Certified Locations - on site contact with owners
Just got back from our first trip which was a mixture of kerbside, CAMC sites and CLs. Is there any etiquette re CLs around meeting the owner? Is the onus on you, as the guest to hunt them down, or on them as a good host to come and see you? We had the full range from someone meeting us as we pulled up to someone who we didn’t see and we had to leave money under a flower pot? I don’t mind either and the in between but just wanted to know what was usual.
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With each site being run by individuals and not a corporation or club you are bound to find a whole range of owners.
From those that are off handed or those who combine the CL with a day time job (usually farming related) or those who hand out scones and tea or those who you never see but are at the end of a phone if need be etc.
Best way to get an idea of what to expect is to look at the latest reviews, say the last 5 of them, and someone will make a comment.
Doesn't bother me one way or another.
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CLs are all very different. Some owners are very “there and around”, others, you might not even get to say hello. It’s all part of the charm. We have posted cash through letter boxes for years. One of our favourite North Norfolk stops has no one living on the Site at all. There’s usually contact numbers and important information around. Very very different to what Club Sites are like, much more do your own thing.😁
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Presumably you spoke to the CL owner when you booked the site, even if it was just the day before, and you should have asked then if they would be around and how they expected you to pay for your stay. As others have said some will be busy with whatever other job they do and not be available when you arrive. Usually one should report to the owner's house on arrival, out of courtesy of nothing else, unless having been told just to pitch up.
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There's no one size fits all with Certificated Locations, as has been said. Just do what seems right on arrival or check in advance as Nellie said.
There are lots of threads in the CL section of this forum where you can get the feel of ownership, operation and usage of CLs.
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Doesn't bother me either way. I'm on a site at present, been here six days and never seen anyone from the cl. At present it could be Covid related, payment was requested by BACS. The biggest problem I've got is the bins are full and by the look of it have been for some time which tells it's own story.
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You are very tolerant Harry - and I think others are too tolerant too. But I think anyone in the tourist business should be offering a much better service than that. Accepting payment but doing next to nothing in the way of customer service is a shabby state of affairs.
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I come across that often HB, I bag the rubbish & leave it next to the bins🤷🏻♂️, it’s the best you can do. Any Animal interaction with the refuse isn’t on you👍🏻
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I would have thought that a CL owner who is not there to meet and greet paying guests when they arrive would or should walk the site in the evening to introduce him or herself and ask if all is well.
And a step up from that would be to hand out a duplicated A4 sheet of useful information - doctors, dentists, vets, shops, pubs, bus times and so on.
Would some CL owners like to comment about good practice?
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Most of the CLs we use have a list of essential and emergency numbers either in a Site notice board/box, or inside an information point, the loos etc......
I would rather be left alone to pitch up, get sorted and have a look around myself than have an escorted tour or be handed a list of do’s and don’ts immediately upon arrival. Most of our interaction with CL owners is done on that initial first phone call, and then later on maybe on a chat as Sites are walked. If it says “pitch up, then call at house” then that’s what we do. But a good deal of CL owners are farmers, out doing their day jobs, so we just chill until the time is right.
The very last thing we want is a Club Site clone in miniature.
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I don't think that is good enough. I certainly don't expect the site owners to constantly be around but I do expect the bins to be emptied and I would ring the number I had booked on to tell them that they need emptying.
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Many do just that, et, and more at times, supplying maps (O/S or hand drawn) and walking routes, book swaps, and the occasional one produce to purchase.We
One doesn't know if the site owner where harryb is staying is ill, injured or what other circumstances may have stopped them from emptying the bins. Without knowing their side of the story one should not be so quick to criticise.
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General waste disposal can be a bit of an issue for CLs. I know from talking to CL owning acquaintances that all sorts of things get dumped into the rubbish area (which on some 5 van Sites might only be three or four recycling/general waste bins). It’s not uncommon for things like toasters, hairdryers, even larger items like broken chairs, old windbreaks/ beach tents, damaged awnings to be dumped for owners to dispose of rather than taken home. Larger items like this quickly have bins overflowing. Folks don’t squash tins and plastic bottles either, again it doesn’t take many to fill a bin. Commercial waste collection contracts cost a lot, and adding this onto fees is adding to nightly fees.
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as a cl owner i try usually to go and greet guests however with covid i have not done this as .
I have explained this is the welcome email explained how payments are to be paid , and explained where loo waste recycling is .etc On payment visitor are given a pitch number
sadly some have still not adhered to recycling with several tv sized cardboard boxes and a broken deckchair ! we requested all rubbish in general waste be double bagged yet i have had to deal with used sanitary wear and egg and soilders chucked in the bin !
I give everyone my mobile tell them im able to answer questions if im about . Most that visit us have appreciated the fact we havnt been up in their faces as some have been very wary over visiting even now ! im hoping as restrictions lift we will have some nice conversations over the bins whilst im cleaning or out with the dogs !
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