CLs reluctant (understandably) to forward book

We paid by BACS on several CLs this year, some owners have an envelope payment system. I haven't come across anything disorganised even on the most basic set ups.

If anyone was rude to me I wouldn't continue the conversation but then, why would they be rude if I agreed to their payment policy? I've no idea about the conversation involved as mentioned by the OP so can't offer any further comments.  So that's it from me. 

As with other members, I am happy to pay full cost up front and if unable to get there shrug my shoulders and say so what.

If i am lucky perhaps I will get a partial or full refund.

CL owners do have to generate an income and no shows could well be hurting that.

However that is no excuse for a rant!

 There are a couple of CL owners groups, which from talking to one site owner who belongs to one, seem to be at least an ideas exchange, and support group.  Maybe more CL owners need to belong to these.

I wonder why the Club do not standardise the booking conditions in the contract they have CL's.

Something really easy along the lines of 20% deposit with booking along with remaining 80% a month beforehand. I think most of us would agree this is fair and if a member is going to back out then a month would allow the site time to refill the booking.

Colin

Another poster complained that the club had too much control already on CLs. They are fully independent business from the club and should set their own rules and procedures, otherwise they'll just become another club site?

I'm not sure what is in the contract apart from the 5 van limit?

I don’t think you understand how the CL network operates Colin. The Club only grants a license. It’s up to each individual CL to decide what terms and conditions they set. Visitors either accept those terms and conditions or they don’t, and choose somewhere else.

There’s nothing wrong with CLs setting deposits, or asking for full payment up front if it helps them. What is out of order is for a CL owner to be less than welcoming to a prospective customer, such as the OP. Who has now walked away, deposit, full payment or not. 

If a CL is experiencing lots of no shows, then it’s quite understandable to take either a deposit or the full payment, neither refundable. 

I found an interesting pdf stating the requirements for becoming a CL. I’ve not seen it before but it explains quite a lot.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/globalassets/pdfs/content/about-us/setting-up-a-cl-guide.pdf

 Hi all, 

These replies are really interesting (and gave me a laugh - perhaps I should have charged for 5 mins of counselling!) Interesting .pdf of the set up rules as well, thank you. 

I tried to acknowledge his frustration, empathise with all the disgraceful behaviour he'd been subjected to and agree to a deposit at the very least, but he just kept on ranting and I couldn't get much of a chance to break in. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have spoken to my husband like that, either. 

We've had many, many brilliant experiences of CLs, so apart from feeling a bit battered yesterday, I can put it down to one bloke's bad temper and bad manners. But I've been thinking how I would have felt if this was my first ever attempt to book a CL, either as a new caravanner or someone venturing off the big sites. It wouldn't give a great impression of CLs.

One CL owner told us he was part of a CL owner's Whats App group - I'm sure he said there were 600 owners on it, so perhaps as suggested above it would make a good subject discussion, and perhaps more would decide to pay deposits. 

We've paid for our CLs by BACs, cheque and cash this year - envelopes and in person. I don't mind as long as I can dredge the cheque book out of the depths of my office. 

thanks for all your responses everyone, Liz

Just as a slight aside, it is interesting that the majority of posters on this thread, (not many admittedly) say they are happy to pay a deposit or even the full amount at the time of booking (I'm also one of them). Conversely, over the years there have been many posts saying that they are glad that the CaMC don't request a deposit. Are CL users of a different mindset?

Hope you find something that suits, there are lots of very nice CLs to choose from. It’s a very rare experience to get the response you did, someone has obviously seriously upset this particular owner, and you sadly bore the brunt.