To be really annoyed with Center Parcs?

[VivaLeBeaver]

A year ago I booked a break with them for this August.

Have just today had an email saying that there will be fairly major building work close to my cabin and to expect noise and disruption from 8am to 6pm.

They will give me £50 of vouchers to compensate me or I can book other (far more expensive) accommodation away from the noise or I can cancel my main summer holiday six weeks before I go.

I go for the peace and quiet and the squirrels and ducks by the patio not to spend it in a fucking building site.

That sucks Viva. Years ago my DS fell very seriously ill the day before we were due to travel. (I know. I know. Travel insurance!) We contacted them and explained how ill he was. They offered nothing. We lost the lot. A discount or vouchers would have meant the world.
I'd never book there again.

I've tried ringing the number on the email but they're not open till Monday.

I just rang the main call centre who know nothing about any building work or emails. So they can't even suggest if the last remaining villa of my class available will be worth swapping to. It may also be by the building work, they don't know. How stupid is that, their main call centre has no idea what's going on. And of course the call centre girl won't upgrade me to exec accommodation, etc free of charge because I tell her I've had an email she knows nothing about.

Which one is it viva?

Wolfie, that's awful. I swear I'm never going with them again. Dd loves it but this is the last time. I'm not overly keen myself but its such an easy holiday. This is the last straw.

Sherwood.

Could you ask to go to a different parc?

I would kick off big time if that's going to really bother you. It's not on. Especially since it costs as much to go there as it does to fly to Australia. And the rest.

So cheeky the way they've done it too like 'oh by the way, hope you don't mind!'

I live literally a 20 min drive from Sherwood I don't want to go anywhere else. All the other parcs are more expensive anyway because Sherwood is a crumbling shithole.

I mean who does building work at a place like this in the bloody summer holidays. Are they insane?

I dunno, maybe the noise won't be too bad?? . But the email talks about the work being screened off, etc. and starting at 8am????

Jesus. It'll upset the rabbits and they won't come to the patio for food and that's the only redeeming feature IMHO of centre parcs, that and the chicken sandwiches.

I have a major feeling they're just going to say accept the voucher or have a refund. Which is pretty much what the email says.

If I could remember my twitter password I'd get tweeting.

Have remembered my password. They don't seem to be on Twitter. Maybe they just got such grief they decided not to have an account.

Can you not reply to the email demanding an upgrade somewhere quiet? Maybe another place can offer you accomodation at the same price.

I've replied to the email but they're not open till Monday. So I will spend the weekend severely pissed off.

They're on Twitter Viva under @CenterParcsUk -not parc specific but it might be a start! Good luck.

At least you got told. When we went last Christmas we had building work right behind us. We weren't told and nothing happened when we complained.

Also @CPUKSherwood

Have you any way of checking that this email is legit? It sounds a bit dodgy that the call centre know nothing about it - was the upgrade option included as a link within the email? Maybe it's a scam trying to get hold of your details.

I don't know anything about the place - I'm always annoyed with them because they are so bloody expensive in the school holidays that we can't afford to go. I went to a spa there years ago, I've wanted to go back ever since :(.

If rabbits, squirrels and birds chirping is your kind of thing and one of the reasons you decided to go there then I would use you're pissed off energy to plan how youre going to get alternative accommodation at no extra cost.

Right. Rolls up sleeves.

What you want to do is get in touch with their brand manager or marketing manager and explain to them that this news had essentially ruined your family holiday which you had to save up to afford. You have no more budget to change villa and don't accept the voucher as satisfactory compensation as it is a drop.in the ocean of what you have spent and will spend while you're there. Tell them exactly what you want them to do or you will be taking to all forms of social media to vent your frustration.

We went to sherwood when there was building work a few years ago. They didn't tell us in advance, and the generator started at 8 every morning! We took photos and complained, they sent us half the money back to spend there again, so I was very pleased! So if no joy, theres another thing to try xx

Viva it was awful. Outing myself here but it was a year before we knew he wouldn't die.
A bit of compassion wouldn't go amiss.
We since swapped to Bluestone.

Any caring company would've explained how they had upgraded you in the light of unavoidable building work. My dds still love going but every time I come away feeling it's just not the same any more.

The email was legit, they'd got my right booking ref and villa number.

There was no clicky link so don't think its a scam.

Though the phone number goes to a voicemail for "Darren in purchasing" with no mention that its centre parcs which is odd.

Thanks for the twitter info, will get on it.

A generator will tip me over the edge.

A bit of sawing I could cope with!

Take the refund and book somewhere else instead? Forest holidays in Sherwood still had cabins available until very recently. There isn't nearly as much to do as there is at centreparcs, of course, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper!!

No dd would be gutted. We go to centre parcs for the pool which forest holidays don't have. I can go to sherwood for a wander round the forest every day.

To be honest CP was cheap. £450. I don't think I'd find anything that cheap in August.