Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
Catsize · 23/04/2015 21:27

OP, I like your email. There are a few typos - 'lodger' for example and I would say 'should have', 'I would' etc. in a formal piece of writing, rather than 'should've' and 'I'd'. But feel free to disagree. Smile

Good luck OP - let us know the outcome please.

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 23/04/2015 21:27

Yes, don't forget the booking reference and a contact number.

I also think you need to point out that you only got notification of your operation yesterday and that it's an emergency procedure (as you said upthread)

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:28

ok. Show us your rewrite.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:29

The surgery is unexpected. It had been thouht that all had been fixed but you were havng pain and an xray revealed the pin had migrated....

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:31

executive lodger Grin
Sorry, but he does sound nice. I think I would go for him too

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 21:37

Ok is this better? Have tweaked

Dear Martin,

In January a horse fell on top of and then rolled across me. I'm pretty lucky to still be here, I broke 3 vertabrae, 6 ribs, smashed my 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 young children 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, I'm still in horrendous pain and can't sleep at all, and the poor children are having nightmares and are generally traumatised it's been awful.

I decided we all needed some time together as a family to recuperate and have some much needed good times so I booked a lodge at Center Parcs because we have been before and the children loved it, especially the fantastic pool.

I went for the executive lodge this time its not something we could usually afford but my lovely nan died and left me some money and the executive lodge 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 X-ray yesterday 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 urgently the only time the surgeon can fit in an emergency operation to resolve it is the date we have booked to come to Center parcs. I have called customer services and asked if we can change the date but unfortunately they said no I should have told them ten weeks ago and they could have moved it obviously I didn't know then. I'm so upset. I realise now it would have been wise to invest in the insurance you supply although it's too late.

Our holiday is ruined, we can't afford to book another and the children are terribly disappointed. Is there anything at all you could do to move the holiday to another date? As a family we so need this time together after the dreadful year we have had so far. I'd be so grateful if you could do something to help our situation.

OP posts:
TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:40

Well I can't see any errors, but I am no legal brain and am famously poor at proof reading.

londonrach · 23/04/2015 21:41

Could the children and other family members go instead and you join at end of week. Tbh i dont think this is centre parks problem but an insurance claim.

londonrach · 23/04/2015 21:42

Sorry its moved on since the first page...

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:43

I wonder if you might want to change the opening line to something more introductory. Ref number, a comment that you are booked to stay at whichever cp, or a "I am writing to ask for your help" type thingy?

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 23/04/2015 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:45

Dear mr thingymajig

I am writing to ask for your help in reation to a problem with my long awaited holiday ref no....... 1234

Original poster
SkipperBlueEyes · 23/04/2015 21:47

I will add ref number etc just didn't want to put it on here.

OP posts:
Haggismcbaggis · 23/04/2015 21:51

I am old-fashioned and would start it with Dear Mr CentreParcs. Not Dear Martin. You haven't met him.

Good luck - I really hope they can help you go at another time. And I hope the surgery is a success and things begin to get better for you and your family.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:51

Quite. Just a line so you're starting by asking for help iyswim.
Do you ahve a dp? What's his view?

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:52

Oh. I like "Dear Mr Center Parcs"

Hoppinggreen · 23/04/2015 21:53

Email is good but I would go more down the route of asking the CEO for help rather than complaining.
I find this approach usually works really well.

Good luck

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:53

Or Mr Dalby.

Flywheel · 23/04/2015 21:53

Yanbu. I wish you the best of luck with your email. While I agree cp have no legal responsibility, they can afford to be flexible and I'd think you'd need to have a heart of stone to dismiss your email. Then again, I guess that's how they are so profitable.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:55

I have called CS but unfortunately they were unable to help..

Nanny0gg · 23/04/2015 21:56

SkipperBlueEyes

I've PM'd you.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 23/04/2015 21:56

I still think you might want to reword the insurance line.
But its probably not important.

Superexcited · 23/04/2015 21:57

Do people really not realise that they need cancellation insurance for holidays within the UK? Several people have said that they didn't realise it was something essential / useful but what do they think would happen to their booking if for some reason they are unable to go on the holiday (like the OP)? I always take out cancellation insurance for UK holidays because I think the £20 premium is worth peace of mind as any member of the family could get ill or something else could happen which prevents us being able to travel (legitimate and unavoidable things obv).

Superexcited · 23/04/2015 21:59

I agree that Dear Martin is too friendly and informal, it should be Dear Mr....

Bilberry · 23/04/2015 22:04

Have you asked them if you could change dates? They may be more amenable to this rather than cancelling especially if you choose an unpopular week. if they agree, you would still have to pay an admin fee and the difference in price (but not get a refund if cheaper) but it may be a better option then saying goodbye to the money. We've changed cabins before now but not dates.