Penny pinching ...
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That indeed might be the immediate reaction and was mine to the OP. However, we stopped on a C&CC site followed by CAMC in June. There was almost £24 difference for 3 nights. So although aggrieved the deficit could be quite quickly made up.
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I would be pretty aggrieved too W2G, especially as it was the warden who suggested even moving a day earlier than necessary, without telling you what would happen with the pricing!
We are also CCC members, on their Hertford site at present, but have not had any problems.....so far. OH does our bookings and agrees when you say there is no such thing mentioned in the pricing as small and large pitches, only jumbo pitches.
The only thing relating to size is when they ask if you are erecting an awning, and also ask total outfit width. She presumed this would be relevant when using a hardstanding as they are sometimes not that wide.
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Any particular reason they need the caravans dimensions when you book a pitch?
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‘Total outfit width’ is a know quantity as it won’t exceed 2.55m and most caravans are 2.3-2.4m wide.
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In another thread someone’s asking about space for a 3.6m awning. That blows your theory right out of the water.
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I almost fell fowl of the C&CC pricing.
In early February I made several bookings and paid deposits. After I made the booking the VAT reduction was extended again by the UK Gov. I phoned the C&CC to find out if they would be adjusting their pricing like they did last year. I was informed yes they would but not for those booking made before the announcement.
I suggested that in that case I would just cancel all my bookings and make new ones.
Thankfully the lady on the phoned explained their very convoluted system to me and how it had changed lately.
If I had cancelled my bookings and made new ones I would have lost my 'early bird' savings and had to pay a much higher ' late booking' price.
The lady in question took the time to work out the new prices for me, it appears even they don't know what is going to be charged until the computer throws up a price.
I think you have had a raw deal WTG and the C&CC should look long and hard at their pricing structure. I have already suggested that as you pointed out they have this year dropped the from and to and only display the from price. Which means you have no idea until the final page what you could be paying. In the past I would always work it out on the highest price and be pleased if it came out less.
We like the C&CC sites having used more of them this last 2 years than CAMC ones but agree with you that the flexibility of CAMC is the attraction.
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I am not knocking CCC, it is what it is, much like this Club, and to be honest our Membership was only for a year, and we gave it up as we simply didn’t use enough of their Sites.
But I do think WTG’s recent experience appears rather shabby. But it’s typical of a large organisation, using preset POS and online booking systems, and perhaps beyond the remit of front of house staff to alter anything without a protracted discussion with HQ. Just something to watch out for I guess. It can be fun trying to book a long stay on a CAMC Site where some nights have a couple staying, other nights a solo traveller.🤔Usually involves three or four individual bookings.....😯0 -
Size of outfit was never how we chose a pitch. It was all about how much space we wanted around us. When pitch providers start charging by the metre and centimetre, that’s when we walk away, as we did with CITF.
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Most organisations selling a product have to be flexible with their pricing in order to cover unforseen costs elsewhere. Why is it difficult to book? You can check prices by doing a dummy booking or if you are on a site or arriving on the off chance you can ask for a price at reception, over the phone or on line as stated. Is it really any surprise that a different type of pitch might cost more than the cheaper one you originally booked?
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TG wrote "as you pointed out they have this year dropped the from and to and only display the from price"
Just like CAMC then. Unless you phone the site or do a "dummy" booking you have absolutely no idea what the pitch is going to cost. Plus an executive decision has been made not to provide a price list.
For one night's worth of EHU, I'm surprised WTG could be bothered to swap pitches.
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The difference is that CAMC publish all the prices and it’s easy to work out the nightly rate simply by looking at the site's web page. There’s no need to play with dummy bookings or make telephone calls.
WTG obviously had her reasons for accepting the seemingly friendly offer of a pitch swap and her reasons aren't the issue here.
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The extra charge for the pitch with EHU seems exorbitant, the "reasons" seem to be made up of every excuse possible. Without a full breakdown of fees of the original booking, as well as a breakdown of fees for that 1 night, it's impossible to compare. But perhaps that is what their so-called "fluid" pricing is all about.
There also seemed to be some controversy with the C&CC with the reduced rate of VAT, as to whether they actually passed that on. Their forum has various posters claiming they didn't, with a lot of discussion about what point of the booking process dictated whether or not the reduced rate of VAT was charged, ie was the date of booking a pitch the date of contract, and therefore was the rate of VAT applicable on that date?
We booked a site with them for last month for 5 nights. In the event, we had a voucher for 1 free night, there was also an extra 10% discount on over 60's rate, and overall we paid not much more than £14 per night for 2 adults on a HS pitch with EHU. A good deal we thought, but there was no breakdown of charges at all, so whether we paid 20% VAT or the reduced rate, we have no idea. Obviously we're not complaining at the price we were charged, but not to have a full breakdown of charges seems not quite right.
EDIT: as for small and large pitches, that's the first time I've heard of those. Yes, jumbo pitches I have heard of, but small and large? Never, and it's noton the booking system either. Was it something they made up as they went along? Certainly doesn't sound right.
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WTG, geez girl you’re having a torrid time of it. It’s about now you’ll be asking yourself-‘why did I bother?’😊
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Exactly, the CAMC produce an on line price list so its easy to work out the cost without doing a dummy booking.
With the CCC all you have is the from price, which of course is the lowest price it can be. A grass pitch no ehu, you then have to add on the cost of ehu + what pitch type ie hardstand. That gives you a ball park figure but as it depends on ,how early/late you book or how many pitches are left of that type you can easily be £££s out, not forgetting any discount code you can enter. Its a lottery.
The other problem I have come across is that once you have done a dummy booking, the system remembers you which means it 'thinks' you have booked those dates and any further searches you try for the same dates will through up a 'no availability' message even though there is. Its time sensitive so you have to log off and not retry for awhile, very frustrating.
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InaD, I had this conversation re VAT with a staff member and was advised the once you've paid your deposit that is the contract start date, so if you booked your site before the announcement then they do not give you the VAT reduction. We got it on some sites I believe but not on others.
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You don’t post ‘non gender specific’. . .You post like a girl😊. There are certain things that guys wouldn’t post about in a ‘flowery’ way, you do. It isn’t a sit down & work it out way it’s just something that makes sense. If you were a guy then your feminine side sits comfortable with your masculine side👍🏻😊
PS-I dumped Amazon & Amazon Prime for the very reason of sharp practice. Making promises that were not honoured but charging a premium for their failures.
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Going back to the dummy booking I suggested and the reasons behind it. C&cc offers discounts through the year and it's handy to check what's on offer at a particular time, prices change. CAMC also offer some midweek discounts so checking these out is also worth the effort. If you change the bookings at a later stage prices will be affected.
I'm disappointed to see the word "hounded" being used on here because if someone uses the forum to make a statement about an experience on a site albeit not with CAMC it's worth asking a few questions to understand the issue more clearly.
I still don't understand if WTG was overcharged or out of pocket so as they day "I'm out."
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