How do you feel about paying a deposit on CL site

I think asking for deposits is totally understandable, we stayed at a cl last October that was meant to be full every night, only full on the Saturday night, every other night there was at least two spaces and two nights we were on our own. I presume the rain had changed peoples mind which is fair enough but when we spoke to the owners they said that the people who hadn't turned up only one had  phoned to say they weren't coming. This cl takes a deposit so if it happens to them what chance have those who don't got.

 ..... the last  few booked have just asked me tell them in plenty of time if we have to cancel.

 

 ... and what is considered as plenty of time? I ask because the other year I booked a CL & paid a couple of nights fee as deposit. Circumstances meant that we then had to cancel, so I contacted the site months in advance. The reply was that I might get my deposit back if she could re-book those nights. Needless to say I got the square root of nothing back. Who knows whether she re-booked or not? Consequently I'd be very reluctant to send a deposit again ..... there's loads of CLs so if one is booked up, there'll be space at another.

I don't mind deposits but it is nice not having the faff of posting cheques.

As I'm happy to pay a deposit to the other place, I'd be happy to pay a deposit on Club Sites so to pay a deposit for CL's is just common sense. Cancellation, certainly with less than 2 weeks notice should forfeit deposit, more than 2 weeks forfeil 25%.

I don't have a problem with deposits but wish we could do it by bank transfer

In favour. I can't book a Thomas Cook holiday without paying a deposit, so it's no different to that.

Needs clear terms and conditions though so both sides are clear on cancellation and refunds

Russ

More than happy to pay a deposit on both CL (and Club Sites), it makes the booking feel more secure somehow. Not like the time a couple of years ago when we turned up at a CL as a stopover on the way back from France and told by the rather rude owner that we were interrupting his dinner and our booking wasn't written down, even thoungh we rung twice a few weeks before to confirm  he did let us stay though - reluctantly .

As we have to book our holidays around school and work holidays our plans are made far in advance and dont tend to change. We've happily paid deposits on two CLs we are visiting this year with the bonus of paying either via PayPal or website payment gateway.

I don't mind paying a deposit but I think it is up to each individual CL owner to decide if it is worth it. Those that decide it is would probably find the easiest solution is to make it clear it is non refundable.

peedee

It has been shown that deposits do very little to reduce the number of no shows both at club sites and CLs. All they do is provide some compensation for the lost revenue but add an amount of administration. Judging by the number of CLs that don't ask for a deposit, I suspect most feel that the administration is not worth the benefit. I don't have a problem with paying a deposit but I think it is really a case for each individual CL owner to decide whether they are appropriate for them. When contacting a CL that I have not visited before I will usually ask if they would like a deposit.

I don't mind paying a deposit at all.  In fact, the one time I did cancel with very little notice, I sent the CL owner the ammount for the weekend as I felt it was unfair on him not to turn up.

However, having paid a deposit on two weeks in Cornwall, due to a change in jobs I asked if I could cancel and use the deposit for part payment later in the year as I coulnd't get time off work.  Despite it being four months before the holiday, the CL owner wouldn't even cosider this.  He was obviously well within his rights but it was disappointing.