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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Centre Parcs disabled service, really is terrible!!

51 replies

lisad123 · 16/09/2011 14:55

we book CP every year, for the week before xmas. My 2 children are disabled as is my dad. However when we went to book we were told to have a disabled villa we would have to pay £130 more!! Shock
However, my mum had a major stroke at easter, and is now partically sighted, has fits and is unable to walk far at all.
I have called and explained, they have told me that they dont have anything that takes dogs and allows disabled access, and we are also not allowed to take the car onsite at all.
They have been the most unhelpful company I have come across, and am shocked that disabled people have to pay so much more, just to be closer to the village centre. :(
We cancelled our holiday at easter because mum was so unwell and i didnt want to be so far away (lodge in scotland), and the camping trip we went on over the summer was terrible as the dog got kicked by a horse and our spending money went on vet bills. We were so looking forward to a nice break :(

Does anyone know if legally they are allowed to charge more for adpated villas?

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 16/09/2011 14:58

That's outrageous really, they'll argue that its because all accomodation so close to the centre is that price (and I think they are) but there should be a selection of adapted villas and the same prices as every other tier imo.

Centreparcs is massively overpriced anyway in my opinion. Whic one did you go to?

There are privately owned, just as good parcs out there that will be cheaper and probably not treat you like dirt.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 14:59

evelden, we go with a masive group of friends :(

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 16/09/2011 15:02

Shock When we went to Cp lots of the houses had cars parked outside-they stayed there all weekend! And lots of people were driving round the place as well, so they must have had the facility to do so. (The cars did look very 'posh' though, and the chalets were much closer to the main attractions than ours was, so maybe money talks!).

I asked them to send me some photos of our actual chalet once we'd booked so I could make a social story for my little boy with ASD, but they could not see a way of doing so (of course, sending someone down to the chalet with a camera then emailing the photos to me is totally beyond them!)

I booked Ds1 (the one with ASD) onto some activities with DS2, but when the time came he couldn't face doing them, but they wouldn't refund the money (even though none of the activities were fully booked, so they'd not lost out by our booking it).

It was a total rip-off from start to finish, and I never want to go again, but unfortunately all 3 Dss loved it and have really strong, fond memories!

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 15:07

We have the insurance I guess we might have to cancel. I really think we should do more though to make it clear to CP thatits not on

OP posts:
memphis83 · 16/09/2011 15:11

Im shocked that they have acted like this, from experience nearer to the square is dearer, but everyone is allowed to take their cars into the park to load and unload, and the bigger villas have disabled paking outside the villas, my friends have booked a villa at Sherwood in two weeks time and they have parking outside and they are taking a dog.
We have just come back from evelden and there are loads of cars that conveniently got left by villas, all they do is put a sticker on them asking to move them no further action got taken as far as we could see maybe thats an idea?
I was also really shocked at amistillsexy, we booked quite a few activities in advance and when we got there we decided to cancel some and got it refunded, I would write a complain to head office.

ExpensivePants · 16/09/2011 15:18

That's terrible. I remember a similar thread a while back, might have been CP too. The idea that they can only cater for one disability per villa, so wheelchair, partially sighted, whatever, is laughable, or it would be if it wasn't so serious. And as for cars, there are always a good few cars parked round which I assume are for people with access issues. Why suddenly is it such a big deal? We go to Elveden too and love it but luckily we're no trouble to them Hmm. I'm really shocked by your post tbh. What crappy behaviour.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 15:18

You can only park onsite if you book a disabled villa, at extra cost!
And no cars are allowed to move without nurse or security says so Hmm

OP posts:
FootprintsOnTheMoon · 16/09/2011 15:20

CP is a mean company, IME

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 15:50

Bump

OP posts:
2BoysTooLoud · 16/09/2011 16:15

I used to go on holidays with a man who was a wheel chair user and had other disabilities. We actually found Haven, Park Resort and other chalet type holiday places would be friendly and helpful. Ok maybe not as 'up market' as Centre Parks but we were NEVER charged extra for an accessible caravan or chalet.
Once we arrived at a chalet resort in Hunstanton and there was no ramp. The people who ran the place were lovely and while we had a coffee made a ramp there and then. Lot to be said for down to earth friendly resorts.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 17:06

the problem we have is fitting in everyones disabilities. My dds are both autistic and struggle with loud noise, too many people and the youngest has sensory processing so things like haven are her worse nightmare :(

I have to also say im a little :( about so few replies, considering the amount the FDF thread got, but :(

OP posts:
Kladdkaka · 16/09/2011 17:14

They are required by law to make 'reasonable adjustments' for people with disabilities. They are not allowed to charge you more for those 'reasonable adjustments'. Just ask Ryanair who got in massive trouble for charging for wheelchairs.

