CAMC - can I moan please?

[ceejayt]

Just to get this off my chest having just got off the phone with their complaints department...

We booked two weeks in Villanova - we didn't feel it was 'as advertised' and left a week early - we were not the only ones with dogs who complained.

Not expecting a refund of the £125 for that week but thought the club might make a gestuire and maybe give me a voucher for a night at a site. Been a member 20 years, DD due to go out in 6 days time and have told them that I am likely to cancel if they simply refuse to do anything at all. Have tried to explain to them it is a CLUB, for members, not a business and do they really want to lose £63 a year and a member.

Clearly, they couldn't give a s**t and as a matter on principle I will now cancel - unbelievable.

 

[scotjimland]

Just to clarify, was this a club rally .. and you were not happy with the site ..

Is this it

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday is a campsite in Spain. Cruise around Spain in your caravan or motorhome and experience lively cities, lovely beaches and luscious food.

www.caravanclub.co.uk

and your review ?

Winter break

 

[David and Sally]

Just to get this off my chest having just got off the phone with their complaints department...

We booked two weeks in Villanova - we didn't feel it was 'as advertised' and left a week early - we were not the only ones with dogs who complained.

Not expecting a refund of the £125 for that week but thought the club might make a gestuire and maybe give me a voucher for a night at a site. Been a member 20 years, DD due to go out in 6 days time and have told them that I am likely to cancel if they simply refuse to do anything at all. Have tried to explain to them it is a CLUB, for members, not a business and do they really want to lose £63 a year and a member.

Clearly, they couldn't give a s**t and as a matter on principle I will now cancel - unbelievable.

What wasn’t as advertised? We are there now.

 

[ceejayt]

What wasn’t as advertised? We are there now

Yes, it was a club rally. At least three of the units attending had the distinct impression that it would be not a bad site for our dogs with a walk to the beach. I was definitely not the only person to get this impression which I believe was on the club website description for the rally - but, of course, their website went poof and no one can review that info.
Fastest route to the beach on foot if you have no other transport is a 3.5km walk each way - setting off downhill without pavements and then on some paths and across a dual carriageway. Steep and unpleasant walk back.

On site there is very little area to exercise the dogs, the play park has grass and a small wooded area above the indoor swimming pool. After a week of taking the dogs down there and them and us getting more and more bored we decided to cut it short and left.

The Club may well be right, maybe I didn't read everything and was expecting something better - it would be different again if you were caravan and car because you could pop the dogs in the back and get off the site. I am just surprised that having had a member cut their holiday short by a week there might have been some sympathy but nothing, not even as I said, a gesture to keep me as a long standing 20 year member. Never ever complained before, won't need to complain again.

 

[David and Sally]

Yes, it was a club rally. At least three of the units attending had the distinct impression that it would be not a bad site for our dogs with a walk to the beach. I was definitely not the only person to get this impression which I believe was on the club website description for the rally - but, of course, their website went poof and no one can review that info.
Fastest route to the beach on foot if you have no other transport is a 3.5km walk each way - setting off downhill without pavements and then on some paths and across a dual carriageway. Steep and unpleasant walk back.

On site there is very little area to exercise the dogs, the play park has grass and a small wooded area above the indoor swimming pool. After a week of taking the dogs down there and them and us getting more and more bored we decided to cut it short and left.

The Club may well be right, maybe I didn't read everything and was expecting something better - it would be different again if you were caravan and car because you could pop the dogs in the back and get off the site. I am just surprised that having had a member cut their holiday short by a week there might have been some sympathy but nothing, not even as I said, a gesture to keep me as a long standing 20 year member. Never ever complained before, won't need to complain again.

We don’t have a dog but I can completely understand your thoughts. Easy walk to the beach? I wish

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[Andy Norfolk]

Your mistake was thinking it's a club. Maybe in the dim and distant past it was, but those days have long gone.

