Cancelling a CL booking at short notice.

 .... but short of visiting the site on the day you've cancelled you've no way of finding out if you've been cheated.

Such behaviour will prompt CL owners to, understandably, insist on deposits/full payment for short stops. Early departures puzzle me a bit though as it is general practice to pay balance/in full for stay upon arrival. The CL owner therefore has control over whether a refund is appropriate.

Both parties to the transaction should act with integrity. When I rented out my Spanish apartment, I took a deposit on booking with the balance repayable six weeks before arrival. Short notice cancellations deprive CL owners of income upon which they may rely. How would members feel if they were laid off for a week without warning and resultant loss of income?

Touch wood never had to cancel thus far but life happens. If I had to cancel especially at short notice I would expect to offer some if not all of the cost, as others have said unless my pitch can be re-let, and yes that's trust. We book long haul flights up to 11 months in advance pay at the time. Same if you book holidays generally all paid at least 6 weeks before you go.

I find it amazing that folks who spent thousands on their car/caravan/motorhome will bulk at a few pounds deposit or the full cost before arrival. Maybe if they put the boot on the other foot?

All that said I think the wording would need to be gentle and enforce the fact that is a popular site that has limited numbers and some people think it's OK to let you down.  It wouldn't put me off or make me think I wouldn't get a warm welcome if it was worded sensitively. Choosing careful wording could be fun as if you state others may miss out on a pitch you're inviting misinterpretation 😉. If someone was booking a lengthy stay, such as your 25 nights, I think upfront payment is fully justified.

Ps many bank accounts offer 'free' travel insurance so folks may well have cover anyway 😉

Edit I too don't understand lack of payment for leaving early. As Cyberyacht I would have thought payment very soon after arrival leaves site owner in control

That trust word again MM. I have no issues with trusting folk. My default position is-'they're trustworthy' it's not failed me yet

For the first time we recently had to cancel a 4 day booking at a CL 2 days before we were due to arrive. We'd already paid a deposit and emailed to say we wouldn't be coming. The owner replied promptly thanking us for letting him know but asking, since the pitch was unlikely to be relet for the payment of the balance in full which we entirely understood and sent.

I think that's a more positive route for CL owners and if members do not respond appropriately they ought to be able to rely on the club to back them up in some way. 

However, we would think at least twice about advance booking for a site with a stated policy like this - we'd look for alternatives n the area.

Eurotraveller - you raise an excellent point.  If you have to cancel for a genuine reason such as breakdown or ill health any costs (including deposits for accommodation - and that includes a stay at a CL)  should be covered by the relevant Insurance Policy.    

I wonder how many Members have travel insurance policy in place and if so, if anyone has ever claimed against it to cover a lost deposit at a CL.  In many circumstances the deposit would be less than £50, but for a 2 or 3 week stay (as Nicola had) it would be worth making a claim.

Nicola, your policy wouldn't bother me at all.  However if I were running a CL I would take a deposit for all stays unless booked at very short notice and I would make the deposit substantial e.g 50% of the total cost.  One thing I would do however (maybe you do) is make sure that deposits and indeed final payment can be paid by electronic funds transfer - we will not stay on sites that insist on cheques in the post etc.

The early leaver problem I would deal with by insisting final payment on arrival.

The payment over the phone is far superior to any other(IMO) I prefer it. Using Paypal is also a boon, one touch & it's sorted

I can't say that I agree with the overall view, which seems to be the money should be paid. My understanding is the CL network is available as part of the CAMC package. Surely therefore the same rules should apply, which is cancel with more than 72 hours notice is acceptable, and cancelling within 72 hours may result in contact from the club. CL owners are happy to link themselves to the CAMC, with the resultant bookings, must also accept the potential downside. If they don't then they must surely look elsewhere for promotion of their site. I do believe that the CAMC 72 hour rule, paying on arrival, is one of the reasons many people stay with the club. I also think that the suggested wording is hopelessly wrong, aggressive and plainly unworkable. Being nice will always get you further in the long run, and a business is always about the future, never the immediate or the past. Someone said that the wording would just put them off booking and that is something I agree with.

There's a world of difference between a small business person operating a CL and the massive size and resources of the club. 

The club does little to back CL owners and they're very much on their own. Therefore, they have to fend for themselves in the best way they can.