Leaving the Club - finally had enough
After over quarter of a century we have decided that the CC has little to offer for us anymore.
The subscription provides little value for money. Discount on site fees is irrelevant if one cannot get booked in. Other discounts, ferry fares and insurance offers are often available elsewhere on the internet and not exclusive,
Site fees have risen out of proportion - what one gets now for what is in essence a shower, some electricity and recycling bins is ridiculous. The most expensive sites are pricing themselves out of the range of families with a modest/average budget, which is very sad for the future of caravanning.
The booking system is lucridous - popular sites being filled up for every weekend and just stopping others getting longer stays. But then closer the date, if one has the will to keep checking there are vacancies because surprise surprise booking are cancelled. The club will not release information on how many bookings are cancelled and yet refuse to go back to a deposit system that would stop the farce!! Over the last few years we have also increasingly noticed that sites that appear full on the booking system are not full during the time we are there. Cancellation up to 72 hours does not help those who need to book time off work in order to pick up the places left! It is a very biased system.
When issues are raised - like the booking system and its abuse; nothing is done or improved and the club now appears to operating solely for itself not its members. The values that I joined the club for, have been totally lost - all ithe Club is concerned about is its £100 million turnover!
Finally the new website is useless - trying to search discussions to add these comments was a total waste of time. It is far from user friendly for the occasional subscriber to discussions and is not much better for bookings. I am therefore very sorry if I have started a duplicate discussion - I am sure someone who spends a lot more time on here than me, will put me right!!!!
Comments
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As ET works for us, but I agee there is no point in continuing membership if you are not using the services. However, lately monitoring of these threads by the club has almost ceased. So I would be inclined to put your OP thoughts in a letter to the Chairman.
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Works for me as well, I think it has a lot to offer for less than a pound a week?
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JVB I have much sympathy with you but in my case I decided to stay in THE CARAVAN CLUB, thats what I joined and thats what I regard it as. I don't even recognise the new rubbish logo.
I had intended to leave like you, but will remain for this probably our last year caravanning, merely to have access to the great CL network. Never use Club sites these days as they have priced themselves out of the market as far as we are concerned. Last club site visited was at Hearn lane Burnham on sea. It was 2 years ago and even then it was over £20 per night, low season! Never again.
TF
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Sorry to see you go geordie21 - you've obviously looked at it from all angles and made the decision that is right for you. The very best of luck in your future caravanning, but do remember, Club Together is for non-members too so maybe you will still feel able to post and share your wealth of experience.
David
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We are members because it offers a very small range of UK sites for our mainly midweek trips.
The sites are all 'clones' so at least they all have acceptable facilities.
The forum is an industry wide joke so a sense of humour is required, whereas the actual website doesn't offer anything that is as good or as good value as all the alternatives.
Individual members are the last concern of large businesses, the aim is only to raise turnover and increase the bottom line.
Sadly it's the same as saying that we will never buy this or that type of car or caravan again....so what?
It's always worth a rant though
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I have sometimes found this the case too, but I often base my decision to go to a site on the 'feeling' I get when looking on the various websites. This summer we are using 5 sites (so far). Three of them are non-Club and two of them are Club sites. All of them booked around Easter time. For me, the thing that puts me off club sites is the inability to be able to book hardstandings, so I will always book full serviced pitches on Club sites.
David
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Restrictions on booking choices are probably a downside for us but at present the membership fee gives us access to CLs and rallies etc. We don't confine ourselves to club sites but it pays to belong at the moment. I think we're using less club sites this year.
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well I have noticed that you need to book up much earlier if you want a particular site and date, but apart from doing that I've always managed to get in when and where I want to go, and also managed to get in at weekends at shorter notice too.
I don't agree personally with the statement that weekenders are stopping people staying longer though, and why should 'weekenders' be penalised for those that want to stay longer. First come first served. Club sites prices are usually middle of the road in my view
The club works for me very well, however it isn't for you then like I've said many times, don't buy something you don't want.
Sorry to see you go though, keep posting.