 

[Whitebirdyman]

Would the bus have taken dogs to get you to the town and beach? I went there (no dog) and did a lot of walking to the town and to beaches a bit further along the coast, the walks seemed pleasant enough to me, mostly through housing though until the coast. I avoided walking up and down the main hill though.

 

[cyberyacht]

Remember that the estate agents "pleasant elevated position" means at top of a steep hill. Always do your own research and ignore anyones, not just CAMC, waffle. Look at potential place with GoogleEarth. You can zoom in and many times even get 'street view'.

 

[David and Sally]

Would the bus have taken dogs to get you to the town and beach? I went there (no dog) and did a lot of walking to the town and to beaches a bit further along the coast, the walks seemed pleasant enough to me, mostly through housing though until the coast. I avoided walking up and down the main hill though.

Dogs not allowed on buses.

 

[scotjimland]

On the site info page,

Local Area


Nearest beach Vilanova i la Geltrú - 4km

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/spain/costa-dorada/vilanova-park-campsite?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=17989253010&cq_con=142809891551&cq_term=vilanova%20park%20camping&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoeGuBhCBARIsAGfKY7yxQSROewRkxWR7hffoq3dokmDajM8-VmLYtzTVwa-w5S3nKf0fJp0aAqyNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

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[DT]

Life is so much simpler without dogs and kids.

 

[chaser]

On the site info page,

Local Area


Nearest beach Vilanova i la Geltrú - 4km

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/spain/costa-dorada/vilanova-park-campsite?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=17989253010&cq_con=142809891551&cq_term=vilanova%20park%20camping&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoeGuBhCBARIsAGfKY7yxQSROewRkxWR7hffoq3dokmDajM8-VmLYtzTVwa-w5S3nKf0fJp0aAqyNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Well it's there in black and white , no deception that I can see.

 

[Bailey58]

Well it's there in black and white , no deception that I can see.

But ceejayt was going by the CAMC description.

 

[ceejayt]

Your mistake was thinking it's a club. Maybe in the dim and distant past it was, but those days have long gone.

Even as a business that relies on renewable income most good companies would offer something a little more than a NO as a gesture of goodwill which was all I was looking for. Unfortunately, it has now bev=come a matter of principle.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Just to get this off my chest having just got off the phone with their complaints department...

We booked two weeks in Villanova - we didn't feel it was 'as advertised' and left a week early - we were not the only ones with dogs who complained.

Not expecting a refund of the £125 for that week but thought the club might make a gestuire and maybe give me a voucher for a night at a site. Been a member 20 years, DD due to go out in 6 days time and have told them that I am likely to cancel if they simply refuse to do anything at all. Have tried to explain to them it is a CLUB, for members, not a business and do they really want to lose £63 a year and a member.

Clearly, they couldn't give a s**t and as a matter on principle I will now cancel - unbelievable.

Do they even have a ‘Complaints department‘? But your right they don’t give a toss

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[ceejayt]

Do they even have a ‘Complaints department‘? But your right they don’t give a toss

They do - it's option 3!

 

[scotjimland]

But ceejayt was going by the CAMC description.

see link

I believe was on the club website description for the rally - but, of course, their website went poof and no one can review that info.

see link

At least three of the units attending had the distinct impression that it would be not a bad site for our dogs with a walk to the beach.

nothing that I read says anything about the beach being an easy walk or even close.. and the map shows it's not near the beach

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday is a campsite in Spain. Cruise around Spain in your caravan or motorhome and experience lively cities, lovely beaches and luscious food.

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[ceejayt]

I can accept I should maybe have better researched, I still think a gesture f goodwill - which let's face it, costs them nothing and retains a member would have been the right thing for them to do. Computer says NO

 

[Mikey RV]

You made the choice to leave, you can’t blame anyone else for your choice.

 

[ceejayt]

You made the choice to leave, you can’t blame anyone else for your choice.

