Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really cross with Center Parcs?

203 replies

SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:06

A little bit of back ground. In January my horse fell on top of and then rolled across me. I'm pretty lucky to still be here, I broke 3 vertabrae, 6 ribs, hip socket and smashed my upper humerous and the ball joint that goes into my shoulder was smashed to pieces I also punctured my lung. I had surgery on the arm and was in hospital for 4 weeks: I have 4 dc and it's been a terrible time for them and us as a family. My dad is also having treatment for cancer and our beloved dog was killed by a car recently, I'm still in horrendous pain and can't sleep at all it's been awful.

I decided we all needed some time as a family so I booked a lodge at Center Parcs, I went for the mid range one its not something we could usually afford but my lovely nan died and left me some money and the mid range has a physiotherm room which I thought may be helpful for me, I also splashed out on a couple of activities each for the dc. We've all been really looking forward to it.

I had a routine xray this week and a pin in my arm has pushed through and it's scraping in my joint each time I move my arm and causing damage and needs operating on asap the only time the surgeon can do is whilst we are booked in at cp I called and asked if we can change the date but all they kept saying was no I should have told them ten weeks ago and they'd have moved it. I'm so upset. Our holiday is ruined and the children are gutted I really thought they could've been a bit more understanding. Ainu?

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 23/04/2015 20:08

Did you have travel insurance and did you declare your injuries?

threegoingonthirty · 23/04/2015 20:08

When is the holiday? TBH this is really what travel insurance is for. If it's soon they might not be able to fill the space. Sorry for all your troubles and hope the surgery goes well.

Bowlersarm · 23/04/2015 20:10

Awful time for you op. But cp is run as a business. Claim on insurance?

AnythingNotEverything · 23/04/2015 20:10

I'm really sorry you've had such a tough time, but I agree - this is what travel insurance is for. It may sound uncaring, but it's not centreparcs' problem unfortunately, even less so if the booking is soon.

Sirzy · 23/04/2015 20:12

I agree with others Unfortunatly it's a travel insurance thing. I always make sure I take out insurance even for uk holidays as I know with DS there is a chance things will go wrong.

Hope your op goes well and you can find an alternative holiday

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:13

I didn't have the insurance. They are being churlish I've checked and they still have 3 of the lodges lthat we have booked available. We are due to go on Monday

OP posts:
adora1985 · 23/04/2015 20:14

CP have the option at booking to add on cancellation insurance, whereby they let you either move the holiday date or have your money back. If you did take this or have your own insurance then YABU to expect them to do anything for you now.

Orangeisthenewbanana · 23/04/2015 20:15

Sorry you've had such a shit time recently. Unfortunately, I don't think it's that uncommon for anything where you book in advance to have a cancellation policy though. It will have been in their T&C's when you booked. At the end of the day, they're running a business, and can't afford to just let people cancel/change bookings at short notice, no matter how valid YOUR reasons, they would get even more people taking the piss if they didn't stick to their policy Sad

As pp asked, do you have travel insurance? Lots of bank accounts offer it as a perk so you may not have taken out a specific policy? Really hope you can get something sorted and that your surgery goes well Flowers

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:16

Meh. No they don't have to change the booking. Course they dont. However being as they aren't fully booked I would have thought they'd make an exception

OP posts:
Sirzy · 23/04/2015 20:16

If you didn't take out insurance, especially as they offer if at booking, then why do you expect them to change things?

It's a shame but use it as a learning curve and in future make sure all holidays are insured

Pico2 · 23/04/2015 20:16

do you mean they have lodges available for the dates you want to change to or the one you originally booked?

OddBoots · 23/04/2015 20:17

Check your bank accounts and home insurance, they might have travel insurance.

This kind of thing is what travel insurance is for, while I can see why you think they are being churlish but if they start letting people who don't buy insurance have what the insurance pays for free then no-one would buy the insurance.

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:18

I also somewhat barely thought insurance was more for non uk hols. Never mind it just feels like one more thing in a line of shit things and a waste of my nans money, I think that's probably why I'm so upset.

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 23/04/2015 20:18

Maybe state what has happened on their FB page and twitter feed?

LIZS · 23/04/2015 20:18

They are renowned for being inflexible, which is why insurance is vital. Just because they gave lodges available doesn't mean they should free one to you and potentially leave one empty next week.

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:19

They have lodges available for when we are trying to cancel.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 23/04/2015 20:19

If they still have lodges available for when you're going that's even less reason for them to change it as they won't be able to fill yours at such short notice

LIZS · 23/04/2015 20:19

Sorry autocorrect

Have lodges available ....
Offer one ....

Pico2 · 23/04/2015 20:20

That indicates that they would be unlikely to be able to resell your lodge, so it is unsurprising that they don't want to switch.

CaptainAnkles · 23/04/2015 20:21

I don't blame you for being so upset and angry but they can't allow people to just cancel at the last minute. Yours is an unexpected and really unfortunate problem but pretty much all holiday companies would say the same thing. Short of a death in the immediate family, they don't move dates or give refunds.

VelvetRose · 23/04/2015 20:26

Oh I do feel for you op. I can understand their position obviously but you must be unbelievably disappointed.

AndHarry · 23/04/2015 20:26

Have you checked if you have free travel insurance as part of your bank account? I don't pay for my account but I get it if I pay in a certain amount each month.

goingwildforcrayons · 23/04/2015 20:29

Upthread the obvious has been said about travel insurance. If they can't move it, then what are your other options?

Do you have a DH/DP/parent or other family member that could take your place? I bet they'd allow a name change. That way you get your operation done asap, kids have a good time and you get a bit of rest time before they come back.

Sorry, its the best I can come up with to try and make the best of a bad situation. Hope you get well soon.

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 20:30

We don't have any insurance with our banks afaik.

It's just another fuck up in two years of horrible things happening to us. Pretty sure someone up there hates us.

OP posts:
Squeezepast · 23/04/2015 20:30

I think they are being mean! I am surprised as they allowed some friends of mine to change their holiday, without insurance, when their little girl came down with chicken pox. They had to wait for months for the rebooked holiday though. I think they were supposed to go on Feb and now have to wait til November!