C&MC bookings…….

[dazandandrea]

In my opinion it has done the complete opposite of screwing up bookings for everyone. It has made booking more available to everyone as the block booking types will have to pay a deposit on each booking. This hopefully will prevent the annual block bookers from doing this.

I meant prior to deposits etc people making multipe bookings with no intention of using them screwed it up for others .
Im all in favour of deposits etc

 

[Gellyneck]

Administratively it would be far easier for CAMC to take C/Card details. Debit customer on arrival. No shows/late cancellations subject to a penalty, which need not relate to the cost of the booking. Level of penalty easily changed without disruption of existing booking arrangements if greater discipline required.

As you say a far easier system to operate and doesn't penalise the the vast majority (75% vs 25%) of total bookings that are met.
It also focuses the impact on the 6% of bookings that are late (within 4 days) cancelled which appears to be the key issue to members who wish to book late \ just turn up!

Initial view of the outline from the OP is that it impacts the huge majority of members who don't play the system as opposed to focussing it on the small minority who do.

 

[royandsharont]

Have to agree with paying a deposit, for far too long certain people have been booking multiple pitches and just not turning up, the club introduced a black book approach but still didn't deter the ardent compulsive pitch booker.
It's about time the club sorted out the maximum nights allowed to stay, the current situation is just plain stupid.

What do you actually mean about sorting out the maximum nights allowed to stay robnchris the current situation permits a max of 21 nights on any individual site

 

[Gellyneck]

I knew of someone (a tugger) who used to book 3 or 4 sites in different places for the same weekend then on the Thursday decide which they would go to and either cancel the others or just not turn up. Not 100% sure but I think a couple of their cronies used to do the same thing.
Totally selfish attitude in my opinion

C&MC system does not permit an individual member to book more than one pitch for the same date. I suppose multiple members could form a clique and multiple book but would be a bu**er to manage who goes away on what weekend!

 

[glenn2926]

I meant prior to deposits etc people making multipe bookings with no intention of using them screwed it up for others .
Im all in favour of deposits etc

Thanks for clarifying that. I’m in complete agreement with you .

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[royandsharont]

People booking multipe sites for the same dates then taking the pick of the crop when the time came.
We even had people bragging to us on site that they booked a few sites in advance then cancelled at last minute if the forecast was poor in a particular area.

You never could book multiple sites for the same days dazandandrea & Bernie P in the 9 years I’ve been a member. Only one pitch for each calendar day allowed.

 

[Mikey RV]

Every other private campsite has been doing this for years, taking deposits and most take the balance before you arrive, it’s normal. The only ones that won’t like the CAMC taking deposits are properly the ones that book a load up and then cancel.

 

[glenn2926]

You never could book multiple sites for the same days dazandandrea & Bernie P in the 9 years I’ve been a member. Only one pitch for each calendar day allowed.

Some people I know did this on many weekends. He booked a pitch using his membership number and his wife booked an alternative pitch using her number. They were caravan users. He told me many of his friends did this also.

 

[royandsharont]

Yet as many here know when you camp in the EU, where most of our camping is done, you normally don’t book in advance, if you do you don’t pay a deposit very often, just turn up and stay as long as you want then pay the bill the day before you leave.
Probably not in August though, but I wouldn’t know I’m on a CAMC site if any. Can’t wait to get back to getting away again.

 

[dazandandrea]

You never could book multiple sites for the same days dazandandrea & Bernie P in the 9 years I’ve been a member. Only one pitch for each calendar day allowed.

Looks like ive heard wrong then along with lots of others.

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[Gellyneck]

Some people I know did this on many weekends. He booked a pitch using his membership number and his wife booked an alternative pitch using her number. They were caravan users. He told me many of his friends did this also.

But is that not two different members?

 

[royandsharont]

Some people I know did this on many weekends. He booked a pitch using his membership number and his wife booked an alternative pitch using her number. They were caravan users. He told me many of his friends did this also.

Not sure I believe them glenn2926 as my membership number is the same as my wife’s, I’ve just checked.

If they had separate and paid for memberships then I guess it would be quite legal under the rules and if important to have that ability to do so I suspect many would be happy to pay twice.

I've tried by accident once to double book different sites when touring in the UK for the adjacent nights and it would not let me.

 

[glenn2926]

But is that not two different members?

One couple, one caravan. Still blocking at least one other member from booking. Obviously you don’t think this type of thing ever happened so you’re never going to be convinced of it.
The club on the other hand must think the members wanting deposits to be taken to help prevent this must have some merit.

 

[LesW]

Looks like ive heard wrong then along with lots of others.

I was told by CAMC staff that the issue was people booking every weekend in a month at a given site, then choosing which one they wanted as the time drew near.

 

[Gellyneck]

Looks like ive heard wrong then along with lots of others.

