An experience at Seacroft
I had a nine night stay booked for the Seacroft site commencing 13th November. Currently booked into the Sandringham site for the same period. Reason, on arrival yesterday at Seacroft, a site I had not visited before, a warm welcome given and an expression
of hope you enjoy your stay, access and timings to facilities explained, £170.10 paid and all was going well. Well until we were advised of a week-end rally. Still no issues until a site pitch plan was produced and we were informed a number of pitches had
been reserved. Forty-six in fact. Our 'choice' was three pitches; not now such a rosy start as the site had considerable numbers of empty pitches. Disappointed at this but viewed and looked at each pitch. In my view the 'choice' of pitches can
best be described as rubbish and were I would suggest the worst on the site. During my membership I have never moved from a pitch and certainly never felt forced into a situation of moving onto another site.
Although the wardens were understanding when I complained and did try to help by offering a service pitch (without charge) as we were having friends join us the following day and the 'accommodation' offered would not be extended we felt thoroughly let
down by this situation. Our friends would have been in the same position as ourselves and they were staying longer.
I cannot reserve a pitch and would NOT expect to over any other member, but it seems some members attending the rally have more equality than others. Their 'reserved' pitches were in a prime position on the site. I find it totally unacceptable that such
a large number of prime pitches are block off (two nights occupancy at discounted rates verses nine fully paid), and to be told it is because they all are friends and like to pitch awnings next to each other and that their 'activities' could carry on late
and be inconvenient to others, plus is done to avoid any intimidation to non rally attenders, again leads to the question of are they not subject to the general rule of respect and consideration for others. What is the difference of a site full in peak season
and a rally. If the Club want to keep them corralled, open up the nearby other Cromer site! I hope the decision taken was not done to impress the Chairman who I understand was attending!
They are there for two nights, me nine. Clear discrimination.
To add salt into the wound, on being told we were left with no alternative than to move on, I was deducted the sum of£18.90 as a 'late cancellation' fee. A bit rich when I had been on the site for less than an hour and used no facilities. The financial
positioned worsened in that the fees for Sandringham are a further £10.80 over that for Seacroft. Plus I had already driven 148 miles and then required to travel a further forty. I was spitting blood.
To take out forty-six pitches out of the sites one hundred and eleven discounted by a further thirty three service pitches is plainly wrong when it comes to any consideration being given to ordinary members. The wardens were extremely clear that they
were under instruction from Fawlty Towers to host this rally and were embarrassed and beset with difficulties by this decision, including having to put back into use twenty-one grass pitches!
Ever wondered too why Reviews on individual sites are generally so glowing? Well the answer is that if they are not 'liked' they are taken down and a suggestion made to raise it as a 'complaint'. No help given in referring the issue directly to the appropriate
department. Necessary to make a further submission!
A very, very disappointed and disillusion, for the time being, discriminated against 'member'!!
Ps - Three days later phone rang and a 'retrospective' refund of the £18.90 given.
Comments
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Perhaps next years 'Caravvaner of the Year' was being filmed??
Why did you not refuse to move and discuss the matter with the Chairman on his arrival? Giving up as you appear to have done has sent the wrong message. Bit difficult to move you with a wheel lock and hitch lock on.
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A similar thing happened to us at Meathop Fell earlier this year, although not as bad as that. There was no mention of a rally being on during the time we were there when we booked. There should be some notification of rallies being held on sites when booking
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Guaranteed income!
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Assuming the circumstances were just as described in the OP, we would have done the same and moved on. Escalating the matter would have simply resulted in even more antagonism and spoil your and your friends holiday even more. I don't know why a small number of members should be given such special treatment, clearly breaching the "first come first served rule". It's wrong and the people making the decision must have known it was wrong at the time. The club is certainly going down hill.
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Assuming the circumstances were just as described in the OP, we would have done the same and moved on. Escalating the matter would have simply resulted in even more antagonism and spoil your and your friends holiday even more. I don't know why a small number
of members should be given such special treatment, clearly breaching the "first come first served rule". It's wrong and the people making the decision must have known it was wrong at the time. The club is certainly going down hill.Yes, but.. it's not a club. It's a commercial organisation, and therefore customers, previously known as members, need to understand that and act as such. The customer, previously member, is always right. Simple rules of business
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This sounds very much like the complaint at Cirencester site a year or so ago. I said then and I will say again "if the site is to host a rally then other members should be informed" If members cannot pitch together then why should rallies. Disgraceful
that it can and does happen.0 -
I agree wholeheartedly with the Ops posistion and think he has been treated badly. The Rallying members should have taken pot luck when it comes to pitches, like everyone else has to. They would still have their reserved pitches, but probably not all together,
which i think is anti-social toward other members on the site anyway. A bad decision by somebody. I too would have been spitting feathers.0 -
While I totally agree with all that has been said, I can only say that I would far rather have paid more and driven an extra forty miles than have been pitched in the centre of a rally which I wasn't part of.
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It would be interesting to see an official reply regarding the fact that a Rally can reserve pitches, but members cannot reserve the pitch next to them for friends arriving in an hour or so. Though I very much doubt that we will get an official explanation.
As previously stated, whatever happened to the first come rule?
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I think the OP has been quite even handed with the way he has reported his experience. I am not sure I would want to be on a site with a rally taking half the pitches as its bound to be disruptive to those not part of the rally. Perhaps the Club should warn people but unless that warning is some time in advance it wouldn't leave non ralliers much option as far as finding alternatives. The Club might not want to give warnings as its likely to end up with a half empty campsite?
