C&CC getting on my nerves

As most of you know, on arrival at a CC site you are given a map (layout of pitches) so at your leisure can decide the most appropriate pitch to your liking. We would never accept being told where to pitch especially if the outlook was permanent shade or immediate to the toilet block. Understand from your posts this is the C&CC method together with other mandatory rules that do not appear to promote a friendly welcome. Never had a problem with the CC online booking system and if seemingly fully booked have phoned direct whereby we have been accommodated.

You don't HAVE to go where they tell you if you ask for a different pitch, unless they're are no others free. 

I tried to cancel a CCC booking yesterday which is for the 14th July which I only made on Friday. I was told I would lose my deposit, which I had suspected. I asked if I could transfer the money to another site i was booked on and was told I could only do that if I went on the same dates. I couldn't do that because it's part of a tour so I'm stuck with the original booking.

Regarding prices, though, I wanted to go to Glan y Mor (recommended on the previous page in this thread) instead of the CCC site at St. David's. The CCC works out several pounds cheaper, although admittedly, we do have age concession. 

Our van insurance has been with CCC. We changed our van recently a couple of days after the insurance renewal date. They said we had to take out the policy then ring them on the day with the new van details and they'd give us a price. My husband phoned NFU, no problems, gave them the new van registration, the policy just transferred to the new van at midday. CCC would have charged an admin fee for the change, NFU don't charge admin fees.

Nora

Without wishing to repeat comments too often, I believe that C&CC have lost the "Club" aspect and have become a business trading on their previous good name. As such they are no solely interested in profit and building a bigger empire. Its sad because when we first joined 20+ years ago it did seem a good option, now every year I think about not rejoining but there is a long history which included some great holidays.

Hi
   something positive,we have just joined and with over 55 discount the site prices are better than the Cavavan Club,but more than that in a blonde moment I booked the wrong dates,I got a phone call from the site why had I not turned up.I said I was not coming for another week,They changed my dates and all was OK
       regards
           Alan

gemdeco wrote:Hi
   something positive,we have just joined and with over 55 discount the site prices are better than the Cavavan Club,

Yes! but both are still expensive compared to commercial sites, when you consider its supposed to be a club. Don't forget to add your membership fee when working out how much it costs.

Frank

Having been a CCC member for 20 years, you could count the number of times I have used club sites on two fingers (pardon the gesture!).  During my earlier years I was on the committee if the SRTTFCG and made some life-time friendships.  

Even during the expensive school holiday seasons, we (myself and 4 kids plus some of their friends) had some great holidays and weekends on rallies, THSs and CSs which membership to the club has given us access to.  As a single parent I could not have afforded these without the club membership.  And some of the membership fee (if not all) is often absorbed in shops when using the member discounts.

Many of the club's recent changes have been unpopular, but to me the benefits remain unaltered - quiet sites and good company.  If I give up my membership I will not get to camp with my friends on these exclusive sites and that alone, to me, is worth the membership.

I hope you can make it worthwhile for you too 

Betty's Mum wrote:Having been a CCC member for 20 years, you could count the number of times I have used club sites on two fingers (pardon the gesture!).  During my earlier years I was on the committee if the SRTTFCG and made some life-time friendships.  

What is SRTTFCG ?

 And some of the membership fee (if not all) is often absorbed in shops when using the member discounts.

When I was a member - also 20 odd years, the club discounts on items usually brought the price down to what you would normally pay in a non-club outlet, but you buy them to 'support the club'.

Many of the club's recent changes have been unpopular, but to me the benefits remain unaltered - quiet sites and good company.  If I give up my membership I will not get to camp with my friends on these exclusive sites and that alone, to me, is worth the membership.

Fairy Nuff, one man's meat is another man's poison

Frank

SRTTFCG = Southern Region Trailer Tent and Folding Camper Group (we didn't invent the name, the club did!!).  SR no longer in existence as there was low attendance numbers and we couldn't get others to help steward or help with the committee, the end result being that we folded (ha har ... great pun in there   )

Discounts ... among others, we are currently getting 15% off in Cotswold stores and Mountain Warehouse, 10% in Blacks (Millets) ... every little helps (but not in a certain, unnamed supermarket!)

