Butlins break cancelled because "we aren't on the electoral roll"

[Butterlins]

Firstly - we are on the electoral roll, always have been, have voted in every general and local election, and can provide proof of being on the electoral roll.

We got a letter from Butlins today - I only picked it up at 6pm because I was working today, so I haven't been able to ring customer services. The letter says (happy to post it on here) that because we aren't on the electoral roll, our break has been cancelled, our money will be refunded, and this decision is final and cannot be reversed. *
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A small amount of googling has shown me that Butlins do this for anyone with an Irish/traveller sounding surname. Surprise surprise, we have a surname common in the travelling community.
There is a number to call to "arrange your refund", and my googling has shown that when others who have received this letter ring to explain actually they are on the E.R and can provide proof of this, Butlins say "tough" and refuse to reverse their decision.

And I can find many many instances of people with "English" sounding names (Bishop, Cooke, Pitt, Patel) who AREN'T on the electoral roll who have never had any problems with booking at all. It seems to be directed only at those with "blacklisted" surnames, even if they are on the ER.

I imagine I'll have a battle on my hands when I ring Butlins tomorrow - anyone help on how to approach this? I'm fuming tbh. Me and DH have both booked time off work, the kids have been so excited.

From Butlins point of view, they had a huge issue with travellers a few years ago. They no longer do last minute bookings for the Christmas breaks for this reason as people have to be checked first. I imagine whatever happened must have been pretty bad tbh, my friend told me about it as she always booked a last minute deal for Christmas breaks.

I'd wait until you phone them and explain you are on the electoral role and see what they say.

It must have been bad for them to tar everyone with the same brush but it's discrimination so unfair on everyone. Unfortunately the behaviour of a few have ruined it for the many

I went to a Haven site this year with our touring caravan, when we got there they had security on the gate which they’ve never had in previous years. I asked why and was told that last year, a load of travellers pulled onto the site and refused to move. It cost Haven thousand in the eviction process and ended up taking about a year!

It sounds like if you call them you'll get the same results as previous families I'd be practicing your best sad face

That's horrendous and surely illegal

Surely this is direct discrimination? I’d be furious. Unbelievable.

Just putting "Butlins travellers" into Google shows articles going back a few years about this issue

If you can justify the reason for the discrimination you can often get away with it. In this case I think a death resulted from a traveller fight on a site (memory is sketchy) and understandably they want to prevent a repeat

Wow, I'm astonished. Surely this is illegal? Every sympathy with Butlins not wanting bad behaviour on their site but how is this not discrimination?

I get that they need a process to try and prevent large traveller groups from booking, but I'm NOT a traveller, and I'm on the electoral roll.

I have found another non traveller family on the fb page who had the exact same thing TODAY. Butlins refused to reinstate their holiday, despite the family proving they are on the electoral roll.

It's so so so unfair. It's my three year old's favourite place on earth - how do I tell her we can't go anymore just because of her surname?!

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4720000.stm

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/butlins-and-pontins-accused-of-keeping-secret-blacklists-of-traveller-families-a6808231.html%3famp

That is not a good reason - they cannot possibly say that all people who have a potential traveller name will kill people [shocks]

Have just googled, and that is definitely discrimination OP if you have the energy for a fight.

Fucking hell this is awful!

So you can only stay at Butlin’s if you are UK resident? They don’t let anyone from abroad stay? How bizarre. I’m sure there would be an outcry if French camp sites tried to ban the British

Wow!! I had no idea this was going on. I really hope you can sort this Op, what a horrifying surprise.

I didn't say it was a good reason just I can see they want to prevent a repeat of a previous incident.

I'm trying to see how this has fared in court

"a death resulted from a traveller fight on a site"
I'm guessing the two involved in the fight were men. I assume they haven't barred men?

Probably. I'm not defending their actions just playing devils advocate here.

No, non UK residents can stay at Butlins, they just need to provide proof of address (bank statement/credit card bill), and photo ID like a driving licence or passport, but all UK residents must be on the electoral roll.

Except they only check traveller sounding names

Whether or not they have had trouble in the past it won't be legal to ban anyone because of their name or ethnicity. It's just simply illegal. I doubt I'd want to go anyway after this . But just phone and say you are on the electoral role and you will be reporting them for discrimination.

It’s incredible that they haven’t been prevented from doing this. It’s such obvious direct discrimination. I hope you can find an alternative your three year-old lives just as much.

Is it just Irish names they're banning? So back to the days of hating the Irish again? Or all travellers and showman lines? If so their database must include most British surnames!

Well as illegal as that is, and it is, I would be very glad to have my refund and never provide them with a single penny of my money ever again. I would also be going to every media platform available and publicising it.

How are you going to provide proof of being on the ER

Just curious as these documents can’t be photocopied or photographed in local office

Bloody hell. We have an Irish surname. It would never even have crossed my mind that it would cause us trouble in this day and age.

This is horrendous, but rather than explaining that you're on the electoral role I'd be explaining that we weren't travellers - as terrible as it even sounds to write that!