New Site Booking System

I think it should be the default position that the balance should be taken automatically, either on the day of arrival or the day before. Anyone who became a no show would pay for the full stay. They would then have to argue that out with the Club if they wanted any sort of refund. It would certainly discourage people from not showing up which might be the case if they only lost the deposit. The situation now is very different now from when the Club last took deposits. I also think that the Club will monitor deposit refunds as they will be easier to trace and I am sure if they notice some members with a high incidence of deposit refunds I am sure they will be having a word. 

David

I can't see that happening unless it is stated somewhere? If the rules states deposits are refundable if before 21 days then that is it, the club has to abide by that and any 'remedial' action could be taken unless stated. And have a word and say what? One or more refunds and... 

I guess we will have to see what is written in the T&C. 

Evening

So, back in the day the club took I think a fiver deposit and gained lots of fivers due to people not bothering to cancel.  We now move forward to the digital age. There's been mention of not bothering to cancel within the planned 21 days. That's all good if you can afford to lose 20% of your booking, fair play to the well heeled vanner of the 2020's. But do people think that behaviour won't be monitored? Someone above mentioned costs of software etc, I'm sure there maybe something in place in that expensive software to address those inconsiderate few. . Just saying.

JK 

I'm nor saying there shouldn't be any monitored, far from it,  but surely it would have to be stated somewhere that three. four... whatever refunds in whatever order will trigger a 'word'?

20% might come to a lot for two weeks but for a weekend a max of £25 (wasn't it?) for perhaps a weekend isn't really that much to lose? (Obviously I'm too well heeled)

I think there is a difference between monitoring and actual T&C's. The process might be that the Club monitor the numbers and then adjust  T&C's to help mitigate misuse? Having said that I would have thought it perfectly reasonable to contact those with high cancellation rates (assuming there are people that do) even if it was just to ask why. I can't imagine what will be introduced in April (?) will be the final form as it will no doubt be adjusted, or in Club speak, "improved" as we move forward.

David

Systems certainly evolve...whether the changes are improvements or not is often debatable...how many times do Apple move the toolbar or other icons?

however, even many years ago it wasn't too difficult to get reports (daily/weekly) about all sorts of activity by customers (what they ordered, what day of the week, what they sent back, what reasons etc...)

with todays interactive 'reporting', interrogating the database for something simple like breaching a cancellation threashold is straightforward enough and something that 'management' would get as part of their daily (perhaps weekly) 'pack'.

when folk book, by month/week or in relation to arrival date, similarly when they cancel with what level of notice. This will feed into what geographical area (weather) or what specific sites (in relation to available pitch types there) or whether customers rarely cancel HS/SP and the majority cancel grass etc, etc.

all this and much more will be at the sites teams fingertips, so monitoring is easy.

it's what happens (actions) as a result of this plethora of info that we don't yet know.

Morning

Your last sentence BB is what I was alluding to. Someone upthread mentioned about not bothering to cancel at all within 21 days. I understand that but to me that's not in the spirit of the club and I personally hope that that selfish behaviour gets suitably addressed moving forward.

JK

The cancellation system has already been tweaked. I cancelled a Site last week and there’s already a much longer list of “reasons for cancellation” than I have ever seen before. Didn’t entirely cover our reason for cancelling, but you choose the most appropriate. I presume at some point, when the Club thinks it best, they will decide which reasons will trigger a deposit refund (inside the 21 days) and which won’t. 

I fully agree. There’s bound to be a “rogue” element out there, there always is where any kind of effort and thought for others is concerned, and the only way of seriously tackling it is to be consistently firm.
The Club could drive the point home another way and actually give out monthly figures of “no shows”, (much like Doctor’s surgeries do) to keep Members aware that they are monitoring. It would nip in the bud all the speculation about “no shows” as well. Nothing personal, just a figure. If it was me in charge, I would include a figure for those whose Membership has been frozen/cancelled as well. Those who follow rules, abide by terms and conditions, like to know that those who don’t aren’t getting away with it. Again, just a number. If you are monitoring something, you might as well make the numbers work for you.

In a conversation I have just had it is though that there is to be more slippage with introduction of the system,? It seems there are several points as some have posted , that had not been thought  through