One point that I might disagree with the OP is on the question of reviews. If that facility is used to sound off about something like a rally, especially if its not just a passing comment but something more substanual, its not really what the review option is for. Something as serious as the OP has posted needs to be dealt with direct to HQ, which seems to have happened.
David
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This is truly appalling! Firstly the 'Club' should have informed you there would be limited pitches available before you started your holiday giving you the option to change sites. But the real problem lies with allowing this situation to occur. You pay
the same fee as anyone else so why can you not choose your pitch? Why should people who rally get preferential treatment. If three caravaners choose to holiday together they can't book pitches together so why should anyone else. The chairman was attending
was he? This 'Club'seems to be very clicky. So all the rules have to be adhered to, but not if you are a rally. I for one am getting a bit fed up with it all, something needs to be done, the hierarchy are so out of touch with the ordinary members.0 -
I wonder what your reaction would have been if the ralliers were already there when you arrived?
We have arrived on site before when there was only one pitch available.
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The only time we have come across a rally on a CC site was at Cirencester. We were staying for about 10 days and were advised on arrival there was a rally that weekend and they would be congregating on a certain section of the site. We were told we could pitch where we liked but might like to bear that in mind. To us the area where the ralliers were to congregate was the least attractive part of the site, so did not really affect our selection. As to any problems or issues with the rally, there were none whatsoever. If it was a midweek rally it might make a difference, but sites are normally busier and noisier at weekends, in any event.
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How many vans constitute a rally? If people on a rally can reserve pitches I think people who wish to go away together and pitch together should say they are on a rally! A mini rally. Now theres a thought. Whats good for one is good for all .
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In my view a totally unacceptable situation and a disgrace.This "club " is first come first served unless its exceptional circumstances and a rally does not constitute that even if Neville (the caravan destroyer) Chamberpot is in attendance.Get your act
together CC.v9
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Do ralliers behave any different to other members ?????
I don't think they set out to behave differently and individually they may all well be perfectly behaved but the fact that there are so many of them with a common purpose is likely to impact on the feel of the site whilst the rally takes place. Its not something I have experienced in the UK but have come across it abroad and even at best it limits the choice of pitch it has an impact on non ralliers even if the ralliers themselves are as quiet as church mice!!!
David
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I wonder what your reaction would have been if the ralliers were already there when you arrived?
We have arrived on site before when there was only one pitch available.
I expect we have all been to sites where there are only a couple of available pitches left, but that wasn't really the point. This person was there first, so should have been able to choose his pitch, them are the rules - well for most of us they are!
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We block booked a restaurant for one daughters wedding. The restaurant didn't keep a couple of tables and sell them to others. Same, same, isn't it?
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Many thanks for all the responses. You always wonder if it is you that is wrong in an assessment of of the circumstances; I'd are you out of step!
just to clarify a couple of points:
Was not looking at anytime to be next to friends. Agree with first come first served policy as it is even handed.
At no time was an advanced warning given of the rally until actually on site and fees paid over.
Did not want to be confrontational with Wardens as felt embarrassed on their behalf due to position in which they were placed.
When I mentioned the possibility of pitching in the reserved section, and taking the responsibility, this was responded to with the intimidation and possibility of noise of rallies late into the night suggestions. Clearly not seen as a way forward.
Review under Seacroft posted to forewarn others due to arrive during the coming week.
Thanks again, I do feel the Club should at the very least notify bookings if there is a rally, it is not rocket science.
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To add insult to injury, when a rally is held within a CC campsite, it is alleged that the Normal customers are charged the per night book price, But strangely enough those rallyists (who are using the exact same site facilities) pay considerably less per Night.........This rather destroys the CC claim that all members are treated equally. Just a thought. !!!
Cheers .........K
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I have every sympathy with the OP and hope the CC might adopt a policy of warning people if a sizeable rally was taking place. However I believe it is right to put Rallyers in the same area as it can be a real pain to be in the middle of a group you are
not part of with all the comings and goings. I was part of a group of 5 Solos in Skegness last week and we tried to be respectful of our neighbours - with larger groups that is quite difficult to do.0 -
Wow, KeefySher do you know something that no-one else has been told ? OR do i still have to pay a membership fee ?
There is no requirement to pay a membership fee, you can choose to pay the additional non members £12 per night charge on sites that allow non members as an option. A commercial decision can be made if you choose to use CC sites for more than 4 nights per
year or want access to CL, Rallies, ferries and insurance products.The membership fee is a throw back to the days of yore when people believed it was a Club. It's an access fee these days.
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Anyone know when the rules changed? Rallies never used to allowed on Club sites unless there was a seperate field as at Ferry Meadows..
BernardinTring did you not consider accepting a pitch not to your liking for two nights and moving when the rally had gone in preference to driving 50 miles? You were after all offered a service pitch at no extra charge, was that temporary or available for the full 9 days?
peedee
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I have every sympathy with the OP and hope the CC might adopt a policy of warning people if a sizeable rally was taking place. However I believe it is right to put Rallyers in the same area as it can be a real pain to be in the middle of a group you are
not part of with all the comings and goings. I was part of a group of 5 Solos in Skegness last week and we tried to be respectful of our neighbours - with larger groups that is quite difficult to do.Pippah I think your points justify being able to pitch friends together. I'm surprise to learn that Solos can't/don't book as a rally. I know you all book yourselves and don't travel as a group but surely that's the same as the rally?? Nearer the arrival
date(s) the warden can use their descrision and put you together. No different to what the OP has posted, maybe you don't have the chairman in attendance? Cynical??? Moi???I do hope that there will be a proper response to the OP and other posts on here. For this reason I am about to report the OP and ask for one.
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