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Original poster

Feather Down Farm - last minute group split... Advice

461 replies

Nicky1234 · 02/08/2011 17:37

A group of 5 families has booked early in the year to stay with feather down farm and were advised that we would all be together. Now 2 weeks before our stay we have been advised that in actual fact we are being split up because a group of 2 wants specific tents and so it makes that field too small for us.
Anyone been to one of these farms and do you think it will be a problem, we have 10 kids between us, 6 and under, so I am worried that they'll disturb other guests (rather than all being together they'll have to find each other). Also though there is a brook between the 2 fields so we're going to have to shepherd them about and it seems such a shame they cant just roam a little free (poor loves get no freedom). Selfishly the adults won't be able to hang out in the evenings either...
Im also really upset that we have to split up as seems unnecessary and unfair...
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions to put my mind at ease.
Thanks

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 09/08/2011 20:55

well, yes and no. i thought they'd been asked to move but had shouted at the farmer/customer service rep or something? that is a bit unreasonable, imo. although you are right, what is unreasonable is that featherdown farms has fucked up and isn't managing that fuck up.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 09/08/2011 21:03

I'd love to know a time-line of what happened.

Who booked first?
Who was offered what, when?
When did the "shouting" start?

And so on.

It's pretty obviously That the FiveFrazzleds would not have booked this holiday had they been given the info by Feather Down Farms 10 months ago.

Take the money, and then inform the FiveFrazzleds 2 weeks bfore the holiday, when it's probably too late to pull out and find somewhere else?

[cynical]

suzikettles · 09/08/2011 21:18

I just don't get how the first response from FDF wasn't "We have screwed up. Our fault. How can we make this better for you?"

Screw ups happen, it's how you deal with it that matters. They should have offered a full refund, or money off the holiday and a full discussion of the various options available to make the group split work for the best. Plus, obv stuff like hampers/free stuff when they got there.

It's basic, but it's the sort of stuff that turns this sort of thing around and make you rave about a company. There's some laurel-resting going on round here.

suzikettles · 09/08/2011 21:22

Example: Soup spilled all over dh's suit in an eye-wateringly expensive restaurant. Immediate apology, dh cleaned up, offer of dry cleaning. Followed by complimentary cheese course for the group and bottle of dessert wine at the end of the meal - no fuss, just appeared (and tbh, the sort of suit dh wears can go in the washing machine Blush - he would have rather died than make a scene).

We told everyone about what a great time we'd had - amazing food, utterly impeccable service.

feelingvfrazzled · 09/08/2011 22:22

Just found out that the company have decided that they would rather cancel the holiday of 20 people - Inc 10 kids than accept that they can fix this...

Feel so sad :(

sockpoppet · 09/08/2011 22:24

They've cancelled it? Full refund I hope?
We now need some mumsnet magic to find these guys another holiday. What's your budget op?

DioneTheDiabolist · 09/08/2011 22:25

Have they given you a reason feeling?

CroissantNeuf · 09/08/2011 22:27

They've cancelled it?! Shock

The holiday for 20 people?

At less than 2 weeks notice? During the school summer holidays?

Shock

Holy crap. Just when you think that their customer relations can't get any worse.

ChristinedePizan · 09/08/2011 22:27

What??? They've cancelled your holiday? Shock What are you supposed to do now? That's dreadful

AitchTwoOh · 09/08/2011 22:28

you CANNOT be serious?! are they insane?

DarrellRivers · 09/08/2011 22:30

Really

How strange

They have gone crackers

AitchTwoOh · 09/08/2011 22:31

oh frazzled, i am so upset for you, what a shit thing for them to do... how on earth did this happen?

AitchTwoOh · 09/08/2011 22:31

(and how far away are you from NettleTea's place?)

Geordieminx · 09/08/2011 22:32

We need to do something!

VivaLeBeaver · 09/08/2011 22:34

Surely you can sue? Is this not breach of contract? Bstards.

feelingvfrazzled · 09/08/2011 22:36

They have said that we can't accept their offers so they'll refund. Not true, all we have said is that we don't want a discount off of a future holiday but have said that we would like it off of this holiday.
Waiting for confirmation though. We have got it in writing that either way the farmer will not lose out so that's one thing.
Depressing.

AitchTwoOh · 09/08/2011 22:37

who the FUCK are the two people in the top field? Kate and Wills?

sockpoppet · 09/08/2011 22:37

Try the big domain website

DarrellRivers · 09/08/2011 22:38

They must have other people wanting to hire those tents
Otherwise they would not be turning down your money

levantine · 09/08/2011 22:38
Sad

arses

ClaireDeLoon · 09/08/2011 22:40

Oh frazzled :( I have been following and not posting but how awful for them to do this.

We have been trying to organise a holiday with friends and they like camping but she has health problems so we started looking at FDF as a way of camping without the effort but decided not to after I saw the way they treated customers.

blowninonabreeze · 09/08/2011 22:40

Oh dear Sad

Have a look at jollydays possibly not quite as luxurious as the tents at feather down, but they have plenty of availability in their belltents for August according to their booking page.

Shocking behaviour from Featherdown

Blu · 09/08/2011 22:42

Can they cancel your holiday after you have paid money?
It's a contract!

Most bizarre behaviour.

feelingvfrazzled · 09/08/2011 22:42

Jollydays looks great but sadly too far away...

funnypeculiar · 09/08/2011 22:42

Oww, frazzled, how crap (have been following but not posting). There is a mn-er with a lovely site which she's doing a mn camp meet up- not FDF quite, but looks really nice, am following it on fb. Wil find it & post - worth talking to her about a replacement booking??