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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:
victoriasmith · 04/08/2011 19:48

So sorry FDF have ruined your holiday, holidays/family time are sacred!

I would be hoping to get a major discount on this holiday rather than next year, the idea that you would want to book again with them after this fiasco is laughable! Are they not offering you anything at all for this year? quite disgusting behaviour.

Slubberdegullion · 04/08/2011 20:19

I've camped at 1* campsites with better service than this.

Poor form fdf

Firestone · 04/08/2011 20:57

God, we're going on a Featherdown Farms holiday tomorrow, I'm really anxious now if this is how they treat people. It's rubbish OP, sorry they're being so unreasonable.

sockpoppet · 04/08/2011 22:29

They don't have bulls. Bulls aren't fluffy enough to have on feather down farms.

Lilyloo · 04/08/2011 22:57

Enough to sop me booking an FDF camping holiday. We often book in groups and have never found it a problem.

Ceolas · 05/08/2011 00:29

How unreasonable :(

Hope you find a solution and have a good holiday.

perfectstorm · 05/08/2011 01:40

OP, I'm incredibly sorry your holiday is being messed with like this, but I have to say, I'm also a bit relieved I found the thread. I'd clicked on their mumsnet best ad, sent off for the brochure, and talked 4 families into coming on a 40th birthday week en masse next year. As in, we can go somewhere the kids will have a blast and we can all relax, play at Enid Blyton childhoods for them, no planes or long car journeys, nature in comfort, blah blah blah. Sod that for a game of soldiers. I'd rather go to Butlins if this is their attitude. Champagne prices and beer attitude - not ideal, is it?

feelingvfrazzled · 05/08/2011 07:50

The only thing they are offering us for this year is to give us our money back on one of the tents and we all squeeze into 4. So no, nothing off of this year's holiday which is basically the problem, some compensation offered in the first place would have been a bit more acceptable. It still wouldn't have been the holiday we bought, but would have at least been acknowledgment that there had been a mess up with our booking. BUT nope.

Firestone, I'm sure you'll have a fab time, my friend has been and is doubly gutted they have done this to us because they had such an amazing weekend last time. It's more about the farmers once you get there wh are lovely apparently.

It's the farmers I feel bad for...

Anyway there is still time for the company to realise. I hope!

victoriasmith · 05/08/2011 08:18

I can't believe they are offering you no money back at all for this years holiday, it's like they don't realise what a huge mistake they have made. As for asking you to squeeze into 4 tents...my understanding is that there are set bed spaces in their "tents" so how on earth they expect you to sleep a whole other family in one is ridiculous, the point of booking one of these holidays is that you don't end up sleeping on the floor as it's "glamping". ohhhh I'm in a rage for you! I can't believe they are being so unreasonable.

barbet1904 · 05/08/2011 08:30

Can feel ur disappointment....disgusting treatment. Time to get heavy I think. Having stayed at A FDF and getting really friendly with farmers wife, I know how much commitment and hard work is required by the farms. Bear in mind these farms are doing this to support their livelihood as farming is being slowly crippled. I think the way forward is to rally support from the farmer on the basis future business for them will not exist once you log ur complaint with trading standards and watchdog! It is quite obvious there is huge support out there. Have you searched for other complaints on the net? Let us all know if we can help....there is power in numbers. Good luck and chin upWink

Northernlurker · 05/08/2011 08:31

The position they're adopting doesn't even make sense. They said you can't reserve tents but you can be together. Now they say you can reserve tents - but you can't and you can be together but you can't.
'Who's in the other tent? The owner's inlaws?

OP I would demand your money back tbh. You aren't going to enjoy yourself after this anyway.

AlmaMartyr · 05/08/2011 09:46

Did someone up thread say they'd emailed FDF with a link to this thread and their concerns about awful customer service? Just wondering if it would be worthwhile for a few more of us to do that?

oramadams01 · 05/08/2011 10:16

Thank you so much for all your support everyone, I am the one who organized the trip in the beginning and feel so bad that my lovely, lovely friends have paid so much money for an experience that I recommended.

I really hope Featherdown Farm can see sense! I am so cross that they have put us in this position. This is my only annual holiday this year which makes it 10 times worse.

nettlemummy · 05/08/2011 10:41

I am so sorry that this has happened, I cannot believe that they are being so mean to you about this. I am emailing featherdown regarding this as we were considering booking a group holiday there but obviously won't if they won't guarantee that you are together!

Shame on you featherdown farm knaveswell dorset

Blu · 05/08/2011 13:05

WHY DON'T THEY MOVE ONE OF THE TENTS???

I can see that it wouldn't be OK to squash strangers in, but since you're all toegther and want to be close I don't understand why they can't jusy shift one of the tents. But presumably FDF tents are more like chalets so hard to shift?

Blu · 05/08/2011 13:05

Or, since they are offering a refund on one tent would they allow you then to take another tent of your own for one family?

LIZS · 05/08/2011 14:43

ooh there is a statement form FDF on another thread here

LisMcA · 05/08/2011 14:49

I hope you and your party are happy with that OP. Sounds less than ideal to me, but hopefully you will all enjoy your break without any further issues.

Oblomov · 05/08/2011 14:51

O.k. I've seen the comment.
MN Towers, you really should post that comment on this thread aswell, it is actually more related to this thread than the other.

What a POXY POXY offer.
OP, I am sorry. But what a load of shit. I'm so shocked, I am speaking at the computer, only stuttering.
Totally crap OFFER.

Blu · 05/08/2011 14:54

I think the visitors to the other 2 tents will turn out to be Wills and Kate, and Harry and Pippa, or perhaps Liz Jones and Rockstar, with extra tent for papparazzi.

You mark my words, there's a reason for the 2 tents having been preserved against all logic and fairness.....

hocuspontas · 05/08/2011 14:54

They don't get it do they? A group go on holiday and don't expect to be split up in different fields whether it's FDF or any other type of holiday. That's why they're called 'group bookings' and you are advised when you book what may or may not happen regarding accomodation not a week beforehand.

SpringHeeledJack · 05/08/2011 14:55

even the cheap caravan holidays we go on can guarantee pitching together

this is very poor, fdf

LIZS · 05/08/2011 14:57

Tend to agree oblomov , it still isn't the holiday op had thought they'd booked. However hopefully this compromise might at least make some amends and enable them to enjoy the evenings as a group. Up to the op and her group now but :( they have little choice. PR disaster nonetheless.

hocuspontas · 05/08/2011 15:01

As FDF have seen this thread, why don't they come on and explain how this cock-up happened? Potentially they are losing customers, especially from group bookings.

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 05/08/2011 15:06

Hello. We've been in contact with Feather Down Farms and they've asked us to post up this statement:

"We've read this thread with great concern and would like to reassure you all that the comfort of all our guests is of utmost importance to us and our farmers.

"This situation is obviously less than ideal and we have been in touch with the group concerned to see what we can do to resolve it to everybody's satisfaction.

"We've agreed over the phone that Feather Down Farms will pay for a babysitting service for this group, so that the location of their tents doesn't mean they have to change their plans for the evenings. And we confirmed all this to them in writing today."

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