lapland centre in new forest branded a 'scam'

[TheArmadillo]

here

interesting.

wasn't it slammed last year on mn or maybe year before? But the threads had to be pulled. And the organisers again claimed there was no problem.

Seems to be similar style of complaints.

The response by the organisers seems to be complete denial.

More than 50 complaints have been made to trading standards. Will be interesting to see what their report is.

I don't think this is Lapland UK, which was the thread last year. There are a few more which have sprung up this year.

Lapland UK was a bit hit-and-miss, but the Santa saved the day. My children still talk about it and are still convinced they met the real one. I wouldn't go again, but it wasn't a complete disaster.

Yeah, I feel sorry for the children and for the paretns who thought they'd get what they were promised. I'm not saying they're any more gullible than I am. I would've considered taking my own DS if I had the money, who wouldn't?

But when you think about it it, there is simply no way you could recreate the standard of the marketing photos I remember seeing a few weeks ago, which were presumably Photoshop-ed (the site is now down, unsurprisingly) as most advertisement is, without, er, real snow and therefore the kind of investment an 25 quid entry charge just couldn't cover.

The photos on the BBC web-site make the place look really shit. Best to avoid by the looks of it.

Completely different company I think.
Lapland UK in Bedgebury wasn't perfect, but as ohforfoxsake says, the Santa was the best, and both children have very fond memories of the trip.

It obviously looks shit. But then, I'd have thought it was shit from the ads anyway and wouldn't have been daft enough to spend £135 going there. I mean, Lapland? In Hampshire? Come on. How stupid can you be?...

BBC news report here complete with £135 figure quoted.

There is another thread on this...

I am not sure we are stupid for thinking it would be a great day out for the children and adults alike.

My sil has paid and booked for us all to go Xmas eve (6 children and 6 adults) she is trying to get her money back now.

here is the thread

We went to Lapland UK in Bedgebury last year and it was fab! The snow was great, the children loved helping elves make presents and Mrs Christmas was just how you would want her to be. Father Christmas was also fantastic. The food was expensive and the "flight" lacked a little imagination but we had a wonderful day which my dds still talk about.

Lapland Uk in at Bewl water this year. I assume that the Hampshire one is another company?

it's another company.

Iirc the complaints about lapland UK last year were more that it was disappointing for the price, but the reviews of this one seem to be that it's a total scam and it essentially is nothing more than a travelling funfayre with a couple of b&q sheds thrown in to pose as log cabbins.

We almost went - am so glad we left it too late and the weekend tickets were all sold.
What I am baffled about though is that apparently trading standards cannot close it down, so it will be allowed to continue operating for this year at least. shocking.

Think I'll set up a grotto in my front garden and dress the dogs up as reindeer and charge people admition. And by the time they complain it'll be too late because I'll already have their cash in my sweaty little hands.

It just seems that anyone can rip off anyone else without consequence

Yes it is just a scam really apparently not a genuine offer. Lapland UK was genuine but disappointing but this one has actually had trading standards brought in.

Which beggers the question, who on earth in Trading Standards saw fit to grant the licence for this to go ahead, and how big was the backhander they got

LaplandUK is a very expensive £75.00 pp trip to Kent. But they do have elves and hot drinks.

LaplandNewforest is a very expensive £25.00 pp trip to a field with a shed and they don't have hot water for the drinks.

We went to the Kent one last year - I had been slightly sceptical beforehand, and had crossed my fingers. I feel so lucky that we had such a lovely experience - we booked for a late appointment, which meant it was dark when we went, which I think helped with the magic. Seeing as it was their first time in delivering this, the organisers had clearly put some thought into it, and, apart from the rather poor entrance through a blow up tunnel (in my opinion, though dd thought it was great!), have now got a child who is still convinced that they saw the real Father Christmas that year (all others anywhere else are just helping him out!) We had lovely proper sausages in rolls, mulled wine and hot chocolate, and walked through a darkened snowy forest (as I said, the evening played its part!). As gremlin says, the toy-making and Mrs Christmas cooking was well done, and organised, and going late in the day meant that we had Father Christmas all to ourselves, without huge queues. A Father Christmas in a lovely cabin (not a shed!) with log fire and -erm- photographer on hand! I feel so sorry for those who have booked this poor excuse for an experience this year in the New Forest, and feel sad if it affects the other operation - yes, it's not Lapland, no it's not real snow, and yes, we all probably had high expectations. But many of us still like to provide a bit of magic for our children, but may not be able to afford to fly off to Lapland-Real! If only someone could deliver something like that each year, it would be worth the money. Anyone..someone...? Got a couple of huskies spare?!

Smug, don't blame trading standards, companies don't have to apply for a licence to set up shop.

It's nothing to do with Trading Standards in terms of licencing. I guess they might have required temporary planning permission, but that doesn't involve any sort of judgment about potential to scam.