Now the kids are all grown I camp by myself and wouldn't feel safe wildcamping.  I stay in the CCC because it is working for me - if it wasn't good for me I would be out.  We all must do what is best for us and, above all, be happy campers in whatever we choose  

I got 20% last week at Go Outdoors with my CCC card

Just been to Haltwhistle and was given a choice of all available pitches with the guy waiting on his bike while we made our mind up.
We also got a lovely pitch reserved for us at Ravenglass when we told them our requirements with a timid dog.

Can't say I've had any issues so far but we have only been "at this" for 2 months now, however, the access to the CS sites is what we especially like.

alt wrote:Just been to Haltwhistle and was given a choice of all available pitches with the guy waiting on his bike while we made our mind up.
We also got a lovely pitch reserved for us at Ravenglass when we told them our requirements with a timid dog.

Can't say I've had any issues so far but we have only been "at this" for 2 months now, however, the access to the CS sites is what we especially like.

Hope you had a nice time at Ravenglass, we were there two weeks ago and had 5 days of  good weather, did you have a go on the steam railway?.
Boaby

burlingtonboaby wrote:Hope you had a nice time at Ravenglass, we were there two weeks ago and had 5 days of  good weather, did you have a go on the steam railway?.
Boaby

No - not with the dogs with us, one is not a good traveller in any form but getting better now in the MH.
We had visions of him either throwing up in the train or jumping overboard to get off.
We are local to Ravenglass anyway and that was our first trip out in the van - 10 miles !!

We mostly like c&cc sites and their HSM's (why did they have to change, what was wrong with the old title warden? Didn't conjure up visions of prison to me! You still have wildlife wardens don't you?) are almost all really friendly and helpful. I say almost all.

Last year late in season we toured Scotland for a few weeks, some wild camping, some nights on club sites. Welcome on all the sites in Scotland was brilliant. Got back into England and first site we stopped at, I won't mention name of site but north of England. 

Firstly, it was late in season close to site shutting for the year. There were only maybe half dozen outfits on site, no children. Admittedly technically I was in the wrong but I drove the wrong way round the one-way system just a few yards to reach the m/home service point with the van water filler on the side facing the tap. That saved having to drive right the way round the one-way system all round the site to reach the same point, then turn round to fill up, then turn round again to drive out, there not being very much room to turn round in. No harm done thaught I. But no, rules is rules he had a go at me for that. Most other HSM's would have accepted what I was doing was logical and not worried about it as so few people about.

Secondly, I was using up the last of a 7kg butane cylinder & wanted to change it for a 6kg propane one. No, cannot do that as they are different cylinders, not a straight swap. Rubbish, calor gas stockists routinely swap the 6kg propane and 7kg butane. Indeed we managed to do so at a garage a few miles from the site without any quibble and I had done so previously on our other cylinder. But no, this chap was having none of it. Can't be done says he!

He was not a good advert for the club. To be fair he's the only one we've ever had trouble with on any of the club sites we've used over the years. One thing for certain though, we won't be using that site again!

Steam train outings together are a no go for us as one of our dogs bowels has become overactive with the sound of the steam in her latter years....so Mr L goes on them with the other 2 dogs while I settle down to a book in the MH on the car park with the old lady.  I get my 'treat' going into English Heritage properties while Mr L dog sits and makes numerous cups of coffee in the EH car park. In the caravan days we could not the park up- kettle on- and we just loving having our home with us all the time. It makes so much difference with the dogs and with our own ageing bones, where we just want to stop awhile. 
As for going round the 'wrong' way to enable a fresh water top up....we have now got an extra long hose to avoid the warden wrath. To be fair to the CCC we have never found it a problem. CC sites however we have found to be rigid not only in their pitch layout but also in their rules. We probably will not be renewing CC membership next year after over 20 years of being in the Club....

