New Booking System
Comments
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New website is rubbish, prices have gone through the roof and extra charges too boot!
Enough is enough after 10 years plus. I'm off to the Caravan and Camping Club and I bet I won't be the only one!!
Check out there website.... and prices!
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We use the C&CC as well birdy, also other providers. However, they don’t have sites in a lot of places the the CAMC does. It would therefore be rather self defeating to reject them, especially when their T&C’s are still better than most.
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"I've heard this many times about failed systems and change, blame the end user for not understanding the new technology and don't worry it will eventually be ok"
you are so right and i apologise, of course this is not new technology, we are all expected to continue to use our preferred technology, e.g. i use Firefox, others use Apple , Google, etc, and i assume the new system is using the same platform and software as previous, but where are the instructions for the new programme/software required if we are to make it work, not used the system so have no idea if there is a user manual you can refer to, from reading some of the previous posts there are no instructions, it seems to be a case of "suck it and see"
*the persons responsible for the change leave, members will muddle through it but those responsible should be held to account "
well if they leave it would be nigh on impossible to hold them to account, but i see where you are coming from, not even looked at the new system, but looks to me from previous posts that members are doing the beta testing and then posting their findings on CT, not a very professional way to introduce a new system.
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Can we then have some reasons from HO about their silence over all the concerns raised regarding the new booking system please!
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Not sure if posted in the correct 'thread', could be better or more appropriate in thread 'What have they done', and have to admit that I might well have missed a post in either which dealt with the following principle, Advice is to read the following vary carefully. Cannot see how this increases the mantra of more pitch availability and providing a better experience!!!!. Just another example of money grabbing in my opinion, but here goes; found as the last answer given on FAQ:-
If you're leaving a Club Campsite earlier than planned, please inform the Site Staff as soon as possible so we can cancel the nights that you wish to remove from your stay. This will enable us to make the pitch available to other visitors and it may reduce the Early Departure Charge:
If you give 3+ days (nights) notice (For example, where you tell us on Monday that you’re leaving on the forthcoming Thursday you have provided 3 nights notice: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday) - We will refund your balancing payment element for all nights removed from the original duration of your stay and will retain the original deposit element for all nights removed) – i.e. you will lose the deposit on all nights shortened from your stay.
If you give less than 3 days (nights) notice (For example, where you tell us on Monday that you’re leaving on the forthcoming Wednesday you have only provided 2 nights notice: Monday & Tuesday) - We will retain the full price (deposit and balance elements) for nights removed from your stay where those nights removed are within 3 days (nights) from when you notify us that you are departing early. If there are additional remaining nights removed from your stay which extend beyond 3 days (nights) from when you inform us then we will retain the deposit only for those nights and refund your balancing payment element for those nights – ie you lose the full value for nights shortened from your stay where they are within 3 nights of you notifying us, and you lose the deposit only for remaining nights removed beyond the 3 nights from when you notify us.
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A word of caution to anyone amending bookings on the new system to check prices quoted, but also praise for CAMC staff.
Yesterday I realised I had booked too many nights at a site for next July so I logged on, found the booking, went to amend it to go a day later, so 1 night less than originally booked. It asked me for cancellation reason which I selected as work commitments, and added new dates to my basket. Went to view basket to see that the price quoted had gone up by +£30 !!! thinking this couldn't possibly be right, I went on live chat. they couldn't answer why, so arranged a call back. I received the call back within a couple of hours. When they looked at my booking and my basket it showed that the site was charging 1 night less....but had added on £77 cancellation charges for amending a booking reducing by 1 night 10 months in advance!!!!. They managed to amend my booking to correct cost, no cancellation charges and reported it to IT as an error.
Live chat, call back time and staff sorting it out were all really helpful, resolved my booking issue and reported it. They were all polite and helpful, during what must be a challenging time for them, as well as members trying to get to grips with new booking system and associated issues and glitches.
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Before the new system, if you left early I don’t think you got your money back did you? A couple of years ago we had to leave a site at least two days early because of my partners health and I don’t remember getting any money back. We didn’t expect it, either.
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I'm 46 and I'm not overly tech savvy but I can normally navigate my self around apps , the new one is just impossible, im trying to navigate around it can't find anything I'm not patient admitted but after 10 mins gave up got the book out , though getting someone to answer a phone to book a pitch like pulling teeth Come on make it user freindly!!!, region, location, type of pitch , date of holiday and book it.. its not rocket science but I'm afraid you have made it that way.
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What a shambles . After giving up booking on line I waited forever to sort it on the phone. All sorted or so I thought. I never received an email confirmation but looked as though the booking was made on my on line bookings. We turned up on site later and the booking in their system hadn’t been amended and even after showing our card was told we were not members! I eventually got onto my online account to clarify the booking. It’s stressful for site staff and beyond annoying for members . It needs urgent attention .
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Under the old system it depended how much notice you gave. If you gave three days or more then you got a refund for the days you were leaving early. However if you were unable to give as much notice then you lost one nights site fees. If you left one site early and were moving to another Club site I don't think you lost anything. I always thought the old system was a bit unfair for those that had already paid. You could cancel up to almost the point of arrival and apart from a rap over the knuckles you lost no money(there were obviously other consequences if you did it more than once or twice!) but if you had already paid you did lose money, at least the new system has evened that up.
If I have grasped the new rules correctly from what has been posted above, it seems that even if you give sufficient notice you will get a refund for days not stayed less 20%? So although you will get some money back it won't be all of it as it was under the old system? If you don't give the required notice you won't get any refund.
