Cancelling a CL booking at short notice.

It doesn't sound too unreasonable to me, Nicola. I have two thoughts - 1) I don't think a CL owner should hold on to site fees if he/she subsequently re-lets a pitch, and 2) extracting payment is unenforceable in the case of those who have not paid upfront unless the CL owner is prepared to enter into lengthy correspondence and resort to legal action, so those are empty words.

You'll find the club's cancellation policy by following the link below. There is no financial penalty as, again, it would be unenforceable.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/useful-information/how-to-book-a-site/cancellations-and-amendments/

I personally have no issue with any of it as I'd not let anyone suffer any financial hardship on my account. I happily pay up front-in full. I would expect the CL to reimburse me for any dates filled. Trust is what it's about. I do see Tinny's point about getting money from folk who let you down. To most the wording is aggressive, but to honest folk who are honourable it won't worry them.

. I would expect the CL to reimburse me for any dates filled....

How would you know? Having had my fingers burnt once when I lost a deposit, paid for months before hand & cancelled very soon afterwards, I just phone a CL a few days before my stay. If they're full, there'll be another nearby that's not.

When we had to cancel a week booking at 24hours notice because of a breakdown we voluntarily sent a payment of two nights fees. We felt that was adequate in view of the fact we wouldn't be using the electric etc. In cases of a longer stay being booked I don't understand why a deposit isn't taken. You would have to pay at other holiday accomodation.

 .... but short of visiting the site on the day you've cancelled you've no way of finding out if you've been cheated.

Touch wood never had to cancel thus far but life happens. If I had to cancel especially at short notice I would expect to offer some if not all of the cost, as others have said unless my pitch can be re-let, and yes that's trust. We book long haul flights up to 11 months in advance pay at the time. Same if you book holidays generally all paid at least 6 weeks before you go.

I find it amazing that folks who spent thousands on their car/caravan/motorhome will bulk at a few pounds deposit or the full cost before arrival. Maybe if they put the boot on the other foot?

All that said I think the wording would need to be gentle and enforce the fact that is a popular site that has limited numbers and some people think it's OK to let you down.  It wouldn't put me off or make me think I wouldn't get a warm welcome if it was worded sensitively. Choosing careful wording could be fun as if you state others may miss out on a pitch you're inviting misinterpretation 😉. If someone was booking a lengthy stay, such as your 25 nights, I think upfront payment is fully justified.

Ps many bank accounts offer 'free' travel insurance so folks may well have cover anyway 😉

Edit I too don't understand lack of payment for leaving early. As Cyberyacht I would have thought payment very soon after arrival leaves site owner in control

For the first time we recently had to cancel a 4 day booking at a CL 2 days before we were due to arrive. We'd already paid a deposit and emailed to say we wouldn't be coming. The owner replied promptly thanking us for letting him know but asking, since the pitch was unlikely to be relet for the payment of the balance in full which we entirely understood and sent.

I think that's a more positive route for CL owners and if members do not respond appropriately they ought to be able to rely on the club to back them up in some way. 

However, we would think at least twice about advance booking for a site with a stated policy like this - we'd look for alternatives n the area.

Nicola, your policy wouldn't bother me at all.  However if I were running a CL I would take a deposit for all stays unless booked at very short notice and I would make the deposit substantial e.g 50% of the total cost.  One thing I would do however (maybe you do) is make sure that deposits and indeed final payment can be paid by electronic funds transfer - we will not stay on sites that insist on cheques in the post etc.

The early leaver problem I would deal with by insisting final payment on arrival.

I can't say that I agree with the overall view, which seems to be the money should be paid. My understanding is the CL network is available as part of the CAMC package. Surely therefore the same rules should apply, which is cancel with more than 72 hours notice is acceptable, and cancelling within 72 hours may result in contact from the club. CL owners are happy to link themselves to the CAMC, with the resultant bookings, must also accept the potential downside. If they don't then they must surely look elsewhere for promotion of their site. I do believe that the CAMC 72 hour rule, paying on arrival, is one of the reasons many people stay with the club. I also think that the suggested wording is hopelessly wrong, aggressive and plainly unworkable. Being nice will always get you further in the long run, and a business is always about the future, never the immediate or the past. Someone said that the wording would just put them off booking and that is something I agree with.

+1, it's a use it or lose it resource is the CL. I would've thought that no one goes into supplying pitches on a CL because they want to be rich. They mostly see a small return at best. To actually then expect them to initiate a system detrimental to their very survival is short sighted bordering on unfair. I want the choice of using CL's around the Country & will do my utmost to ensure I put no obstacles in their way to continue offering me that pleasure.

But the point is, which option is detrimental to their survival. changing to a deposit in advance system, or staying as is.

If you went into a shop and a sign behind the checkouts said, ' please note that we will not refund a purchased item if you change your mind ' would that sign make you more or less likely to buy something. In my opinion less likely. I view the pay in advance option, as potentially being an overall reducer of visits in the long term. After all, those who are happy would pay in advance, but they would have been happy and turned up or paid anyway. It's the people who like the flexibility that may decide to look elsewhere, after all the whole point of having wheels on the van ......

TW - That was a bit of a leap from my post to yours !!

The OP asked

'Do CT members feel this is an extreme policy or is it a fair one? 

Is there any established Club policy surrounding last minute cancellations? If not, do you think there should be one developed by the Club?

All comments and view points most welcome!  '

This suggests to me that they are  aware that the change of policy could have a negative effect on their business, and are therefore canvassing their customers before making a decision.

Don't turn it into 

'Does that suggest your version of flexibility is booking and then not turning up, Onepjg? '

All I'm saying is that the USP ( unique selling point ) of CL's is the flexibility, and personally I would be wary of dropping it.

The OP wants as many bookings as possible each year. As I said in my first post, if a change of policy leads to the deposit customers still coming, but some of the flexible customers choosing other places, then they are worse off than now when probably the majority of people arrive, but occasionally some don't.

I actually suspect the OP is more interested in hearing the negatives 

 'but I've never heard flexibility mentioned. '

I'm surprised about that, after all i just mentioned it !!  

TW - let's agree to disagree and not descend into two people bickering on CT.

OP -  It's a tough call and there's no right or wrong, but decide at the end of a financial year, when you have the facts and figures, not when you have just been let down. Remember there are 52 weeks in every financial year, and throughout them you will have good and bad times, quiet and busy times, good and bad weather, roadworks, no shows .... the list goes on

Last summer we gave up on a beautiful CL in Scotland due to the weather (wimps!) - we set off for home 2 days early and I wouldn't have dreamed of not paying the full amount.

Re the cancellation of a 25 day stay with hardly any notice - totally think the owner should have asked for a decent deposit beforehand and I would have happily paid - and lost the deposit even with a really good reason! At £15 a night that is best part of £400 of revenue lost.