to expect Center Parcs to actually give a damn?

[PinkPetal38]

Has anyone else suffered at the hands of Center Parcs appalling customer service. I can't believe how i've been treated, and i've not even gone on my break yet! It's absolutely ruined my holiday and i won't be going back again. To be honest, i want to stand in the middle of the park with a banner in protest!

Since i've had my run in, i've heard of a lot of stories of how they just grab your money and run, so it's not just me. They don't care about 'you' at all.

what happened?

what did they do?

the only problem i've encountered was when we were there and then they bent over backwards to help and resolve the problem

Can we have the details please? ALl I know is you haven't been yet but you're not going back because you're holidays runined!!??

I've never had any problems. Never heard of any either tbh. Go on, tell us what happened.

I've never had any problems either. So what happened.

YANBU to expect good customer service.

YABU not to explain the problem.

We spent much more than we wanted to for our break, as there are 4 adults going (plus a little one). So we paid for a 3 bed, 3 bath option (4 adults and one bathroom was always going to be a problem). And because my mother in law has problems walking I also booked an apartment near the centre (and extra £45).

Then the price absolutely crashed - almost half the price that we originally paid. I felt so sick, and so cheated. The only reason we booked so far in advance is the fact that they said there were only a few apartments left. But that was simply not true - the same number of apartments were on a sale 3 weeks before the break.

I spoke to 4 people at customer services and guest services, asking what they could do for us - and to be fair, one of the customer service girls offered us an upgrade (still £111 less than i paid originally!) and was very nice and was human about my feelings - but unfortunately we couldn't take the upgrade as the new apartment was miles away - and my mother in law could not walk that far.

When we got through the sales and marketing executive who supposedly would help us, she was very unsympathetic, and said that we should have not been offered an upgrade at all. This immediately took away any good feeling that had been built up - i basically shouldn't have been treated nicely, she was saying. She said we would not get anything (i didn't expect money back, but perhaps a gesture of good will with a voucher towards my next break perhaps), and i certainly didn't expect to recoup the £250 price drop - my fault for booking too early!

But I feel utterly utterly cheated. Yes, i know prices of holidays can go up and down, but this was too much of a price drop for me - and i keep an eye on center parc prices. I've been 3 times in 5 months, and they had a chance to keep me as a customer for the next 14 years with my child only being 2. But no, they prefer the quick fast buck than seeing any loyalty from guests at all.

And there sales and marketing executive is more interested in position power than guests. Appalling.

So if you bought say, a sofa from DFS and then 3 months later, saw it on sale for half the price, would you expect your money back ? Sorry but YABU - presumably no one forced you to pay the original price ?

As you've been there so recently (3 times in 5 months) they usually guarantee to price match ie if the price does go down, they will refund you the difference. When did you last go? Is it worth pointing this out to them?

tbh it just sounds like your annoyed and fustrated at paying more because you booked early (and i probably would too) but there is nothing they can actually do. the upgrade was a gesture of good will, they didnt have to offer you, and you, for what ever reason, couldnt accept it.

they often seel off the holidays cheep at the last minute to make sure the park is full, the cant afford for it not to be.

imo i dont see that they have treated you that badly

Why dont you send their customer services an email, saying how disappointed you are? I have found that you get a lot further with complaints if you put them in writing.

Whilst I understand you being annoyed its just the risk you take. I took the same risk when I booked my flights to america, not knowing if the price would go up or down.If they had gone down it would just be my loss.

We booked within 28 days of returning from CP and used a code which guaranteed the price we paid would be the lowest, did you not see this offer in your villa ?

YABU. Frustrating but not their fault, and they did offer an upgrade.

We had absolutely fantastic service from Center Parcs when we went last year and 2yo DS1 managed to kick a hole in the wall - their only concern was for his welfare, not for their wall. Very impressive, and we will be going back.

It's the same with cars or lawnmowers, you will always see the same thing, or better, for less than you paid. I make it a rule, once I've bought something, never look at the price again. It jsut wastes time, and drives you mad..
Unless you bought it from John Lewis of course, then you can spend all your copiuos free time checking if they have been "undersold" and demand a refund.

When we came back last year they said we could book again for same price etc. Anyway we didn't go with it. We have just booked and I think this year we have a bigger apartment for the same price we paid last year. I can see why you are annoyed but its market conditions.

price policy says that prices go up nearer to a holiday date and that they guarantee the price of your holiday would never be less than you paid.

I have just looked at the same week we're going in July - price is several hundred higher than when we booked.

Absolutely - i agree with all of you, but it doesn't stop you feeling absolutely sick and feeling like you've been ripped off.

As i said, i did NOT expect my money back.

I expected genuine understanding from them. Not some rudeness and uncaring attitude. THAT is what matters.

We always use the returners code which guarantees you will pay the lowest price (plus you get free cancellation insurance and £25 worth of vouchers to spend) Was CBSOON the last time we tried it.

Could you cancel and book again?

YANBU about the call centre at all

yab(a bit)u about the refund - it's always worth a try to get a discount in these situations but it's not compulsory - they are there to make money.

I tried to book repeatedly this year - like you have been lots and was told all specified dog friendly villas had gone - called each centerparc direct had plenty thank you. When this happended the year previously we were told which no villa to specify by manager at longleat then bring the dog and pay for her on arrival. This time as it is all centrally booked we cannot do this - and call centre staff informed me that as I wanted a dog villa with limited disabled access (mil can get in and out w/chair) not a normal villa one I had very unreasonable needs! Amazingly 4 weeks later they have sent an email with special offer and all villas are availble till you go to pay to book.

However this time I took great delight in pointing out that as a loyal customer for years they have driven me to book elsewhere and I have got a better deal for a lot less than £1000 for a week
the call centre manager stated oh really I doubt that, i politely informed her that am now booked in a disabled, dog and child friendly self catering chalet in the uk with private (shared between 3 chalets ) swimmimg pool, sauna and jacuzzi for £500. And if we want to go any where it is 5 minutes from a real steam train station rather then centerparcs poxy land train.

refrained from going ner ner ner

having experienced centerparcs call center I don't think you are being unreasonable - and I have it on good authority that the managers at centerparcs are not to keen on the call centre either as they have targets to meet to get the place filled and the call centre often will forgo the kind of deals you were hoping for and they end up with cancellations as people claim back their deposits on principle.

actually I don't think YABU

a previous poster linked to their pricing policy and it states this:

"Center Parcs breaks can be booked up to 18 months in advance and, we will always aim to sell our lowest prices early on. This means that if you book as early as you can, you?re most likely to get the cheapest deal."

I would email them pointing out that this statement is extremely misleading and has led to you spending far more than what you needed to.

But then I think CP are money grabbing bastards.

Normal travel complanies charge up to double for school holiday dates - CP, no .... they charge triple! I kid you not, and thats why I wont book with them.

But then I think CP are money grabbing bastards.

100% with you on that one

I am suprised that it has gone down in price. We have booked for August, we booked very early and the same accomodation would cost a couple of hundred pounds more if I booked it today.

However I suppose if they haven't filled their accomodation they are just as likely to drop the price last minute as anyone else.

YANBU to expect good customer service, but I'm not entirely convinced that YANBU about your gripe.

Supply and demand is one of the benefits and pitfalls of living in a free market.

YABU.