Totally unbelievable camp site charges. Legal/illegal?

[izwozral]

 

[Nabsim]

Camp site can be crazy, been looking for a pitch somewhere not too far to try out the tent and it ranged from £20 to £70 per night. One man tent and one person. Decided me and son in law off to Newton Stewart tomorrow for a couple days wild camping in our tents

 

[Robmac]

I've seen this before Ral and it's disgraceful.

Having said that we all have the choice not to stay there - I certainly wouldn't.

 

[izwozral]

True Rob, even so:

£4 to book online, £12 to book by phone, £30 cancellation fee. You would have to be mad to accept that sort of pricing on top of high camping fees.

 

[Fazerloz]

I don't get all this not naming the site if what they say is the truth and they are not twisting things for clicks.

 

[Robmac]

There is a suggestion in the comments that it is Porth Beach but that would be a bit unfair if they are wrong.

Wouldn't be hard to check their prices though.

 

[Fazerloz]

I know we stopped on Hendra in Newquay which is a big site in June 2023 for a fortnight for £16.50pn inc ehu.

 

[Robmac]

True Rob, even so:

£4 to book online, £12 to book by phone, £30 cancellation fee. You would have to be mad to accept that sort of pricing on top of high camping fees.

I agree Ral, especially the £30 cancellation fee which you don't get back if you don't cancel - that is laughable!

 

[jeffmossy]

The problem is that people pay these prices and accept the terms and conditions, if they had no customers they would soon learn to restructure their pricing system

 

[marchie]

I agree Ral, especially the £30 cancellation fee which you don't get back if you don't cancel - that is laughable!

That smacks of fraud, then. If you don't get a refund when you have actually turned up, then it is cannot be a cancellation fee, it's obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, originally prescribed under Sec 14 of the Theft Act 1968, later refined under Secs 1-3 of the Theft Act 1978, and case law R. v. Lambie 1974 and Metropolitane Police Commissioners v. Charles 1976. I know the Theft Act legislation has been updated since 1978 but it should be possible to use this as a starting point. Failing that, a complaint to Trading Standards might get the ball rolling.

Steve

 

[Robmac]

That smacks of fraud, then. If you don't get a refund when you have actually turned up, then it is cannot be a cancellation fee, it's obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, originally prescribed under Sec 14 of the Theft Act 1968, later refined under Secs 1-3 of the Theft Act 1978, and case law R. v. Lambie 1974 and Metropolitane Police Commissioners v. Charles 1976. I know the Theft Act legislation has been updated since 1978 but it should be possible to use this as a starting point. Failing that, a complaint to Trading Standards might get the ball rolling.

Steve

It doesn't really bother me that much Steve (apart from not liking greed), it wouldn't be my cup of tea anyway.

 

[r4dent]

It is quite simple really, if you don't like the terms, vote with your wallet and go somewhere else.

I have just taken SWMBO to a Sunflower stroll. The nearest was 5 miles and charged £7pp, the next nearest was 15miles and charges £1pp.
we travelled the extra 10 miles each way. (20 mile @ 3.4 mpkwh = 6kwh @ £0.30 per kwh = under £6).

Nothing new in site owners adding extras. Remember Mr Fiddler...

 

[r4dent]

There is a suggestion in the comments that it is Porth Beach but that would be a bit unfair if they are wrong.

Wouldn't be hard to check their prices though.

Just done this and the Porth Beach charges and cancellation conditions match the video exactly.

Two interesting quotes from their web site
1)"If you have your own holiday insurance and do not require Porth Beach Tourist Park’s Insurance cover, we will require you to put this in writing to us within 2 weeks of making your booking. If booking online, you can decline the insurance cover by putting a note in the special request box stating you do not require it and have your own cover. We can then remove the premium for you. "
2)"if your unit exceeds 7 meters in length please contact us before booking to check availability"

 

[izwozral]

There is a suggestion in the comments that it is Porth Beach but that would be a bit unfair if they are wrong.

Wouldn't be hard to check their prices though.

Correct Rob.

Serviced pitches nightly tariff 2025​

Serviced Pitches​	​	PP​	Blue​	Yellow​	Green​	Red​
					£50.00​	£47.00​		*
22nd Mar – 23rd May	£52.00​	£50.00​	£47.00​	£44.00​	£41.00​
					£65.00​	£62.00​		*
24th May – 30th May	£67.00​	£65.00​	£62.00​	£59.00​	£50.00​
					£53.00​	£50.00​		*
31st May – 20th June	£55.00​	£53.00​	£50.00​	£47.00​	£43.00​
					£61.00​	£58.00​		*
21st June – 11th July	£63.00​	£61.00​	£58.00​	£55.00​	£48.00​
					£65.00​	£62.00​		*
12th July – 29th Aug	£67.00​	£65.00​	£62.00​	£59.00​	£50.00​
					£53.00​	£50.00​		*
30th Aug – 19th Sept	£55.00​	£53.00​	£50.00​	£47.00​	£43.00​
					£46.00​	£43.00​		*
20th Sept – 31st Oct	£48.00​	£46.00​	£43.00​	£40.00​	£38.00​

* = hardstanding prices

Additional Requirements​

These are all charge nightly, apart from the specific pitch charge which is weekly.

Item	Price
Star Pitch/Extra Person	£1.00 per night
Dogs (per dog) *	£5.00
Extra Cars	£1.00 per night
Hard Standing	£3.00
Specific Pitch(es) (per pitch, per break) **	£12.00
Booking Fee	Over phone – £12 Online – £4

Payment welcome by cheque, postal orders and all major payment cards.
Click here to book your holiday online now
All facilities + free view TV connection on Premium pitches.
*Please note Porth Beach refuses certain breeds of dogs for the comfort of our customers. In the interest of our customers you will be asked about your breed of dog at the time of booking.
**Please note Specific pitches required next to each other will incur the extra £12 charge.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

And they wonder why we wild camp.

 

[oppy]

Pub stops, spend the money in the bar / restaurant, ( it'll work out less expensive) we're doing that when we visit relative in Penzance and we have friends in Mevagissey on who's drive we park.

 

[Robmac]

There's a program on BBC2 at 7 o' clock tonight called 'Holiday Parks exposed' which apparently is about overcharging and fraud.

Not sure what sort of holiday parks these are but they might get a mention.

 

[r4dent]

There's a program on BBC2 at 7 o' clock tonight called 'Holiday Parks exposed' which apparently is about overcharging and fraud.

Not sure what sort of holiday parks these are but they might get a mention.

Reading the BBC synopsis leads me to think it is about statics
"

Holiday Parks Exposed​

Scams & Scandals

The UK’s most beautiful coastline and countryside locations are home to hundreds of thousands of holiday home caravans. But there is a dark side to the holiday park industry. The BBC goes undercover at one major operator in Yorkshire to expose questionable sales tactics and hears allegations of intimidation and profiteering.
Whistleblowers, industry insiders and angry holiday caravan home owners who’ve incurred huge losses tell the programme how some companies are exploiting a lack of regulation to make millions from unsuspecting buyers.

"

BBC News - Scams & Scandals, Holiday Parks Exposed

Angry owners and insiders blow the whistle on the dark side of the holiday park industry.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Boris7]

Sorry Ral but this is pointless,

If you don’t like the price don’t book mate.

 

[barryd]

I haven't watched the video as I hate these van life bollox shite but if they are whinging about site prices then its dead easy, vote with your feet. Its supply and demand innit? If people are willing to pay then thats what they will charge.

The superior pitches on the site we stay at above Woolacombe at certain times in August are £99 a night. When we go in the backend for a few weeks I've paid as little as £11 a night and never more than £16.