Now I know that rules are rules BUT

Chris102 replied on 19/03/2018 11:43

Posted on 19/03/2018 11:43

Will we be in the naughty book for cancelling a booking within 72 hours?

If we are is it fair?

My friend and I had planned to host a New Companions meet at Castleton C&MC site starting 18th March for 5 nights. Due to the extreme weather conditions we at first postponed the arrival date to 19th and then had no choice but to cancel completely because we could not get our Motorhomes off the drive. Some of the Companions that were due to join us were travelling 150 to 200 miles and all agencies were warning not to travel unless essential.

When my friend phoned to say that we had to cancel the warden reminded her that we were cancelling within 72 hours. He also said that 5 inches of snow fell overnight 18th/19th at Castleton.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and received the “you are naughty” email.

Should extreme weather conditions be taken into account when it is necessary to cancel at short notice?

I would like a response from the member of the C&MC that monitors this forum.

Boff replied on 19/03/2018 18:36

Posted on 19/03/2018 18:36

This crops up regularly. Tbh I don’t understand the problem.   If I cancel within 72 hrs because there’s a bit of drizzle or a tribute to Ant or Dec is on the TV then I deserve a snotty letter.   If I cancel for within 72hrs because I don’t think it’s safe to travel or a family emergency. And I get an automatic letter who cares I doubt I would even read it.   Some people seem to have remarkably thin skin.  

SteveL replied on 19/03/2018 23:11

Posted on 19/03/2018 23:11

Rowena stated :-

To clarify, if there were three instances of late cancellations within the calendar year, we would review the circumstances around each cancellation using any notes held on the system, and would contact you if further information was required.

The email we received when I cancelled due to a bereavement last September :-

This late cancellation is in breach of the Club's policies stated in our booking terms and conditions. You will be contacted by the Club if there is more than one occasion of a late cancellation this year, however if you book another of our Club sites within 24 hours and within the same date range of this late cancellation, it will not be counted as a breach.

Has the club amended its policy since September 2017? Or is the statement in the cancelation email in error?

RowenaBCAMC replied on 20/03/2018 17:16

Posted on 19/03/2018 15:37 by Navigateur

If one needs to cancel within the 72 hour window, I THINK this may be a way to avoid censure.

Don't cancel, but change the booking slightly so it starts more than 72 hours in the future, and possibly also ends later.  Log on again before the 72 hours for the amended booking has been reached and cancel.

As we are dealing with a computer here it will only do what it has been told, and I don't think anyone has told it to check if a cancelled booking had previously been amended.

Posted on 20/03/2018 17:16

Just FYI when we see frequent changes to bookings which appear to be designed to avoid the late cancellation policy, we will always investigate and deal with appropriately as we want the system to be fair for all members. As mentioned if reasons for cancellation are genuine, the Club will always take this into consideration. 

RowenaBCAMC replied on 20/03/2018 17:24

Posted on 19/03/2018 23:11 by SteveL

Rowena stated :-

To clarify, if there were three instances of late cancellations within the calendar year, we would review the circumstances around each cancellation using any notes held on the system, and would contact you if further information was required.

The email we received when I cancelled due to a bereavement last September :-

This late cancellation is in breach of the Club's policies stated in our booking terms and conditions. You will be contacted by the Club if there is more than one occasion of a late cancellation this year, however if you book another of our Club sites within 24 hours and within the same date range of this late cancellation, it will not be counted as a breach.

Has the club amended its policy since September 2017? Or is the statement in the cancelation email in error?

Posted on 20/03/2018 17:24

Hi SteveL,

I've checked with the sites team and they have advised that this is correct. The letter does say after the first breach that if the member makes another late cancellation, they will be contacted by the Club. The contact would be made by post/email to advise that they had made 2 late cancellations. The Club would then review the situations after a third instance and would contact the member if further information was required. 

I hope this helps clear up any confusion and please let me know if you need further information. 

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

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