This is the message you get if you try to "double book".

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[glenn2926]

Not sure I believe them glenn2926 as my membership number is the same as my wife’s, I’ve just checked.

If they had separate and paid for memberships then I guess it would be quite legal under the rules and if important to have that ability to do so I suspect many would be happy to pay twice.

I've tried by accident once to double book different sites when touring in the UK for the adjacent nights and it would not let me.

Ours ( my wife and I) are different numbers.
Why you don’t like the deposits to be taken I don’t know? If you are going to turn up what does it matter when you paid?
One could (without deposits being taken and subject, as many are to being members) book a CAMC site and a CCC site for the same weekend then just not turn up at one of them thus preventing another user from going. As was said earlier, selfish behaviour.

 

[Gaston aires]

I have to agree with this deposit situation and any reasonable person would. I am guilty of cancelling as I have just done due to my wife’s hip operation but giving two weeks warning. I suspect the majority are either block booking or fair weather campers cancelling at the last minute. They must have had massive cancelling due to the current weather conditions. It will make booking on prime sites much easier I’m sure.Well done CAMC !
Phil

 

[dazandandrea]

I was told by CAMC staff that the issue was people booking every weekend in a month at a given site, then choosing which one they wanted as the time drew near.

Thanks for that Les, thats cleared that one up , cheers

 

[Gellyneck]

The club on the other hand must think the members wanting deposits to be taken to help prevent this must have some merit.

But do the majority want deposits introduced? Seems there's only around 6% of late booking cancellations.

 

[Gellyneck]

Thanks for that Les, thats cleared that one up , cheers

But not double booked for more than one site.

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[Gellyneck]

Ours ( my wife and I) are different numbers.

But have you a joint or separate memberships?

 

[royandsharont]

Ours ( my wife and I) are different numbers.

Is that with the CAMC or the CCC glenn2926 because our current membership cards for the CAMC both show the same membership number with separate names and I only pay the one £54 annual direct debit.

If yours are the opposite then that is very strange.

This thread is talking about the CAMC change of booking system and are what all my comments are related to, I have no knowledge of the CCC

 

[glenn2926]

But have you a joint or separate memberships?

I think separate memberships. We’ll have to do a joint one if it’s cheaper next time.

 

[royandsharont]

I think separate memberships. We’ll have to do a joint one if it’s cheaper next time.

In that case glenn2926 you certainly could book 2 different sites for the same dates and cancel the one you decided not to use, all within the rules I guess but not really the done thing I suspect for most of us. Not sure what view the CAMC would take on it but I’m pretty sure it would all be within the rules

 

[charliesgrandad]

I knew of someone (a tugger) who used to book 3 or 4 sites in different places for the same weekend then on the Thursday decide which they would go to and either cancel the others or just not turn up. Not 100% sure but I think a couple of their cronies used to do the same thing.
Totally selfish attitude in my opinion

As far as I am aware it the system won't let you book more than 1 site on the same night

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[Gellyneck]

I think separate memberships. We’ll have to do a joint one if it’s cheaper next time.

and that is why you have different membership numbers and can "double book".

I know a couple who have both a caravan and campervan and sometimes go away independently to different sites so that's why they have individual membership. They've even been on the same site at the same time but booked as two individual pitches. They did request adjacent pitches though.

 

[Gellyneck]

As far as I am aware it the system won't let you book more than 1 site on the same night

This is the message you get if you try to.

 

[vzac]

Dont really care what they do. I am a member but use cl's. Gave up trying last January when we tried to book several sites all fully booked all ready for the summer, for the dates we wanted. So for me camc, ccc sites are only just above holiday parks to avoid. So deposit, not deposit, charge in full. Sorry will not be using them. .P.S the 2 we used that we managed to get on outside the summer, 1 was fantastic, the other was terrible.

 

[royandsharont]

The real problem I have found by the ability to book in advance with no problem cancelling is that many, especially those who work M-F book for the Friday & Saturday nights. Which is what I would do if I were in that category.

Then when the likes of I come along and are touring for say 7 weeks around Scotland with no fixed plans but a general route to follow I found I could not move onto my next chosen site as it was full, so I had to find somewhere else away from my intended route. Easy if you use CL’s but not if otherwise when sites are so far between in Scotland.

It was during such times I found that phoning the wardens helped as they all have reserved pitches for emergencies normally weather related & if the weather was good they would let me use one . Easier if your only away for a week or two in England

 

[Langtoftlad]

In my opinion it has done the complete opposite of screwing up bookings for everyone. It has made booking more available to everyone as the block booking types will have to pay a deposit on each booking. This hopefully will prevent the annual block bookers from doing this.

Not a chance
If it's fully refundable three weeks in advance
For 52 weekends block booked it'll be like having £1500 in a savings account

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