Lots of swings and roundabouts with both clubs me thinks. They are both definitely swinging the 'profit' banner more and more but at the moment at least we find the benefits of being members of both outweigh the negatives. We insure MH Caravan and house through CC and RAC etc with C&CC, not always the cheapest but the benefits have been hard to beat.
When we went to Scotland in April we were forced to use the CC sites as virtually no CS's or CL's were open or on our route. Totally changed our opinion of the CC as off season the prices were less than CL's and the wardens and facilities superb. Not sure I would use them peak season though . 
With the C&CC club we also benefit from 'old gits' membership discount, the call it 'veteran', makes me feel even older ha ha, can't remember actual amount but in the £twenties.
We had booked a ferry crossing with C&CC last year (again probably not the cheapest but) at the time of the ferry strikes when MyFerryLink or whatever called ceased trading etc. We phoned and changed the booking while in the queue off the tunnel France side and all was sorted with seconds as they have all our details. (Couldn't have been done at a weekend though ).
So as I say 'swings and roundabouts'.

Had a week in Cornwall at the C&CC's Veryan site and it was really good site and service.

On arrival the guy was friendly and laid back and let us choose the pitch we liked the look of.

Fish and chip van on Wednesdays and Fridays too, what's not to like :)

The £8 supplement we've just been charged because they are busy?

crisp wrote:The £8 supplement we've just been charged because they are busy?

You surely jest!!!!

Can you give more details please Crisp. My subs are up for renewal soon, and if it is just as you say I shall be voting with my feet!!

Dave

Booked online for two nights in Folkestone this week, got the a "supplement" of £8 appears when you ask for breakdown of costs, of course that could have been for the electricity but £56+ seems high for two days parking on the grass.
having said that its a lovely site which we have used for many years in tents, trailer tents and now the motorhome.

Chris

Thanks Chris

I understood that it's illegal to charge separately for electricity unless it's metered?? Doesn't seem to stop many commercial sites though!

£28 per night!! Was that for 8 people and a handful of dogs????

Dave

Whilst I know I have put on a little weight over the years its not that much, £28 for the pair of us, I expect they will bring us a nice breakfast and serve high tea at 4:smile!:

I always thought Scarborough was the dearest site in the C&CC where if you were to book from tomorrow for 3 nights on hardstanding with electric for 2 people (not age concession), the total is £76.60. Age concession brings it down to £61.20 (surprised it applies at this time of year).

Scarborough

19 July 2016 for 3 nights
Motorhome (less than 6m x 2.3m)
A hardstanding pitch with Electric hook-upPitch supplement : £15.00


Party details

• Adults (non ACR) x 2 : £61.60
  

 

Member price

£76.60

but Folkestone beats it..

Folkestone

19 July 2016 for 3 nights
Motorhome (less than 6m x 2.3m)
A grass pitch with Electric hook-upPitch supplement : £12.00


Party details

• Adults (non ACR) x 2 : £65.20
  

 

Member price

£77.20

and that's on grass as no hardstanding was offered.  But surprisingly age concession also  applies here at this time of year  which brings price down to £60.90

Folkestone

19 July 2016 for 3 nights
Motorhome (less than 6m x 2.3m)
A grass pitch with Electric hook-upPitch supplement : £12.00


Party details

• ACRs x 2 : £48.90
  

 

Member price

£60.90

So the age concession is one reason to choose the C&CC over the CC.

I think that we paid more than £25/night for Riverside Stratford this weekend, I'd have to check with Chrissie.

TBH, I was uninspired by both the site and Stratford (which wasn't at all as I remembered it from school days visits).

We're agreed that, for us, using the van in the UK is only a 'make do' necessity between trips to Europe, where the welcome, sights, sites and costs are so much better value.

These prices are 'crazy' . There is no way I would pay that when there are hundreds of CS's and CL's of a high quality. Presume the prices must rocket come summer as CC sites in Scotland in April were about £12 a night inc elec.