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AIBU?

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Original poster

To expect a refund from Butlin’s?

50 replies

Disappointed1 · 20/04/2023 21:50

We’re going on our first family holiday to Butlin’s. Family of 5 - DC3, 2 and 1. I got the email today to say I could now book the activities and shows we wanted to attend for the 4 days we’re there. Was on the app within 10 minutes to book and everything is fully booked, including the Justin Fletcher show that my two toddlers are absolutely obsessed about. I called up customer service assuming there was something wrong with the app and was told that there had been a technical issue that meant the app had allowed people to book for the past few days and yes, everything was booked up. I was told I was welcome to join standby queues on the day but there was no guarantee we would get a space on any of the activities or shows we want to attend.

This has turned a fun holiday for the kids into a stressful, uncertain holiday of queuing. If it was first come first serve and I hadn’t been quick enough, I would be annoyed but it would be on me. But this was a technical fault which means I never got a chance.

AIBU to ask for a refund?

OP posts:
pinksquash13 · 20/04/2023 21:52

YANBU

SunshineGeorgie · 20/04/2023 21:53

Butlins is shabby and rundown

Get a refund!

Ukholidaysaregreat · 20/04/2023 21:55

I love Butlins. Your toddlers will have a great time in the pool and the fairground but I agree that you should be able to have the chance to book the shows and that seems really shoddy. I would ask for my money back or check that they don't have access to spare tickets?

Blughbablugh · 20/04/2023 22:01

SunshineGeorgie · 20/04/2023 21:53

Butlins is shabby and rundown

Get a refund!

This. Went last year for the first (and only) time and couldn't believe how disgusting the accommodation was. Stains and ants everywhere! My little boy brought home a nasty sickness bug, which i wasn't surprised by.

CrackerAndPudding · 20/04/2023 22:02

Do you mean cancel and get your money back, or money back but still go on holiday?

bowpi · 20/04/2023 22:02

I had cancelled a butlins trip for that same reason! Except that there wasn't a technical error, just that I hadn't realised everything was so limited. 🙈

mainsfed · 20/04/2023 22:04

CrackerAndPudding · 20/04/2023 22:02

Do you mean cancel and get your money back, or money back but still go on holiday?

Eh?

LiarLiarKnickersAblaze · 20/04/2023 22:05

Lodge with Office of Fair Trading. It's unfair advertising. Technically the holiday contract is separate from activities, but you bought it under the representation of having the option to book from a certain date and time, which you tried to do promptly. The fact it was open a couple of days earlier as a result of a tech error is on them for not fixing.

You'll have an army of people saying it's on you, you've booked apartment separate, etc, but ignore people on Mumsnet, trust your instinct and get it sorted.

Mustnot · 20/04/2023 22:07

Probably a blessing in disguise, every time we went we all got d and v

try to get a refund and cancel

MoonriseKingdom · 20/04/2023 22:10

We went on a Just for Tots holiday pre covid and before they had an app. Felt like I spent most of the trip queuing for things. Never again!

NewNovember · 20/04/2023 22:11

It's not a standby queue there are two ques booked and non , they just let the book queue in first. As long as you are waiting about 45 minutes before you will get in and people queue in the booked queue for that long also.

Bananaduck · 20/04/2023 22:22

I'd be very unhappy with that. It's not what you booked. You booked a holiday expecting entertainment. You now have one without entertainment.

newjobnewstartihope · 20/04/2023 22:31

SunshineGeorgie · 20/04/2023 21:53

Butlins is shabby and rundown

Get a refund!

Oh shut up
Thousands of people have a great holiday there and have never experienced getting ill filthy accommodation and all the other things people on here always say
Just because it's not a shepherds hut in the dordogne 🙄

CrackerAndPudding · 20/04/2023 22:32

@mainsfed as in cancel and get a full refund for the cost of the holiday, or keep the booking and get a full refund for the cost of the holiday (or even keep the booking and get a proportion of the amount back).

