Deposits and Paying

 The lesson learned was that I now phone a few days before I want to arrive such that I'll arrive before a deposit would.

I do exactly the same. Not keen on booking at the best of times.

If its booked up tough, I will go somewhere else.

The need to request a deposit might be reduced if CLs would ask for CC membership number and address etc. They could then notify the Club of 'No Shows' who could be warned as per the CC main site policy. I rarely get asked for details other than name by CLs when booking which could encourage 'No Shows'

The need to request a deposit might be reduced if CLs would ask for CC membership number and address etc. They could then notify the Club of 'No Shows' who could be warned as per the CC main site policy. I rarely get asked for details other than name by CLs when booking which could encourage 'No Shows'

Hi Tirril  Just to say I and my husband have a CL we always ask for membership numbers unfortunately at present my understanding is that the club is not able to deal with no shows on CL's in the same way that they do on club sites. 

We've been asked for membership details for often than not

We've been asked for membership details for often than not

 .... or MORE  often .... 

I've just booked a CL for one night and been asked to pay upfront. £13.50 for one night so I didn't mind paying that but would not have paid more..

The only question I was asked, apart from my credit card details, was my surname. Not even whether I was a member. Clearly this CL owner didnt care if I was or not.

The need to request a deposit might be reduced if CLs would ask for CC membership number and address etc. They could then notify the Club of 'No Shows' who could be warned as per the CC main site policy. I rarely get asked for details other than name by CLs when booking which could encourage 'No Shows'

Hi Tirril  Just to say I and my husband have a CL we always ask for membership numbers unfortunately at present my understanding is that the club is not able to deal with no shows on CL's in the same way that they do on club sites. 

Write your comments here... Good to hear you ask for details Benji66. It is a pity the CC don't support you a little better. If they can notify No Shows on main sites it doesn't seem impossible to me to do so for the wider network. Perhaps it is the extra work load they are reluctant to undertake.

As a CL owner, and one that is in touch with 40+ other CL Owners, I can assure you that 'No Shows' is the biggest single issue for CL's.  On the one hand it's a 20% (minimum) loss of income on a pitch and on the other hand if you have turned away another member because you are full it is denying someone the pitch they wanted.

For the past 5 years we have asked for a 50% deposit in advance, and most people seem more than happy with that.  If it is a large amount and a the booking is far in advance, we sometimes are prepared to negotiate on 'staging' the deposit over a couple of months, but we do insist on it.  

I can understand CL owners wanting an upfront payment.  It's rare right now, but it's common-place with renting holiday cottages. To secure our booking for a cottage in Wales we have to pay the deposit 12 months in advance and the balance 6 months in advance.  For popular holiday cottages this is pretty much the norm.  

It's a pity that the Club HQ cannot currently accept information about 'No Shows' from CL owners and place them on a list (as they are with Club Sites) but I'm told this is an issue that the CL team hope to resolve in the coming year, as soon as the new website has been deployed.  

I'm pleased to report that we rarely have 'no shows'.  Consequently, we will return deposits (or move them to another date) if we get sufficient notice, and we will refund a deposit if we are able to re-sell the pitch, but it all takes a lot of effort.  

I hope that those (selfish) members who book multiple CL's and only turn up to the one with the best weather forecast are starting to realise that CL Owners are aware of their tactics!

I'm happy to pay a deposit for a CL, just i would be with any other campsite or holiday let.  A commercial site I booked for spring bank wanted 25% deposit and the balance 6 weeks before, so booking quite late, I ended up paying in advance. CL's are a business at the end of the day, not run as a favour and it's other members who miss out if the pitch they really wanted was booked up by someone who then doesn't take it.  The post above suggests that problem is erradicated if people have to pay a deposit.

The blacklisting of no shows works for Club sites, as all their bookings are done via computer.  CL owners would need access to the blacklist and would then have to manually check every potential booking, which I'm guessing would be somewhat tiresome, some CL's are, how can i put it, somewhat old fashoioned in their operation, so would probably not benefit from it.  Disputes about proving that a member had made a booking with a CL could easily arise, so i think it's a non-starter, but support it in principle.

Of the two CLs I've booked recently one required a £40 deposit. Although I don't mind paying this there was no mention of it in the details and it would be good if some CL owners made their booking details as clear as possible.