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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this extortionate or am I going mad?!

65 replies

TeachBee · 29/05/2025 08:42

I booked a day out for my two children at popular outdoor venue that we'd never been to before. Online tickets were £22 each plus £4 booking fee. I saw that they offered an annual membership for £60 each so figured I'd get that as it saves money down the line.

After purchasing the passes, I was told that each time I book (even with the passes - what?!) there would be a £4 booking fee. This wasn't just for online bookings - it was all of them, including in person, on the day bookings. I can understand a small fee for online bookings but to charge for in person, and £4, is extortionate in my view.

On top of this, which wasn't made explicit at all before booking, there is a parking fee of £10.50 per visit.

So, if we use the passes x5 times, that's an extra £72.50 we'll have to pay in addition to the cost of the passes.

FYI, this is a place on the East Mids/North Yorks area so not as expensive as other places.

AIBU or is the company?!

OP posts:
Original poster
TeachBee · 29/05/2025 10:30

marsal · 29/05/2025 10:21

You would always have paid for the parking though so it's a non point.

The £4 fee is annoying but again it is something you would have paid regardless of whether you purchased the annual pass

I think my point is that, neither fee was made explicitly clear prior to booking. As I explained in a comment - booking fee was misleading and suggested pass holders could book in person free of charge.
'You can guarantee your spot online with the £3.95 booking fee per booking, or can try at the cabin on the day (this may involve waiting for the next free spot).'
I took this to mean that you pay the free for online bookings or take your chance by turning up and taking whatever free slot they have, for free. This isn't the case, all bookings are subject to the fee.

Plus the parking fee wasn't mentioned until after the booking either. Had I known about either of these, I wouldn't have gone!!

OP posts:
greencartbluecart · 29/05/2025 10:23

The parking is extortion!

marsal · 29/05/2025 10:21

You would always have paid for the parking though so it's a non point.

The £4 fee is annoying but again it is something you would have paid regardless of whether you purchased the annual pass

Original poster
TeachBee · 29/05/2025 10:17

Ohmygodthepain · 29/05/2025 10:02

YABU for telling us that this place is East Mids/North Yorkshire as there is literally whole counties between the two.

What's the place Op? I would be mightily pissed off for a £4 booking fee if made in person, that's insane and very money-grabbing

Haha! We live right on the boarder of East mids and SOUTH yorks! Don't know why I'd put north... 😂 Well spotted. I'll blame my early morning/no sleep brain. 😆

The company is Go Ape.

OP posts:
Ohmygodthepain · 29/05/2025 10:02

YABU for telling us that this place is East Mids/North Yorkshire as there is literally whole counties between the two.

What's the place Op? I would be mightily pissed off for a £4 booking fee if made in person, that's insane and very money-grabbing

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 29/05/2025 09:58

TeachBee · 29/05/2025 09:45

Whilist I understand you point, I paid for the pass thinking I will go very often (I'm a part time teacher so lots of opportunities on my non-working days as well as school hols) and once I'd paid that would be it. We're on a very tight budget so the additional costs aren't something I had factored in, regardless of if it is a saving compared to not having the pass. The reality is, if I had know I wouldn't have booked at all!

Show quote history

That’s entirely fair. I find these things to be a case of “rich people save money” sometimes, like you’ve got to spend loads to get the discount.

I’d see if you can do what other people have suggested and ask for a refund as it’s less than 30 days.

Original poster
TeachBee · 29/05/2025 09:45

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 29/05/2025 08:47

They should have been more obvious about other costs on the website. Hidden costs annoy me.

However you did pay for annual passes before you’d even been once if I’m reading your post correctly? Forgive me if that’s wrong. That’s always a risk for something that might be shit, or over priced.

If you’d visited 5 times without the passes that would be £320. Now you would pay £120 plus the £72, making £190, which is a significant saving over the year if you plan to go regularly (if my maths is right. Haven’t had my coffee yet).

Whilist I understand you point, I paid for the pass thinking I will go very often (I'm a part time teacher so lots of opportunities on my non-working days as well as school hols) and once I'd paid that would be it. We're on a very tight budget so the additional costs aren't something I had factored in, regardless of if it is a saving compared to not having the pass. The reality is, if I had know I wouldn't have booked at all!

OP posts:
Original poster
TeachBee · 29/05/2025 09:42

Edit:

To clarify, the pass information is quite misleading. It says in their site 'You can guarantee your spot online with the £3.95 booking fee per booking, or can try at the cabin on the day (this may involve waiting for the next free spot). You can book one session per day and only have one active booking at a time (per location).' Which to me suggested that online charge is always £4. OR you can book for free on the day which is free. After purchasing, I could out it's always £4.

The parking is mentioned at all, until you've booked and paid for the session.

OP posts:
theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 29/05/2025 08:53

If the extras weren’t obviously that’s very poor.

They should refund you. There should be a back out period but they probably will anyway. If not, go and see CAB for legal advice.

ComtesseDeSpair · 29/05/2025 08:51

Any booking fees and surcharges should be in their Ts&Cs so if they aren’t, perfectly valid to ask for a refund of the passes you bought because you couldn’t have been aware of the terms. I wouldn’t expect them to specifically notify you of parking costs though, any more than to specifically notify you that e.g. anything bought in the cafe will be at cost: both of these things are optional extras which not every ticket-holder will want to purchase.

Stepfordian · 29/05/2025 08:50

I think you’re right to be annoyed, usually if you buy an annual pass you at least get parking free.

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 29/05/2025 08:47

They should have been more obvious about other costs on the website. Hidden costs annoy me.

However you did pay for annual passes before you’d even been once if I’m reading your post correctly? Forgive me if that’s wrong. That’s always a risk for something that might be shit, or over priced.

If you’d visited 5 times without the passes that would be £320. Now you would pay £120 plus the £72, making £190, which is a significant saving over the year if you plan to go regularly (if my maths is right. Haven’t had my coffee yet).

Lonelydave · 29/05/2025 08:46

That's out of order - normal 30 days and get your money back, these booking fees just get everywhere, and to pay even in person - grrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

AlwaysFreezing · 29/05/2025 08:45

What a brilliant business plan
Money for nothing!

legsekeven · 29/05/2025 08:43

That’s ridiculous. Honestly ask for your money back