Refunds on Deposits

billnk
billnk Forum Participant Posts: 29
edited January 2023 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all, cancelled a trip for August 2023 as found a more convenient (& cheaper) alternative commercial site.  Anyone else had any success in getting a deposit back?  How long did you wait?

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #2

    Just a day or two when I needed to cancel and rebook, no problems (after some initial hiccups at the start of the new system.)

  • billnk
    billnk Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited January 2023 #3

    In desperation I rang the club and was told refunds take 7-14 days. Clearly mine is going to be the longer of those timescales. Que sera!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2023 #4

    I suppose it depends what system is in place in order to process the refund. One would have thought it would have been authorised and done on the spot. However if its a manual system meaning it has to be done by a different team it is possible that is where the delay is. Fingers crossed that it doesn't take as long as that.

    David

  • billnk
    billnk Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited January 2023 #5

    So, having made 2 phone calls, each one telling me to wait the 14 days, I arrived at the 14th day and still no refund.

    Thus phone call No 3 was made; to be told that as it was a booking made during the first day of the new system (everyone remember that joy!) the booking had failed and had to be made manually - news to me as I just got the standard confirmation a couple of days later.  As a failed booking it had to be refunded manually too, but it had fallen through the net and was overlooked.  Cue another 14 day wait to get my money back. 

    Come on C&MC this is just not good enough - even your manual systems are failing!

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,040 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2023 #7

    Do a Trust pilot review, people need to know how bad things are. Club is badly letting its Members down😡

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 851 ✭✭
    500 Likes 500 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2023 #8

    And Trust Pilot reviews get responses!!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #9

    But do they get refunds?! wink

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited January 2023 #10

    If you paid by credit card give your card provider a call they may put in a dispute then refund you the deposit paid and they will take it up with the club, you've waited far longer tha a resonable time.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2023 #11

    Good idea. Section 75 only applies if the disputed sum is over £100 but Chargeback for smaller sums may be useful.

    https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-do-i-use-chargeback-abZ2d4z3nT8q

     

  • billnk
    billnk Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited January 2023 #12

    CHARGEBACK: thanks for that info, it was under £100 but I might fall foul of the 120 day rule as it was 12 September when I originally booked. Which would be faster do you think, wait for C&CM to fulfil their duty or the card company?? Will ring my card provider tomorrow to ask.

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2023 #13

    Sounds like you are outside 120 days but there’s no harm in asking the card company and then telling CAMC you’re in discussion about Chargeback😗

    Why not email Nick Lomas and/or raise a formal complaint?

  • billnk
    billnk Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited January 2023 #14

    @Tinwheeler: thank you so much for that pointer.  My credit card has a pro-forma sheet to fill in on its website.  So easy to complete (point to note - keep hold of your cancellation notification as they ask for those details; also when the transaction was made - got that from the old statement).  Of course they ask what action you have taken to get the refund.

    This was a useful exercise for other transactions as I didn't know about it; only Section 75 (courtesy of Martin Lewis, lol).

    I know it's not a lot of money but I feel I've waited long enough, and others on here seem to support me. 

    Thanks everyone who posted comments - hope my experience helps others (beware of those early bookings, seems that brue got a better experience as his was an automatic refund - presumably the booking was made once the system got a little better??)

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2023 #15

    You are very welcome but it was Arch who triggered my thought processes.

    Good luck!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #16

    I didn't get a better experience but I sent strong messages off to "whom it may concern" and I actually got a call from the accts dept although in the end it was resolved quickly after my initial problems were highlighted. The money was then refunded promptly and I hope yours will be too after such a long wait. It is the readiness to help and resolve the issue that is paramount in a good accounting system.

  • Quantox
    Quantox Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited January 2023 #17

    You've all got me worried now. I had to cancel a June booking yesterday which I had made in October and a screen popped up very briefly re the deposit saying "payment failed". It then reverted to the home booking screen. Fortunately I have received an email confirming cancellation and a ref number but no mention of the refund. I guess I can either wait 14 days or try phoning to get confirmation that it is at least being processed.

    It's one thing paying deposits and quite another struggling to get them back if outside the 21 days.

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #18

    Is there a stated timescale in the booking T&Cs for the return of deposits? I have had a quick look but didn't see anything, I might have missed something. 

  • Quantox
    Quantox Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited January 2023 #19

    No I don't think so unfortunately.

    I'm hoping my experience is a rare occurrence and deposits are normally refunded promptly.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #20

    It isn’t just CAMC, the mighty PayPal took almost a month to refund one of my ‘bad purchases’, it is quite annoying considering our money disappears instantaneous when paying🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2023 #22
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #23

    If you are a credit card user that's good to hear. smile edit I see there is a voluntary chargeback scheme for other card users https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit-and-purchases/how-youre-protected-when-you-pay-by-card

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #24

    I should have added this is Belt and Braces for TW's helpful info!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2023 #25

    Brilliant result, Billnk👏🏻👏🏻. It’s good to know the system works efficiently👍🏻

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited January 2023 #26

    I've no experience of getting money back from this club but I have twice now had to cancel a booking (within the time limits) with the other club.

    Both times I have had to phone to do so, however the refund was done there and then and back in my account promptly.

    Maybe that's the best way to do it with CAMC until they get their act together (if ever) 

  • Quantox
    Quantox Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited January 2023 #27

    Update

    Received my deposit refund yesterday without having to chase it so credit to CAMC on this occasion.