Center parcs - A disgrace.

Hi all

I have drafted a letter which is going in the post tomorrow morning. It will be interesting to see the response.
 
Thanks for this. I've referenced this is my letter also!
 
Personally I'd write to Joe outlining the series of events and the consequences for the proposed holiday, paid for well in advance. I'd also write to Centre Parcs but say nowt about the letter to Joe. Do not under any circumstances forewarn them as that will give them opportunity to line up the PRs and double-talkers who will undoubtedly want to take discussions offline. When talking to Joe's production team, if they decide to use your letter, suggest they ask for a Centre Parcs rep on the day of the show and let the cards fall as they will. I have no doubt but that Joe's team will want a rep, but keep the notice period to the minimum so they Centre Parcs, are talking spontaneously rather than from a script.
 
If this was a small family business, I’d be concerned about a radio show damaging my business. Especially a show where blood sports can be more important that the facts.

If I were the head of C/Parcs. I’d ignore any calls / correspondence from them. I wouldn’t entertain them in the slightest.

Will I suffer from it? Absolutely not. You can be sure nobody will pull out due to its airing. Will you feel better about it, probably.

What C/Parcs did was wrong, and IMO, you should seek recompense in some form. But your throwing everting at this in one go. Phone calls, letters, radio shows etc, that’s pure anger, and I don’t really blame you for that. No one wants to see kids disappointed.

You need to decide if your going ahead with the trip anyway, or if your taking action against them or both. If it were me, I’d do both, and I’d let them know I planned to take an action against them. Im pretty certain they will accommodate in some form. A reasonable person reading your letter of complaint, would see the position they have put you in, and act on it.

But, the whine line, Nah, that’s just entertaining boredom.
 
I suspect Joe will require a little more information than you have provided in your first post,
is this related to the Government restrictions/ easing of restrictions,
Can you update posters on how you get on with Joe, Hope to hear your discussion shortly on the Joe Show,
 
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For the OP to gets on the Joe Show, The Media Training will be sorted or OP will not get air time,
There Is No Show Like A Joe Show,
when it comes to the Joe Show Badger baiting is not an Illegal sport,
 
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Centre Parcs website says that booking is open 4 weeks in advance and not 2 as you were told so clearly there may be a training issue here for their staff as you may have been mis-advised by a staff member.

You could try and raise a chargeback (assuming you paid by card) on the basis that you were misled by their staff and cannot now receive the goods in question (pool facilities being a case in point). You may win but I would expect they will defend it.

If you are getting nowhere, try throwing Conor Pope and the Irish Times into the mix as well
 
Peanuts20 said:
Centre Parcs website says that booking is open 4 weeks in advance and not 2 as you were told so clearly there may be a training issue here for their staff as you may have been mis-advised by a staff member.
Click to expand...
They've only just changed this. It was only two weeks in advance until last week.
 
Nope - they say they will let you know what activities are available 4 weeks before your stay.

Here's the booking
"A full list of available indoor and outdoor activities will be available to view and book online no later than 14 days before arrival date, we’ll email to let you know when you can start booking. The only place you’ll be able to book activities is online via your Center Parcs account."

There is the possibility that the OP took a different meaning and didn't realise that booking will be "no later" than 14 days beforehand.

Remember there are always 3 versions to a story - my version, your version and the correct version
 
Hi OP,

I had reason to contact a large company in the past. I spent ages on various calls trying to get through to the "right" person and basically getting the run-around. Eventually, someone I worked with suggested Twitter. Not being a user, I set up an account and sent the company a Tweet. I didn't go overboard on the Tweet or anything and before I could blink I had a reply. The issue was fixed the next morning for me. Might be worth a go...

Firefly.
 

No they have changed their policy today I would imagine. This is what they had previously, I actually have a screenshot but I cannot upload it, you can see it from the cached site in google. For the UK it was 4 weeks for Ireland two weeks. The keyword here is "from" two weeks i.e. not before.

Subtropical Swimming Paradise | Water Park ... - Center Parcs​

https://www.centerparcs.ie › activities › subtropical-swi...
https://www.centerparcs.ie › activities › subtropical-swi...
You can build your perfect itinerary and pre-book everything you want to do from 2 weeks before you arrive when visiting Longford Forest. If visiting one of our ...

At the heart of every Center Parcs break, is our incredible water park, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, heated to 29.5C all year round and decked in lush green tropical plants and trees, it’s positively balmy.

Access to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise during your break is through a pre-booking system only so be sure to pre-book and secure your place to take a dip in the pool, tackle the Wild Water Rapids, relax in our whirlpools and enjoy our exhilarating rides and slides.

You can build your perfect itinerary and pre-book everything you want to do from 2 weeks before you arrive when visiting Longford Forest.

If visiting one of our UK villages, you can book from 4 weeks before you arrive.


You say three versions of the story but they are 100% in the wrong here. I didn't want any special treatment only the opportunity to book my activities at the same time as everyone else per the guidance given to me by the website and customer support. The booking portal for activities was greyed out when I checked it early last week. If they hadn't changed the narrative and opened the portal early there would be no issue, the fact is they did open the portal early, they didn't tell me and are hiding behind a silly excuse of marketing. It can be dressed up any which way but they fundamentally failed here.

Didn't get to ring Joe today with work commitments a another member of my party is drafting something to them. Will it work who knows.
 
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I didn't specifically mean that there are three versions of this story, but EVERY issue will have two sides to it and then a compromise.

Effectively ends up with three versions.

You have given their side (their answer to you), you have given your side, and hopefully there will be a compromise that you will be happy with - the third side.
 
We're getting caught up in semantics here guys. There's only one decent end - The Full Truth.

Centreparcs fell down on the job = The Truth.
Compromise is required = Cop Out.
Eifespike must get what he bought = The Truth.
Anything else is not The Truth.
 
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