Rats in eurocamp mobile

[bec81]

Help, I'm freaking out. We are staying in a eurocamp mobile home, campsite in Holland. Eurocamp has accommodation on site, but another company run the site, which is brilliant. We're on day 3. This afternoon and evening we have had a rat coming into the cupboard. When we saw the signs first (bread eaten in cupboard) we went to the eurocamp reception. We were told, tough sh*t that's camping, and that the campsite is full, they can't move us. They put in a plug in noise thing and left us to it. He has since been back, full on gnawing and clattering about in/around the same kitchen cupboard (which has been emptied out), mm from my 6 year olds sleeping head. I'm on high alert, staying in the kids room, I know I won't sleep a wink waiting for him to return. I can't stay here tomorrow. The kids will be devastated if we have to go home tomorrow, they've been absolutely loving it and have so many plans for the next week. What can we realistically do if they won't move us and we can't stay here? We don't have money to stay somewhere else and hope for eventual (probably unlikely) reimbursement.

@bec81
I googled Eurocamp...others had an issue. {Durinell}
[From Tripadvisor]

My daughter staying in a nearby caravan with a baby and 2 little children was woken last night by RATS in her caravan eating her food. The staff at reception where rude, hungover from going out drinking the night before and more interested in laughing over how many shots they had drunk, very unhelpful when she complained about the RATS and all they would offer was to put rat poison in her caravan when she had a baby crawling around. She refused to go back in to a caravan full of rat poison which annoyed them immensely and made her hang around till 3 in the afternoon while they very begrudgingly found her a more inferior caravan.
Euro camp, you need to monitor your staff. We would NEVER use euro camp again. Bad customer services, dirty, tatty, leaking caravans. DISGUSTING
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Yes, we'll be doing this as soon as it opens in an hour if staff onsite can't resolve in the meantime

When we were at Duinrell, one of the other Eurocamp vans also had a rat problem - it's clearly a know issue. They were moved to a different unit immediately.

Definitely don't give up OP, it's completely unacceptable and a health hazard.
In my experience the people who answere Eurocamp phone lines have always been really helpful, so hopefully you'll have more luck phoning them directly.

I would escalate this as high as you can.

there’s no way I’d be staying in a caravan with rats.

An additional thought. Depending on where you are, Google the name of a regional Dutch newspaper or even a radio station. The Dutch are fantastic linguists so any language issue will be unlikely. Speak to the Newsdesk. Someone might like to take up the story.

It could still be mice, if that’s any comfort (?!) I thought I had a herd of wildebeest in my loft last year from the noise and it turned out to be mice, I was amazed.

I hope the day staff are better.

The Netherlands in general is a functional place, but customer service is poor. It is not a very service-oriented place. Dutch people culturally expect things to be discussed frankly, with clear setting out of your expectations. No need to be rude, just to be clear.

Ask for the manager of the site. If not successful, call the general company HQ.

I'd be horrified as well, but surely full on "bawling crying" is a bit much, especially around children.

OP you don't know it's a rat. You're assuming. It could easily be a hedgehog or similar.

Block everything so it can't get any further than the cupboard, keep complaining but otherwise crack in with your holiday. Do you have access to any shops? They hate peppermint essential oil. Maybe smear toothpaste around the cupboard failing oil!

Oh god no. I have an absolute fear of any rodents in my space after a horrible hotel experience years ago. I couldn’t stay there OP.

From a CS point of view, in the past if something hasn’t been sorted I have very calmly said “I appreciate you are not able to resolve this yourself, so please pass me on to the person who has authority to do so”. Then don’t budge, or hang up.

I know you said you don’t have socials any more, but another issue I had recently was resolved when I tweeted the parcel company who had failed to deliver to me 5 days on the trot (despite tracking showing the van in the next village). I got my delivery the next day, and I literally have three followers! So set up an account and tweet the hell out of Eurocamp.

Good luck, feel for you,

Trust pilot is often most effective.

Rat huge or small mice?
Unless seen visually you don't know it is rat.

But ask to be moved unit.

There was a post last week on the unofficial Eurocamp supporters Facebook page about rats at a different accomodation. The replies were telling the poster to settle for nothing less than an accommodation change, and to put in an official complaint online at eurocamp.

The kids were asleep.
I'm not usually a crier, and there's very little in life I'm afraid of, but rats are one of them. Especially when they are so close to my sleeping children

Thank you. They are offering us an alternative from Monday. No way can I stay there for 2 more days. There is talk of a refund and sorting us out to go home 😔

Oh that would be such a shame for the kids. Are you there on your own or with a partner?

Absolutely and also tag Daily Mail in too. That should set the fire to take action. Document everything and take lots of pictures.

rats/mice etc are not a given when it comes to camping. Ive never in my life ever seen them/had an issue when camping

Hilarious that some people think OP should get in her car and find the nearest hardware store to stock up on wire wool, gaffer tape, rat traps, poison and hard plastic food containers.

Then spend her days decanting food, sealing up a hole and putting poison down in a small space with children and food around. Happy holidays!

Doesn’t matter if its a rat or a hedgehog, something is getting in, making a noise and eating food. This is a caravan, not a canvas tent on the ground.

Of course you go back to that lazy arse on reception and demand some action, take photos, email higher up, put it all over Trip Advisor, make a big fuss.

Don’t attempt any DIY pest control, this is terrible customer service - do not accept this treatment.

I’ve worked in retail and the louder people shout the quicker they get dealt with.

A rat. I don't know what size

I haven't a notion of doing that. Didn't even bring a car.

If you're not scared of rats, you don't understand. I saw 2 the other day inna country park, minding their own business but it totally ruined my day. Gutted for you.

Please tell me it's not Beekse Bergen

@bec81 It seems a shame to pack up early if your children are having a lovely time.

The Rat must obviously be getting in somewhere, is there no way if a staff member blocks up the exit/entry hole that you will feel safe enough to stay til Monday?

I do understand you feeling upset, especially around food, but it seems sad for the children if they are having a lovely time to cut it short.

Op which camp! Is this duirenell?

You need your refund and money now so you can look elsewhere.

There are so many good sites in Netherlands, have you looked at efteling as well? You could stay on site or book a hotel in the town and get day tickets.

No one at Europe camp knows you don't have followers!!

And mumsnet is a site of several million users.
Every single camp site I've stayed in we always book direct with the owners and it's the best accmd, more spaced out. We walked past euro camp and canvas and it's always more crammed in etc.

Is it Duinrell? A few people have had this, according to the official tips and hints Facebook group. Definitely worth kicking up a stink. They should be able to move you to alternative accommodation. I would threaten them with the Dutch version of environmental health - it’s not “normal”.