AIBU to expect campsite to honour PAID booking?

[Pamelaaaaa]

Booked a weekend camping for last May. Covid closed the campsite so they phoned and asked if I wanted a refund or the booking carried over to this year for the same weekend, same pitch, same price. I asked them to carry it over and they sent me an invoice and confirmation showing the price, balance etc, all paid.

I randomly logged in to the booking today on their website and the booking shows £4 outstanding. Phoned them up and asked why and they said prices have gone up this year. I explained to the lady on the phone that the booking was rolled over from last year and I was told it was the same price. I have an invoice showing balance as £0 etc and she didn't care and just kept saying prices have gone up. I know it's only £4 but it's the principle! Can they even legally do this?

I think a lot of places are doing this. I know people who wanted to transfer their holidays to this year and then were asked for loads more money because prices had gone up or because of different restrictions they had to rebook at a more expensive place

Of course the value matters. £400 would be completely unjustifiable. £4 is probably less than the actual additional cost for honouring your booking while covid restrictions are in place. I guess they were hoping people would pay it, but probably know it can't be enforced, hence backing down when you queried it.

Moving holiday a year cost us £3k so I’d go along with £4

I’d just pay the £4

But it does matter how much it is, doesn’t it.
£400 is worth an argument, for most people £4 is not.
To a multi-millionaire £400 might not be worth arguing over!
In principle, you are correct. It’s not great customer service and it might cost them some repeat business. In practice £4 is still not something I’m going expend stress or time on worrying about.

@Pamelaaaaa

They've reconsidered and taken the £4 off. We'll be spending plenty in the restaurant etc anyway (I can't be bothered to do camping cooking this weekend). I agree £4 seems silly to lose the booking over, it was definitely the principle that I allowed them to roll the booking over rather than give me a refund as I thought that would be better for them!

Well that's a great result and was worth the chat with them, as you had paid and didn't cancel and supported their business when they had to close due to COVID.

I understand what other PPs were saying, wouldn't argue over £4 as all the hospitality and holiday industries have taken a huge hit to business due to COVID, so glad that it worked out for you OP.

I’d pay it but do so in copper coins as I left the site

Of course it matters whether it’s £4 or £400??