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.

You're right @xtrabroken, how are they able to get away with this?

Wetherspoons picked on the wrong travellers in 2015 but generally businesses just get away with it [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32783569] .

I'd take my business elsewhere OP. Though funnily enough we spent last Christmas at a holiday park [not Butlins[ where there was a large rowdy raucous crowd - and the park staff didn't seem to know how to deal with their behaviour at all - the group played their music from their cars and hollered outside their chalets till all hours. Staff just wrung their hands when asked about it and acted as though they were victims. Presumably it is easier to discriminate against the 'wrong sort' than train and equip staff to deal effectively with the problems they may bring.

The gay cake case - is still rolling on...[https://www.legalcheek.com/2017/11/supreme-court-will-travel-to-belfast-to-hear-gay-cake-case/]

You could try speaking to Friends and Family of Travellers group, they have various legal people that may want to get involved in fighting this

A world with all men locked up? Mmmmmm

😁

OP - I think it’s disgraceful. I can’t believe they can do that and there’s no comeback.
Your name is just Irish surely but even if it was a traveller name, that is discrimination surely. I do understand the awful job they must have had trying to evict them but they can’t treat all groups the same.

A world with all men locked up? Mmmmmm

I’d be happy if they just locked up the ones actually convicted of violent crimes.

You say it’s your child’s favourite place so I am guessing you have stayed previously. Did you book under the same name?

I would be tempted to let them cancel the booking and then rebook under a different name if you really want to go there. Personally I wouldn’t want to if this is the reason thy have cancelled.

Just a joke Battered

Oh I know, but it’s actually not funny in reality.

everyone here was like "it's the owners choice who to give business to"..

No they fucking weren't. Most posters here were outraged at the discrimination.

Publicise it everywhere, OP. They should be taken down for this. Absolutely disgusting discrimination.

Plus the fact - which holiday companies make background checks (done incorrectly) anyway? Who do they think they are, the fucking Savoy?

It's also pretty laughable. I'd avoid them like the plague anyway if there is such a risk of violent affray happening.

travellerstimes.org.uk/News/Butlins-reported-to-Equalities-Commission.aspx

Looks like this has been happening for a while. Racists arseholes.

I've just looked at that link from the link Xtra posted and gone onto FB to search one of the names of the women in the article. It's very clear from the photos on her publicly viewable FB that she is, in fact a Traveller.

The electoral register thing is obviously a way of getting around the fact that they feel they need to deter large groups of Travellers descending but cannot do so without actually saying anything discriminatory that would land them in court.

I feel for them, they are between a rock and a hard place. The problems Butlins have had must be pretty major for them to feel they need to employ such tactics and risk offending or blacklisting customers who pose no risk or threat whatsoever.

Actually a quick scroll through the FB of those two women and most of their friends on FB reveals that they are all or mostly Travellers.

I imagine there is a team at Butlins that does this research and cancels bookings based on what they find. I guess certain names or areas flag up first and they poke around a bit based on that.

Loads more settled men attack Butlin's staff than traveller men attack Butlin's staff.

I am sure you are right. But I imagine when Butlins management look closely at the incidences of violence and disorder in any given period, they must be seeing a hugely disproportionate number of incidents caused by a certain demographic. Especially if those incidences would appear to be involving large groups and premeditated 'meets' with the intention of settling scores and fighting, rather than spontaneous and isolated punch ups involving two guests completely unknown to one another.

Otherwise I just don't understand why they would feel the need to do this. No hospitality business wants to alienate well behaved customers or risk offending them. They are trying to do whatever they can to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone and to minimise the risk that their staff and other guests might have to witness or be caught up anti social behaviour and violence. It's a family place FFS.

It's awful that they are using this sledgehammer to crack a walnut and it's awful for the OP that she unfairly is on the wrong end of it. But I completely understand why they feel they need to do something, and I don't know how else they could realistically do it.

I would phone them and just say that you have been twice before. They may have proof of that. Do you have proof ie email confirmation?

I wonder if Dermot O'Leary has trouble booking into butlins

I don't know how else they could realistically do it.

Call the police when there is a disturbance and ban the people involved?

And the OP is on the electoral roll, so they are failing by their own poor standards.

This is awful.

OP, I'm a journalist though I don't really write news stories any more. I just wanted to say this is a cracking story and Butlins should definitely NOT be allowed to get away with this. If you're up for it, I reckon the press would definitely be interested.

Of course they could call the police berlioz but that might well be locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, if someone's been stabbed or shot, a bar has been trashed by a huge marauding group and hundreds of guests with children have been terrified enough to never want to return. I imagine if they've consistently and disproportionately had the same problems with the same small demographic to the point that they can virtually predict and forecast where there will be antisocial behaviour and violence, they'd really prefer a policy of prevention rather than cure.

Many, many hospitality venues do the same. They've come to the conclusion that it's just not worth the risk. It's just that with Butlin's being on the huge scale it is, it's difficult for them to do it by stealth or under the radar.

I'm not defending it or criticising it either way, just trying to understand their rationale.

Their predictions are rather off kilter if they are upsetting good customers. What if they had been having trouble with British West Indian families and put up a "no blacks" sign? There is no justification.

They are also going to have a massive PR issue and lose many good customers as a result when the shit hits the fan.

You mean like all the places that ban hen and stag parties. Or large single sex parties that might be hen or stags?

I’d like to think that, Berlioz, but it’s more likely that most people would approve. Look at how hard it is to get permission for traveller sites.

This is shocking! So sorry this happened to you. I’d see if the press are interested. This is discrimination.

Their predictions are rather off kilter if they are upsetting good customers.

I haven't suggested otherwise, in fact I've said the same thing pretty much.