“The caravan is lovely, the setting is wonderful, the views fantastic.”
Unfortunately we had a few problems.
We arrived on the 12th Nov, on visiting the Park Dean office the following day, we discovered the site was closing down on the 13th until March next year.
So most of the facilities we believed to be included in the price had now been taken away from us.
No swimming pool, no restaurant, no shop.
We consider this misrepresentation.
Also, maintenance work was taking place on the site, particularly on the caravan pitch next to ours. Noisy machines at 8.30am. tractors parked at the front of the caravan, blocking the view. On one occasion the road to the caravan was completly blocked by a cement mixer.
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon. Monday we had been out all day, returning at 4pm. The heating was on, everything was fine. But by 6pm we noticed it was getting cold. The boiler was out. By process of elimination we discovered BOTH gas bottles were empty. The only contact number we had was Sykes Office in Chester, which obviously was closed by now. We did not have a contact number for the owner or the ParkDean Office, which was also closed. What do we do?
We thought of a hotel for the night, but we had a dog with us, not many hotels take dogs. So we hunkered down and made the best of it with extra clothes and duvets. BUT IT WAS COLD!
Early the following morning we found, close by, a Premier Inn which had a Cookhouse Restaurant attached to it. The Restaurant accepted dogs, although Premier Inn didn't. But we were able to get warm and enjoy a full breakfast. Whilst spending hours on the phone to Sykes. It became apparent that Skyes were unable to contact the owner.
We drove back to the caravan with the intention of packing up and going home. But, we called in at the Park Dean Office to see what they could do. They refused my offer of money for a gas bottle, said they would install one straight away but would contact the owner.
By the time I arrived back at the caravan, the owner was on the phone, asking if everything had been sorted out. I explained it was in the process but did ask why BOTH gas bottles were empty. She saId it was a breakdown in communication and offered me compensation. This has not been forthcoming.
But why hadn't Sykes been able to contact her previously?
We stayed and contined to have a wonderful holiday, but all the above was really unnecessary and could have been sorted out in minutes if not hours.
Conclusion
Sykes have serious communication promlems and are unable to quickly resolve a problem.
Park Dean were wonderful and couldn't have done better.
- Christine, November 2022
