CL advice in current situation

I've had an email from a CL who I sent £50 to for a weekend break next month. They are now closed as per guidelines. But they are suggesting they keep 50% of my money (£50 being the minimum amount you can send for a weekend stay) and give me 50% to use in the next 6 months in the form of a credit-note. 

Now I've not contacted the site about anything since sending the money. Whats the point? But I noted that I could not ask for a refund or credit note should my circumstances change post booking.

My point is this; its a frustrated contract. Is it right they should keep 50% of the deposit/cost of stay? They are suggesting we go halves on the losses.  Given they don't go halves on their profit if I stay, that's a bit cheeky I feel?

I appreciate its a difficult time and was prepared to accept a credit note of 100% so as not to disrupt their cash-flow. I've not responded yet.

Any advice?

Just do what feels right. There’s another thread here somewhere suggesting we buy virtual stays at CLs to help prop them up at this time.  It’s personal choice.

It's a difficult one lordsward, but look at it this way - the £25 might be the difference between the CL surviving and going bust. Good will has little value if the CL is no longer in business after this. You must decide for yourself, but personally I'd be inclined to go along with their offer.

Edit - might suggest to them that the 6 months is from the date they re-open, of course.

I really doubt that the lack of £25 would send a CL bust, but then it is probably multiple £25s involved.

How many CLs are the only form of income for their owners, very very few I would think, and where they are, as a business is there not support available in some form?

I would at the least expect them to make all of a deposit available for future use.

We had one CL booked, £30 deposit paid, we cancelled before they were ordered to close, on the grounds of unnecessary travel, and asked them if they would hold our deposit for use later, which they were perfectly happy to do.

I think I would be asking for the entire deposit back because the current situation is so fluid that you might not be able to use any held deposit within the next six months. I am not sure what justification they are giving for withholding 50% of the deposit?

David

"I really doubt that the lack of £25 would send a CL bust, but then it is probably multiple £25s involved.

How many CLs are the only form of income for their owners, very very few I would think, and where they are, as a business is there not support available in some form?"

Possibly true, but a lot might decide they can't be bothered with all the stress and complication of continuing after all this is over if everyone is demanding all their money back! I don't think many owners are in it to make a livingl

I think on another thread someone mentioned that this is exactly what Morris Leisure are doing  (can't remember the exact details) and I'm sure they are in a much better position to weather the current crisis than an individual CL owner.

Whilst one one level it may seem a little exploiting the situation, I am wondering along with some other whether we will see the CL network decimated after all this.

That's exactly my point - it won't affect us any more but the phrase "be careful what you wish for" springs to mind.

I read the other day that many theatres and music venues are suggesting that, where performances are inevitably cancelled, ticket holders might consider donating the cost of tickets to performers who won't be able to earn, rather than requesting a refund. 

When all this crisis is over we surely want life to return to some sort of normality and I'd have thought the loss of a relatively modest amount of money (in the grand scheme of things) a small price to pay.

The CL holds 5 vans. Its in addition to their various other business ranging from farming, a family touring site and cottage lets that I know of. 

I think we've all lost out on this Government lock-down, certainly I've been losing money since the end of Feb -and I'm not including savings,  but lost monies from various other cancellations. I've not asked anyone to subsidise me after taking their money however..

To my mind a £10 admin charge (they have done work in making the booking and cashed a cheque, none of which is free of cost or time) or 100% credit note redeemable in the next year would be fair I feel?  We're talking about a trivial amount I know, but its the tone of the response that's got me questioning their offer.

Other trips we've had booked such as a cycling holiday in July, have offered a full refund now or a full credit note for future use. 

I would agree with you, a full refund or a credit note valid for 12mths, after the restrictions are over. 

We had a CL booked for mid April, no deposit paid but its a busy CL so they will have lost out on many bookings. We got an email apologising for having to close and wishing us well and they hope to have the pleasure of us staying with them in the future. They certainly will after such a nice email.