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I agree David. Mayday, Caravan Insurance, Continental Travel Insurance and Tunnel bookings..... and now a really competitive house and contents insurance, really suitable for caravanners/ motorhomers who spend a longer time away from home than many would otherwise do.
David
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Sorry to see you go Geordie, but if you feel you're no longer getting any benefit from the club, it's probably the right decision for you and certainly more sensible than staying and constantly complaining that you can't get what you want.
For us, we've always managed to book club sites roughly when we want to use them - may have to wriggle a bit on dates - and, of course the CL network is the big plus, so for less than £1 a week we find it makes sense to remain.
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Not enough CC sites, too many members.
We need more disgruntled members to leave and allow more leeway for those that wish to remain
The annual fee is peanuts, and worth paying for the few things that I get out of it, but when it does not suit me I will be gone too.
Club sites are used only when neccesary, CL's used a lot, overseas insurance used each year, tunnel booking discount nearly pays for my subscription.
I do everything by phone with the CC (CC rolls off the tongue better than the new name), rather speak to someone and noting the contact name.
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I think many only maintain their membership for the CL network.
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its sad when a member has to post an OP as Geordie nas done...
he feels the club has changed, not giving him the service that he was used to.
i guess the main reason for this is the i crease in numbers (a problem in all walks of life these days) where vying for pitches is now a scramble, one that I (and probably Geordie) wont partake in.
all i can say is that, if there are any benefits to you (insurances, ferry fees) stay in the club and take these, but possibly look at other options for your camping.
there is a huge world out there that can give you wonderful sites, innhreat locations, some as cheap as chips....and without going anywhere near a white peg.
have a look at CL/CS (other club) or even the CCC THS network....just a few nights on one of these (in lovely unspoilt countryside) would pay for the membership.
CC club sites provide just one (formulaic) dimension of UK camping, there are many more out there to get amongst.
good luck.
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Geez, that's a powerful lot of fingers & toes needed
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A good post BB. Geordie! I agree with all you say- You don't have to scramble for that pitch anymore- there are dozens of CLs out there( I'm on one at the moment) where you are not regimented - check the CL network out and as far as expense is concerned, I am paying less now than I was 20yrs ago- it can be done and I have had great fun doing it- I suspect BB has as well!! The CC are interested in the bottom line- of course they are- they are a business but I and many others have made a conscious decision not to play ball. We stay purely for what we can get out of being members- not for putting money in the clubs coffers! The age of alternative caravanning is here with all the modern technology - all you have to do is fit it and you are as free as a bird- to go where you like and virtually at what price you like- weren't these the values that you had 25yrs ago? We have all watched as the club has become more and more elitist with pricing and some of us have balked against it and 'done it ourselves' . We don't need hard standings, heated washrooms, showers, EHUs , our own tap, or any of the other periferies that you get from paying through the nose but we do require peaceful, (or otherwise) , uncrowded, financially reasonable , quality holidays and breaks and that's what we are now able to get- don't be held captive by a business that wants to turn you upside down and shake you for every last penny- it doesn't have to be like that. I no longer worry about bookings- I KNOW I will get a pitch and I KNOW that will be very affordable. Look again and discover the new way to caravan. Good luck
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25 Years is a long time .......but things change & life in the CMC will go on regardless .
Its down to everyone's personal choice , I've found the C&CC is an excellent alternative .........👍
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I am all for change but most of the Club's changes are profiteering and for the benefit of themselves so it really isn't a club anymore. I am very sad to read that many longer members like ourselves have given up on the sites and simple use it for the CLs - it certainly has priced itself out of the market.
As for the issue with bookings system - it would be interesting to see whether if the deposit system was brought back people would keep hitting the booking button if they had to put their money where their mouth is!! I suspect not !! Deposits are required for the majority o other holiday decisions so why do the Club continue to allow people to abuse the system?
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As usual Merve has summed it all up in a great Post! Well done Merve, good to see that you are still out there!
Confined to home at the moment after a minor process to establish what is causing serious lower back pain. But still able to use the Apple Mac.
TF
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We stay for the CLs. We are cute enough to make good use of the Great Days Out Offers as well, so we always get our membership fee and more back. If we relied solely upon Club Sites we would be off.
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