What did I do wrong?

BobGoo replied on 18/08/2015 10:03

Posted on 18/08/2015 10:03

A strange thing happened to us last night.......

On a few previous occasions my wife and I have stayed at Vishwell Farm. A CL site just outside Barry S.Wales. We' ve only stayed one night at a time and have never met the owners. They provide envelopes for you to post money through the door so that's what we've always done.

It's a bit of a strange CL site as the business its attached to is a regular campsite with a smaller field marked Caravan Club CL. Everyone shares the same amenities and the price is the same for all pitches regardless of CL  or regular, or whether you're a member or not.

Anyway, I emailed in advance to check if I could stay for a duration of fourteen nights, gave the dates and had a short reply saying that they had a vacancy for me and that it was £15 per night.

Upon arrival the owners were nowhere to be found and as it was a Sunday evening I didn't want to bother them too much. So I filled in an envelope but only included the fee for the first night with a note explaining I would pay the rest when I saw them. I didn't fancy posting over £200 through a letterbox without any proof.

I left the site early next morning and returned in the evening. I found the owner straight away and handed my cash over to him and asked for a receipt. I wanted a receipt so I could claim expenses as the reason for staying there was to work nearby.

The owner then started acting nervous, coughing and wandered up and down his hallway and said he'd have to check how they were fixed. I explained that I had in fact reserved in advance. He then asked where I was parked, so I told him I was in the CL field. He then explained that as my Motorhome looks like a van he will get complaints from the others in the CL field so could I please move it when the campervanners in the other field move. I reassured the owner that I am in fact a CC Member and reached into my wallet to present my membership card. I was going to erect my awning that evening and didn't much fancy taking it down again the next day to move.

He said I'd still have to move as 'They' will complain. I took my cash back from him and said I wasn't happy to do that as I am a member and have paid the same membership fees as everyone else.

Is there a rule im unaware of? Did I do something wrong? My Motorhome is a 2006 LWB Hi-Top Ford Transit conversion. It was re-sprayed less than three months ago so looks In very good condition. The awning I was about to put up is an Outdoor Revolution Oxygen II That has had about 3 weeks use so is also in great condition.

Why would 'They' complain And why should I have to move out of the CL field? I do wonder if he was looking for any excuse to get rid of me as I wanted a receipt but surely, even if he's evading taxes, £205 on the books is better than £0 in the hand? I really don't understand what the problem was.

Opinions very welcome.

We instead, stayed at Isycoed farm CL where the owners were very welcoming and encouraged us to return, which we shall.

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

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