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AIBU?

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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:
Kladdkaka · 16/09/2011 17:48

They can't charge for being closer, if being closer is provided as a 'reasonable adjustment'.

Seriously, contact the EHRC, they provided me with a legally worded letter, that I filled in with the specifics, which I then sent to the organisation I dealt with, asking them to explain why they were failing to comply with section blah, blah, blah of the DDA, reminding them of their obligations and informing them that a reply was expected within x number of days (the legally mandated time period).

Don't wait too long as there is quite a small window of time between being discriminated against and the deadline for bringing action, and there are certain things you have to do in that time.

bialystockandbloom · 16/09/2011 17:48

Hmm Seems a bit discriminatory-by-stealth imo. Basically disabled people are not being offered the same choice as everyone else - you have no choice other than to have to stay in the adapted ones, whereas non-disabled people can choose where they stay.

I'd write to them pointing this out , throwing in a casual reference to the Ryanair case.

Hope you haven't paid anything yet that you can't get back? (Just in case you end up not going, I mean.)

Fimbo · 16/09/2011 17:48

Ah just realised it states "driver of the vehicle". Which is a bit mad.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 17:49

i wonder if they are breaking the law too, but only allowing dogs in certain adapted villas?? Surely you have as much right to bring a dog as joe bloggs, why should that be allowed too?!
Im so angry, with 4 disabled people in one villa you think they would be a little more helpful!!?
Anyone want to link this to CP head office Grin

OP posts:
auntevil · 16/09/2011 17:51

Watchdog ran a story ages back re CP and charging more during the school holidays. It was quite a phenomenal % increase. They had a company spokesperson in the studio and their attitude was 'market forces'. So if someone out there will pay whatever rate they decide - they fill the park - who cares? So you may be on a hiding to nothing with the company. They sounded very 'ryanair-esque' in their bullish attitude.
Perhaps somewhere like watchdog might help. They love to keep getting the same companies back. You can almost hear Anne Robinson saying 'yet another outrageous pricing policy from CP'
Also go down the DDA route - but if you can handle the publicity - go for it!

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 17:54

yes have seen it

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. Which we cant as they wont take dog too

~ 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. Yes but only if you need to leave the site quickly, NOT to drive around the park. Your car can only be moved with premission of sercurity or the onsite nurse!

~ 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. LOL

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). Yes but they cant say how quickly they can get there, or how long you might have to wait before they can get there to take you back home Hmm

OP posts:
PeneloPeePitstop · 16/09/2011 17:56

Tell them you want an adapted villa further away so it costs less then.
I'd just love to hear their answer to that one...

2BoysTooLoud · 16/09/2011 17:58

It doesn't seem right that there is no disability friendly accomodation close to the main facilities, that allow pets. As you say op - only non wheelchair users can bring their pet. Discrimination?

slavetofilofax · 16/09/2011 18:04

I think it is fair enough that they don't allow dogs in every adapted villa. They must allow them in some, because of guide dogs.

Other disabled people may have allergies, like my disabled and asthmatic Gran, who would react even if your dog had left and the place had been cleaned.

I also think it's ok for them to charge you more to be closer to the facilities, as long as they are not charging more for an adapted room. If a customer was happy to pay more to be in an adapted room far away from the facilities, then they should not have to pay the same as your family who needs to be close to the facilities. Presumably that's why they have their policy about allowing cars if there is a medical need.

Would hiring a scooter or something for your Mum be an option, or a motorised wheelchair just for getting from the villa to the facilities?

You could email their customer services dept a link to this thread and let them see the bad publicity they are getting.

soverylucky · 16/09/2011 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/09/2011 18:15

I have two children, one 3 and one almost 5 so just coming up to Centre Parks age. I have made some initial enquires and DH and I were planning to book.

Won't bother now! Will look for a friendlier place. If anyone has any recommendations, please let us know as I am quite serious.

AKMD · 16/09/2011 18:25

YANBU, how sad that they're treating you this way :(

I was recently recommended Bluestone in Wales as a great disability-friendly alternative to Center Parcs. My friend got chauffeured around in a golf buggy because her husband was in a wheelchair!

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 18:28

i would love bluestone but they dont take dogs :( and its too close to MIL house Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 19:04

See we normally really enjoy it, it's great for our girls but just so Angry on their policies. Hopefully watch dog will help!

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 16/09/2011 20:28

If they charge more for being closer and the only suitable accommodation is closer - because of the disability...it's absolutely definitely discrimination

read 1 a

and

2 b

bialystockandbloom · 16/09/2011 20:39

slavetofilofax "I also think it's ok for them to charge you more to be closer to the facilities, as long as they are not charging more for an adapted room."

The thing is though, is that essentially they are charging more for an adapted room, as the only adapted rooms are closer to the centre, and therefore by default more expensive. The OP is not choosing to be close to facilities. She has no choice.

slavetofilofax · 16/09/2011 20:54

The OP posted this

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.

and that's what I was referring to. That's why I suggested the possibility of using/hiring an electric wheelchair or a motorised scooter, as for some disabled people who use those things, it wouldn't make a huge difference if they were 10-18 minutes away. I realise that for many disabilities it would be essential to have a villa close to the amenities, and in those cases, it is unfair that Center Parks charge extra.

bialystockandbloom · 16/09/2011 21:17

Ah ok, didn't see that bit.

But still seems that the OP has no choice. By nature of the disabilities of some of her party, she has to go closer to get suitable accommodation, so therefore has to pay extra. I think Confused

unpa1dcar3r · 16/09/2011 21:32

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

Then they are still penalising you for being disabled as they are not giving u the opportunity of choosing where you stay onsite. E.g you might prefer to be further away due to noise etc...
So I would say that ytou prefer to stay further away but need an adapted lodge. When they say they haven't got any further away you can say well that's hardly my fault and therefore I will stay closer under duress and therefore obviously will not be expected to pay more!
I would also take it further through either equal opps act of the DDA for sure. They can't legally do this I'm sure.

Original poster
lisad123 · 16/09/2011 22:04

sorry should have made it clearer, there are adpated villa's elsewhere on the site, I found that out when i looked again BUT that walk with a wheelchair, my dad with his stick and 2 autistic girls is certainly going to make for an intresting week! (not forgetting the dogs too Shock

OP posts:
Valerie46 · 09/12/2014 18:07

Someone has posted that dogs are not allowed in the adapted accommodation. We have booked a adapted home for June 2015 and are taking our dog, but there is an extra charge to pay. That is understandable, to allow for cleaning, as some dogs lose hair, and people that come in following may be affected by dog hair.

Janethegirl · 09/12/2014 18:27

I have booked for next year too and was told no dogs in the adapted accommodation......that was at whinfell.

TheSkiingGardener · 09/12/2014 18:46

I know Center Parcs are pretty rigid but surely the problem here is that the accomodation that you want is already booked. You said the villas that could take dogs are gone already. You aren't being charged more for a disabled villa but the same amount as anyone else in that zone.

I do sympathise as its annoying when you can't get the villa you want but I don't feel CP have done anything wrong here. I've seen the shuttle buses they run for mobility impaired visitors and they seemed fairly frequent.

Camolips · 09/12/2014 18:46

I definitely think they should waive the 'preference' fee for adapted villas. Like you say, being close to the centre is a necessity not a frill so for those few close-to-centre adapted villas you would like to think they could exercise a bit of common sense.

DreamingDiva13 · 09/12/2014 18:51

This thread is from 2011

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