David
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To me it seems as though they have looked at the old app and booking and site search’s and the decided on how complicated and non user friendly can we make this new system.
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And how to make a lot more money from it too!
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Earlier this year we were booked for a one week's stay at one of the club's affiliated sites. Unfortunately one week before going my elderly mother became ill and we were forced to cancel
The site's cancellation policy allows you to amend your booking dates up to 48 hours before your arrival time. You can move your booking to any date or Park within the next 12 months; if you don't have a date in mind, they can put your deposit credit on hold.
This is completely within the spirit of touring and I believe the C&CC has similar rules.
The CAMC has now turned its back on traditional touring and has become just another large commercial holiday village operator.
If it wasn't for the specific location of two or three sites we wouldn't be renewing our membership. We still might not.
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David, you are correct as I too read it. It's an appalling situation and bordering on daylight robbery.
It is apparent that whatever days you cancel when you actually arrive on site (even from when you first arrive) no matter what time you do it there will be a monetary LOSS and penalty.
Under seventy-two hours one complete nights fees of pitch and person(s) retained PLUS twenty percent of EACH and Every day pitch and person charge cancelled/shortened that you have already paid. Only the balance will be returned.
IF you give more than seventy-two hours for EACH day you leave early irrespective of circumstance you will LOSE twenty percent of the daily pitch and per person charge; repeat, for EACH day of early departure.
There is NO opportunity for any free of any charge element of days cancelled or holidays shortened. A penalty is involved irrespective of time given of notification to leave early.
NO information available as far as I can see IF the change in circumstances is due to you wishing move to a new site. Don't hold out much hope for it being FREE of monetary charge, suspect twenty percent as a minimum based of the other money grabbing policies being introduced.
Perhaps with the up and coming AGM we should put forward suitably critical and perhaps reversal policy resolutions. I don't know how to do it perhaps others do and can advise!!
Will be interesting at the forthcoming NEC, bet no 'big-wigs' or 'policy makers' will be there raising their heads above the parapet.
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Bernard
Clearly a much harsher regime than we envisaged? Was that detail available before the system went live? I suspect a lot of people will get caught out by it and it's certainly not an incentive to book months ahead. Having said that, the Club obviously feel it is the only way forward to achieve their aims. We have only a couple more bookings for this year, booked under the old system. Nothing booked for next year and I would reckon any we do book will be at relative short notice. I got my fingers burnt this year when I lost a lot of money when we couldn't honour a booking on a commercial site because we caught COVID days before we were due to stay. If it was a Club site I assume that I would have only lost the deposit but had I arrived and then had to leave after, say, a day, I would have lost more.
David
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I have never been to a Caravan Club AGM, but understand that questions have to be pre-arranged - I mean, they cannot be asked without notice by a member simply waving a hand. I also observed from written reports last year that questions do not have to be answered immediately, so may be answered at a later stage after the meeting has closed. I could be completely wrong about this, but can ordinary members questions simply be kicked into the long grass? Is it a meeting with a sole object of getting ordinary member's questions over with?
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The format of the meeting changed with COVID when they used the likes Zoom with no other members attending in person other than the three top bods. I thought the system worked quite well because we discovered a lot more information than we previously did. Previously when questions were asked from the floor you only every had two or three but with the new system there have been 30/40 questions asked. I somehow imagined the attendance at the old meetings, apart from Club Officials was pretty thin on the ground. I think David (DBS) attended one so maybe he could confirm that? The advantage of the written questions is that they are published in advance of the meeting but it is true that most are not answered at the meeting but published afterwards. One advantage of that is you tend to get a more comprehensive reply. The purpose of the meeting is the official Club AGM, it's not an open forum. However the questions seem to be popular and we have learnt a lot from the answers over the last couple of years.
David
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I already reported it too. Absolutely unacceptable.
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What I find appalling is that, with the exception of Rowena's comments at the head of this thread, there has been no other word from the Club as far as I can see.
The latest magazine arrived earlier this week and nothing about the new booking system, the updated app which is far more important to me that some of the other rubbish they publish in there. I can imagine it went to print too late to comment on the disastrous introduction of the new booking system so it will be interesting to see if anything is published next month.
Dissemination of information to members is severely lacking and the Club should be ashamed of itself in this respect.
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I have to say that so far, I have had no problem with the new system. I haven't needed to amend a booking yet so haven't explored all elements, but I think it works. I tried a couple of test bookings last night, and they worked fine. Many were showing low availabiity which suggests that it isn't putting off the majority of members.
I have to agree that the app is rubbish though. It keeps telling me that I'm not a member
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Hurrah. A post I can agree with.
I just ignore the app and the floating map and log iinto the ordinary website. Type in the name of a Club site and put in dates and size of car and caravan. Then make the booking for me alone - as it knows my name and date of birth. Then pay the warden when I arrive on site for anyone else I decide to take.
How easy is that? certainly takes less than a minute. Why all the fuss?1 -
You missed out the bit where you input card details to pay the deposit. I would struggle to make a booking including that in less than a minute.🤔
As you say site booking is now working fairly smoothly, even using the map to search. Although the smoothness does depend on the bandwidth of your broadband.0 -
Another one not having a great deal of problem. The App is not much good on small screen devices but is working ok on my 8 inch Android tablet. Have you Deleted User the old App and download the new one TimboC? The old Android App does not recognise a log on.
peedee
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