No News Yet on the New Booking System

Posted on 03/11/2021 08:37 by NutsyH

I may have missed something in this long thread, but reference is made to "going elsewhere if deposits are brought in". What seems not to be mentioned is that on "most" commercial sites, a deposit has to be paid on booking, followed by the full cost of the booking often a month in advance. I have no problem with deposits, and accept that I may lose it if I have to cancel - but the possibility losing the full amount of a booking for say 14 nights is a major factor in deciding on making a commercial site booking. This also is often the case on CL's - certainly the ones I have used.

If the C&MC bring in a non returnable deposit of circa £50 then that is fine with me, as long as the the full price payable on arrival is retained. With all the uncertainties surrounding Covid, paying the full price in advance is a big gamble. OK, UK travel insurance is available but for the "more mature" members it is very expensive to obtain cancellation cover for covid related issues.

After all, the C&MC is a commercial business run for the benefit of its shareholders not its members. Late cancellation may deny the business the expected income from that pitch, and the deposit at least then covers the admin costs.

Pitch selection would help - maybe if more non serviced standard hard standings were available that would leave the full service pitches for those that actually use the water and grey waste connections.

Paul

Posted on 03/11/2021 08:37 by NutsyH

I may have missed something in this long thread, but reference is made to "going elsewhere if deposits are brought in". What seems not to be mentioned is that on "most" commercial sites, a deposit has to be paid on booking, followed by the full cost of the booking often a month in advance. I have no problem with deposits, and accept that I may lose it if I have to cancel - but the possibility losing the full amount of a booking for say 14 nights is a major factor in deciding on making a commercial site booking. This also is often the case on CL's - certainly the ones I have used.

If the C&MC bring in a non returnable deposit of circa £50 then that is fine with me, as long as the the full price payable on arrival is retained. With all the uncertainties surrounding Covid, paying the full price in advance is a big gamble. OK, UK travel insurance is available but for the "more mature" members it is very expensive to obtain cancellation cover for covid related issues.

After all, the C&MC is a commercial business run for the benefit of its shareholders not its members. Late cancellation may deny the business the expected income from that pitch, and the deposit at least then covers the admin costs.

Pitch selection would help - maybe if more non serviced standard hard standings were available that would leave the full service pitches for those that actually use the water and grey waste connections.

Paul

Posted on 03/11/2021 09:38 by DavidKlyne

Thus far any mention by the Club on the subject of the new booking system has only mentioned deposits, no mention as yet of advanced payment. Moving back to deposits on site bookings would be a big move and my guess would be that is where it will stop. I would agree that expecting full payment in advance would be a step too far and it would remove any advantage of using Club Sites over Commercial Sites but I am pretty sure they won't go down that route.

Bit puzzled by your comment about shareholders? As I understand it any excess profit on operations are ploughed back into sites and facilities on behalf of members not paid in dividends. 

David

Posted on 03/11/2021 09:44 by SteveL

I tend to agree about significantly in advance. However, I do hope they go down the route of automatic payment on the day of arrival. All checking in could then be done without you exiting the vehicle and greatly speed things up, particularly at sites like Chatsworth, where checking in on a Sunday can take an age, blocking access to the site for anyone else.

Posted on 03/11/2021 09:53 by GTP

All checking in could then be done without you exiting the vehicle and greatly speed things up, particularly at sites like Chatsworth,

All very well SteveL....but that would upset the drivers partner who has rushed onto site with a chair/hook up cable etc...to reserve their preferred pitch..

Posted on 03/11/2021 09:53 by Tinwheeler

Nuts, following on from the comments of others, the club is not a plc with shareholders requiring payment by dividend but is a Limited liability company as are most club's, charities and so on.

Whilst members are technically owners/shareholders of the Caravan Club Ltd, we each have a liability of only £1 if the company becomes insolvent but we receive no remuneration and profits are ploughed back into the club's operation.

Posted on 03/11/2021 09:53 by GTP

All checking in could then be done without you exiting the vehicle and greatly speed things up, particularly at sites like Chatsworth,

All very well SteveL....but that would upset the drivers partner who has rushed onto site with a chair/hook up cable etc...to reserve their preferred pitch..

Posted on 03/11/2021 10:48 by NutsyH

I stand corrected.

Caravan & Motorhome Club Ltd:

Companies House, company ref 03940920, status Active. Only files Dormant Accounts. 

Has 2 Directors and a Company Secretary.

Persons with significant control:

The Caravan Club Ltd. Ref 00646027

15 Directors / Officers

Posted on 03/11/2021 12:47 by Longtimecaravanner

Great system at Wharfdale site where a warden stands out [in the pouring rain most of the time we were there] while the rush is on. Takes your membership card and checks you have booked then directs you to find a pitch and come back later when it is quieter to complete booking in and paying.