I'd contact the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and ask them for advice.

2BoysTooLoud · 16/09/2011 17:29

Yes I can see Haven would be too noisy. What are Hoseseasons and Blakes like these days for accessible cottages etc? I am sure I have booked wheel chair accessible and quiet places with them. Do Hoseseasons have caravan park/lodges brochure? Seem to remember that they might.
Sorry not being much help.

unpa1dcar3r · 16/09/2011 17:30

Ryan Air got done a few years back for charging people to take one of their wheelchairs to the plane, after not allowing their won to go beyond a certain point.
They were charging 50p or something but it was deemed illegal, huge fine etc followed, can't remember all the details but you could Google it.
I would say they are breaking the disability discrimination act.
From Oct 2004 ALL service providers must enable access to ALL service users, but it doesn't say they must pay extra for this 'privilege'.
I would go to the DDA and ring them for advice, I don't know how they are getting away with this TBH.

I would name n shame them and never go there again either.

Kladdkaka · 16/09/2011 17:33

It's the Equalities and Human Rights Commission you have to contact. They funded the action I took when I was discriminated against.

StewieGriffinsMom · 16/09/2011 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 17:35

I called them, it seems that they cant charge more for an adapted villa, but can charge for being closer, and all their adapted villa's are closer to the centre Angry Also so few of the adapted villa's take dogs, we are up the creak without a paddle :(

OP posts:
2BoysTooLoud · 16/09/2011 17:38

Oh you have to make a fuss and seek further advice. It is so not on. I am sorry you have to go through all the stress of this. You should NOT have to fight to get a decent service and holiday. Centre Parks are behaving apallingly and in a really 'don't give a toss' manner in my opinion.

Tota1Xaos · 16/09/2011 17:40

I wouldn't have thought they could legally charge more for adapted villas, good luck with getting thing sorted, have previously heard good things about Centre Parcs and disability, maybe it varies from site to site.

Tota1Xaos · 16/09/2011 17:42

cross posted, so they are justifying the extra cost on the location rather than the adaptations. still somewhat mean spirited.

Fimbo · 16/09/2011 17:43

I have no experience of the UK parcs only the ones abroad. We went to one in Belgium at Whitsun. There people with disabilities were given a pass to put in their car and the cars stayed outside the villas.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 17:44

they dont charge more for the adaptions, just more to be closer to the village centre, they have adapted villa's elsewhere in the village that are 10-18 mintues "walk" from the centre. I mean seriously who would want to do that with someone in a wheelchair 4 times a day!!

OP posts:
ravenousbugblatterbeast · 16/09/2011 17:46

I'm not a (practising) lawyer, but isn't that indirect discrimination? They can charge more for closer villas, but if those are the only ones suitable for people with disabilities then they are disproportionately affected by this extra cost? Anyone know how that works?

2BoysTooLoud · 16/09/2011 17:46

I think it is common sense that some one with disabilities may need to be closer to the main facilities. Every 'park type' holiday I have stayed at with my wheel chair user friend has been close to club house etc. Never had to argue for this or pay more for it.
Absolutely mean spirited of Centre Parks and possibly not in the spirit of disability access guidelines/law???

Fimbo · 16/09/2011 17:47

Lisa I presume you have seen this from their website?

Disabled Parking

You will only be permitted to park your car on the Village if ;
~ you booked a wheelchair adapted Villa / Lodge, one accessible parking space is provided close to the accommodation.
~ if there is a medical need to rely on a vehicle throughout the course of your break, a Center Parcs permit will be issued upon arrival.
~ if the driver of a vehicle has a disability that means they are unable to transfer from the carpark to their accommodation without a car, a Center Parcs permit will be issued on arrival to allow the parking of the car at a location as close to the accommodation as is safe.

A daily shuttle service is currently provided at Elveden Forest and Whinfell Forest (please contact the Information Centre on the Villages for times and any additional information required).