Their loss and mine

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[ceejayt]

The things are often about corporate culture which seems to have found its way into the CAMC. The young man I spoke to sounded barely 20 years old. Companies with a good corporate culture often provide staff with the ability to placate a customer with a small gesture without prior approval by a manager eg a one night site voucher.
This young man had to go speak to his manager several times, who also didn't;t care to save a member
Hey ho

 

[gus-lopez]

setting off downhill without pavements

which means now that ,legally ,you must be wearing hi viz clothing .New law when walking on roads without pavements.

Would the bus have taken dogs to get you to the town and beach?

as said no dogs on buses.

 

[David and Sally]

The things are often about corporate culture which seems to have found its way into the CAMC. The young man I spoke to sounded barely 20 years old. Companies with a good corporate culture often provide staff with the ability to placate a customer with a small gesture without prior approval by a manager eg a one night site voucher.
This young man had to go speak to his manager several times, who also didn't;t care to save a member
Hey ho

That is big business today.

 

[ceejayt]

That is big business today.

Not everyone - we recently bought a SMEG fridge - there was a fault with the freezer door element - they sent engineers out twice, when that was not resolved they arranged for a brand new replacement, take away the broken fridge AND sent us £70 for our inconvenience!

 

[Geistguy]

If you feel the site/rally facilities were not presented honestly then you should have redress under the Distance Selling Regulations, also if the facts were misrepresented and you paid by credit card then goods and services are both covered. Might be worth exploring.

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[stevewagner]

CAMC have no interest in their members regardless.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Did the others that complained leave or say on at the site?

As has been said if you had a caravan you would have had a car to take the dogs to the beach. After all it is the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

A bit of research on Google Maps/Earth would have highlighted the issues raised. I know quite a few people who have been and continue to go to Villanova and none have mentioned your issues. As for the 3.5 km walk to the beach, that's what dog walkers do. Walk. Here at Alannia there are a couple of walks of about 5 km a week.

 

[scotjimland]

I can accept I should maybe have better researched, I still think a gesture f goodwill - which let's face it, costs them nothing and retains a member would have been the right thing for them to do. Computer says NO

I sympathise with you , you wont be the first to be disappointed with a site or holiday booking .. in the excitant we sometimes only see the glossy photos and don't drill down to the nitty gritty .. and do out homework.

On a trip to France by car recently we booked into an Ibis Budget hotel .. and honestly it was dire.. but on the booking site it looked great.. lesson learned, we don't book hotels ahead and before paying ask to see the room ..

If there had been any misrepresentation on the CAMC site you would be fully entitled to complain and a rebate.. but I couldn't find any,,

Years ago , in the early 90s, when we were tuggers, we booked up a few sites in France using the then Caravan Club and were never disappointed ...

I certainly don't want to sound harsh.. and sorry your holiday didn't live up to your expectations.. better luck next time.

 

[BillandHelen]

That’s a real shame, especially as you use their London sites etc, you’d like to think their operatives had at least a little leeway re goodwill gestures but I guess not.

 

[The Coops]

Heads up, Brittany ferries use the site as well for their offers as well as Eurocamp amongst others , I am surprised you did not venture inland of the site, if you turned right rather than left out of the gate there are some really nice walks up in the hills but if its a beach you want it is a trek and just try carrying the bags back from the supermarket up that hill to the chorus of dogs barking behind the gates of the properties as you trek up the slightly steep (sic) road back from town while dodging the dog mess on the pavements! The hombre en autobus o trien dice que NO!!!! to los peros unless you could pick it up. The solution for some was IKEA bags with the four corners cut out for dogs legs and it worked! Ours far to big! Pick up, board transport! We had a similar problems with the other club when we booked for a month at a site in Spain, the write ups were great, our first year at this fabulous site the place was dire, we complained after we returned to England only to be told that if we had complained when on the site we could have moved at no cost to us. It never appeared in next years brochures and has not done since!