these dates in 2018 as well, because we meet up with friends every year in York prior to Christmas. For 2018 I'll make sure I hit the keyboard on frenzy day to get what I want. 

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #157

    You will have no competition from me Fatbelly no matter what dates you want there. 

  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Forum Participant Posts: 438
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    edited March 2017 #158

    Thanks Pal cool

  • Trislowden
    Trislowden Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited April 2017 #159

    I have been trying to book a specific site for easter and the following week, it has been showing as fully booked. I have been logging on every day to check availability and now surprise surprise there are pitches available due to cancellations. 

    I have also tried to book Rowntree on many occasions and have never been able to get a pitch.

    There are many sites that are fully booked for all holiday periods as early as January each year, which then become available due to cancellations. 

    i think it would improve matters if a member was allowed 1 cancellation per year or more if they could provide a valid reason such as bereavement, any other cancellations should incur a fee of the first nights pitch fees.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2017 #160

    Do you know they are cancellations? have you spoken to the site staff there are other reasons pitches become available ,work on site before? grass pitches that have been unusable?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,430 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #161

    There are many sites that are fully booked for all holiday periods as early as January each year, which then become available due to cancellations.

    I just wondered how you know this?

    So your saying that a cancellation, after the first, no matter how far in advance would incur one night's fee?

    And how would the club get this money?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2017 #162

    I have been trying to book a specific site for easter and the following week, it has been showing as fully booked. I have been logging on every day to check availability and now surprise surprise there are pitches available due to cancellations.

    Sorted then. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #163

    Even if they are cancellations, and you cannot know that for sure, Trislowden, how on earth are you going to charge/fine people for cancelling? 

    Given that the club is very reluctant to suspend users who abuse this forum because that might lose the club a little bit of business, I can't see them kicking members out if they fail to pay a fine.

    Just be glad a pitch became available for whatever reason. It's a real stroke of good luck at this late stage. 

     

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #164

    "I have been trying to book a specific site for easter and the following week, it has been showing as fully booked. I have been logging on every day to check availability and now surprise surprise there are pitches available due to cancellations."

     

    Well, it's good to know the system has worked for you, T. But which site were you looking for and how long have you been looking? It's hardly surprising that popular sites book up quickly for Easter, but you've been lucky. A good example of the club system working to a member's advantage! smile

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #165

    notwithstanding the merits or otherwise of 'fining' members for cancellations....the mechanics of collection are easily sorted....

    add any 'penalty fine' to the next site bill. if balance not paid in full on entry (as we are all duty bound to do) then no entry would be allowed.

    collecting a carry forward (debit) is no different to it being applied by any other provider (gas, electric, water, campingwink) if it isnt paid, services arent forthcoming.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #166

    BB, the member can choose to walk away and tell the club where to put their fine. Thus, one less person paying club membership fees and future site charges. The club won't risk excommunicating members unless they commit a heinous 'crime' so I'm afraid normal business logic and the processes of debt recovery don't apply here.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #167

    so the member would cut off his nose to spite his face?....

    most CC members on CT would pay extra to remain in the club not vice versa...

    i dont necessarily agree with penalties anyway (as per my post) but the collection of a few quid is certainly easy enough, every other company seems to be able to manage it.

    depends how much the customer wants the product, apparently the club cant cope with the amount of pitch demand already....and losing £40+ is no skin off the nose of a company making mega bucks each year...

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,147 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #168

    Nope, sorry, I totally disagree but there's no point in me repeating my previous words ad infinitum.

    If you want someone to collect debts for you I'll happily oblige but the scenario described here is laughable and unrealistic. That is my professional view as well as my personal one.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #169

    well, thanks but i can collect my own debts, but perhaps the cc could employ you as a debt collecting consultant?wink

    happy to disagree, but yet again, we have the 'uniqueness' of the club which seems to prevent it from doing the things that other companies (leisure and otherwise) seem to manage every day.

    still, we are entitled to have differing opinions, professional or other wiseundecided

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #170

    I do not think fines will work. If you are going to be fined if you cancel then you are back to the old problem of lost deposits in that you simply just do not turn up as the loss stays the same and that means all chance of letting the pitch is lost. Possibly no shows should be treated more harshly than cancelations.

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #171

    The answer i see is if you cancel regularly then have all of your bookings cancelled. And only allowed to book within a week before the date you want to go.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #172

    In reality we have no idea what the CAMC do in relation to persistent offenders. Perhaps they do have bookings suspended and / or expelled. Personally I do not think it a huge problem. Given the number of folk going away each weekend it is inevitable you will get a fair number cancelling for quite legitimate reasons. Add on to this the late release of grass pitches into the system and it is easy to see why the conspiracy theory of large numbers cancelling on a whim has developed.