BelleMarionette · 20/04/2023 22:32

The hotels in Butlins are nice.

I think there is a lot of snobbery around it. Personally, I far prefer it to centreparcs, having been to both. Centreparcs felt a bit like a cult.

LaughingCat · 20/04/2023 22:39

HAAAAAA! YABVVU. But not for expecting a refund, just expecting one from Butlins.

We go to Butlins every year as an extended family (started as a cheap
Toddler’s Week offer in the Sun when eldest niece was two and didn’t stop). The kids all love it. It’s designed to rinse every last penny out of you, from the loud, flashing arcades to the grotty waterpark to the crappy fairground rides. The shows are usually booked up, the kids get over-stimulated by everything and spend the week swinging from meltdown to meltdown, the food’s shite and everyone cries by day four. And I probably end up spending more there than at Centr Parcs because they’re constantly shoving things under the kids’ noses.

I actually really bloody love it 😂.

But robbing timeshare companies are more likely to refund you your money once you’ve signed on the dotted line than Butlins. What I will say is that when they’re there, they won’t have time to even THINK about the show they didn’t get into. They’ll be too busy building Play-Doh, watching Encanto on the big screen, learning how 2p machines nick all your change and picking up verrucas at the baths.

AudreyBabs · 20/04/2023 22:44

We are booked onto this holiday, we managed to book activities but there were no slots for playdough or messy play. In your position I would be absolutely gutted and would want a refund too - it would really stress me out having to take my chances. Especially for the Justin Fletcher show - which is the main show that makes it a Tots Week rather than a normal Butlins break. Sorry this has happened - I hope either spaces open up or you are able to have your money back.

SunshineGeorgie · 20/04/2023 22:59

@newjobnewstartihope

Er, no, I will not 'shut up'

angelicaelizapeggy · 20/04/2023 23:03

Just because it's not a shepherds hut in the dordogne 🙄

😂😂

Ilovetea13 · 20/04/2023 23:04

We have never booked the shows in advance at butlins like a previous poster said usually there is two queues and you join the non booked line.
Although when diversity were on a few years ago people were in the queue for hours beforehand so we gave up on that one!
Butlins have an app now and you can book shows on the day or throughout your duration on the day so they may free some spaces up whilst your there!
As for people moaning about the food I've always found the food really nice we pay for premium dining and there is such a nice selection of food!

CoozudBoyuPuak · 20/04/2023 23:06

I think they may be more open to rebooking for a different date rather than cancelling & refunding

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/04/2023 23:09

Can you ask them to move you to another week, when the shows aren’t booked up? And book you on straight away?

Although from what PPs are saying, it sounds as though you’ll be fine getting in the non booked queue.

We went to Butlins a few years back for a long weekend, before these things could be booked I think - my kids for some reason didn’t want to see any shows but had a good time just with the pool, fairground and a few activities.

alyceflowers · 20/04/2023 23:14

To be honest you will probably have no problem getting into the shows you want - although lots of people do queue to get the 'best seats', if you just turn up when doors open you will probably get in!

JettyB123 · 20/04/2023 23:14

We went to Butlins during the Easter hols. I was at work when they sent the email to say bookings had opened so loads of stuff was booked up when I finally logged in BUT we found people (selfish assholes) just book everything then don't even turn up or cancel. I took my daughter to a craft session at 8.30am without a booking and there was only about 5 kids in there. I think they should charge deposits or something!!
I know that's no consolation for seeing Justin fletcher if that's what they really wanted but there's plenty of other stuff to keep them going all day and night!

Mistressofnone · 20/04/2023 23:15

We went Butlins twice and had an amazing time. Went to a different one for the third trip and it was awful. First room stunk of vomit and fags and there were crumbs and sticky tables everywhere. They sent cleaners in but was no improvement so they reluctantly moved us. Second room a small step up but still filthy. My toddler's feet went black from briefly running barefoot on the carpet. Most of the restaurants were shut as it was off season. We left after one night.

They refused to give any kind of refund.