WiFi rip off

ClubMemberDB6F5B946B replied on 17/08/2024 18:04

Posted on 17/08/2024 18:04

Hi. We've just renewed our membership after purchasing a new to us caravan. While having our first trip in the newbie, we went to Thetford forest. When we arrived, we were under the impression that WiFi in its purest form (not throttled or timed), would be inclusive of our membership fee. Imagine our surprise when we were allowed 1 hour at a ridiculous 1mbs! Not enough to stream TV in an area with rubbish TV reception. 

We could have gone premium at a fiver per day but regarded this as a total rip off. Premium should be absorbed in the £65 per year membership fee as in fairness, what else do we gain?

We've been members of other caravaning clubs and have never found a problem with decent WiFi allowances or overcharging as we have with c&mc.

Pull your fingers out, this is a modern world where supermarkets, shopping centres etc allow a full on FREE connection. C&mc this is not the dark ages and the cost is negligible to you.

Bill. Mclean. 

Freddy55 replied on 17/08/2024 18:40

Posted on 17/08/2024 18:40

“and the cost is negligible to you.”

I’m not sure about that? However, IME club Wi-Fi is pretty rubbish and certainly not something I’d pay for, much better to tether to a phone. Of all the non-club sites I’ve been to, pretty much all of them throw in free Wi-Fi and its always been properly functional. That said, I don’t recall trying to stream to a tv.

Cornersteady replied on 17/08/2024 18:45

Posted on 17/08/2024 18:45

There's arguments on both sides on this, one side is like yours and another view is that as there's no such thing as a free meal the cost of 'free' wifi would have to come from somewhere, you're suggesting it comes from the membership fee. The problem is that apart from perhaps forcing it to go up is that not all members use club sites so it that fair?

Perhaps it should come from the pitch fee which again may put up that price and again is there that much demand? 

There is for you of course for streaming as you say but it's not for others? Why should others pay for your streaming?

I'm not supporting this one way or the other - I'm just reporting back what's been said before.

Personally I've found the free bit OK for what I need but even then I've found my inclusive wifi data more than sufficient and actually faster so I use that instead, perhaps others would prefer that too rather than perhaps pay extra. I, in fact we, have never been fond of watching anything in the caravan and prefer to read, drink and relax that way, but when daughters have come with us they simply use their phone data tethered to their laptops/tablets and have no problems streaming and watching tv and videos/youtube...again as part of their data plans.

I think someone posted that if a fast wifi is that important to anyone then club sites aren't the best place to be. 

Tinwheeler replied on 17/08/2024 18:52

Posted on 17/08/2024 18:52

"We could have gone premium at a fiver per day but regarded this as a total rip off. Premium should be absorbed in the £65 per year membership fee as in fairness, what else do we gain?"

I’m sorry you got the wrong impression of the site wifi provision which is explained quite clearly in the terms so the result was you were surprised but, tbh, I don’t think you can blame CAMC for that omission. Why do you say the premium wifi "should" be included in the membership fee? Believe me, if it was included then the membership fee would be higher and folk would complain about that, not least those who have no need of premium wifi. A lot of people make their own arrangements for getting internet access and it might be something to consider?

What else do you gain? Well, you save £15 per night on club sites, have access to nigh on 2000 CL sites, get membership benefits by way of discounts in numerous places, have access to various insurance products, an overseas travel service…..I’m sure there’s more.

 Edit: cross posted with Corners, hence the repetition of points.

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