Trusted

I have never booked a commercial campsite in advance that didn't require you to tick a box saying you have read and agreed to the booking T&C's. (even the CMC require you to do that) The majority are the same or a variation of the T&C's posted by TW. Although we are looking at one instance, I am sure these campsites get several "challenges" a year with people wanting a refund because they couldn't make it to the campsite?

David

Unless very very desperate I can't imagine why anyone would book under those terms.  Close to, if not in contravention of, OFT311 and more specifically OFT 668 and OFT 734.  Just my opinion of course 😉. 

Well, I’ve never seen such Ts&Cs quite as dogmatic as this, having said that in all my years of being a C&MC member I’ve never sought out their Ts&Cs, never felt the need. I guess these will have changed since the introduction of deposits so I’ll have to find them in order to make a comparison.
Not found them yet, I’ll keep looking!

Plenty do enter into such contracts as evidenced by some of the comments in this thread. I agree with everything DK has said and especially his post at 10:23 this morning on page 1. 

I always planned well ahead and, even for long tours, contrary to Micky it seems, I will book the entire package. I like order and certainty and sometimes that ends up costing. It's a risk you take and all those who say - why would anyone do this - I say that some of us like to know where we shall be laying our head each night and like to have all their ducks in a neat and tidy row. I do not expect everyone to be like me and I know that some like to be free spirits and go where the fancy takes them. I respect that. Equally those of that ilk have to accept that we are not all the same and not be so supercilious about implying that their way of doing things is the only sensible one. The notion of phoning a site the night before, for example, is a total anathema to me. I can't live hand to mouth. 

The Office of Fair Trading does not exist any more and those three documents you refer to have all been withdrawn. In any case, OFT668 was to do with package holidays and OFT734 was to do with static holiday caravans; the scope of both is defined in the documents and would not be relevant to this case. Moreover, in any case, they were not law - merely guidance. I am, no expert, but as far as I can see, the nearest document now is the Unfair Contract Terms Guidance CMA37 issued by the Competition and Markets Authority. Reading key parts of that it seems to me that if the terms are clear, and the contract is ended by the customer, rather than the trader, then as a broad general rule, it is unlikely that the customer would have any comeback. That is putting it in a nutshell, but it is how I see it. I am not saying it is fair, and I have sympathy with the OP but it is what it is. 

In any case, I think the main complaint of the OP is that the site could not be contacted until it was too late to get any recompense. If they'd been able to give some notice some refund might have been available. It would much annoy me to be unable to contact the site and is not a good way to run a business. 

I did say they were quite stringent, Micky.

You'll find CAMC’s as shown.

Here you go Micky, loads of stuff for you to wade through. 
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/booking-experience/

There have been lots of changes and updates since they were introduced some 15 months ago, and the Club have provided natty little videos of “how to…” which has cleared some of the murk and miasmic wading through everything. 

Best advice I can give? Don’t book in advance unless you really need to, and check out availability as many Club Sites simply aren’t as busy as the used to be, so there’s often no need to book at all.

I booked a site had to cancel due to breaking my foot 18 days before my holiday, as I'm on my own I obviously couldn't drive.  I lost my deposit which although only £20 I felt was no very fair.  If the same happens in the future I'll cancel the day before the booking starts as far as I'm concerned CAMC have shot themselves in the foot, I cancelled as soon as possible so the pitch could be rebooked!  Will not be doing that again!  Yes I know £20 isn't much for some people but if I'm going to lose it I'll wait until last minute!!!

That’s not very considerate to any fellow members seeking to book a pitch!

I’m sorry you had an accident and lost your deposit but you did agree to those terms when you booked. Did you contact CAMC and explain what had happened? They sometimes issue a voucher if they feel the circumstances warrant it. 

Always amuses me that you have to tick the box to accept the t's & c's before you can book then moan that those terms aren't fair. In light of the OP's unfortunate circumstance it shows that both clubs terms are very fair.

JK

You are entitled to an opinion but my view is that neither organisation has terms truly fitting with a members club.