Lapland New Forest Scam. How to get money back...

tigger2000

Penny-less wrote: »

Hi,

Believe that a similar operation is going to open soon here in Staffordshire.

The website is www.laplandwestmidlands.co.uk

There seem too many similarities for them not to be linked in some way.

We won't be going to check it out!

Penny x

That is freaky...even if they are for real they won't stand a chance but the wording is almost identical. Needs someone who knows how to look into that connection to stop more unfortunate people making the same mistake as thousands of us at the new forest one.

kirdy_2

i've just kooked at laplandnewmidlands too it even has some of the same pictures,but this time round at least has a proper address not just a po box no.The spelling is just as bad though with the spelling of mickie mouse!Take a look at www.expressandstar.com as they have already been in trouble with trading standards for claiming they were using disney characters,even the price structure & wording are the same 'where dreams come true'.

~Chameleon~

The West Midlands event is hosted by Millride Country Sports and the registrant of the website is a Chris Daily who has a Wolverhampton address.

Still not found a significant connection between the two, other than the website being almost identical in design and format. Still looking for links

fribbleblib

The contact phone number on the Lapland Westmidland s site is also the same phone number for a concrete suppliers http://www.onestopcreteprintsupplies.com/

BrandNewDay

tigger2000 wrote: »

That is freaky...even if they are for real they won't stand a chance but the wording is almost identical. Needs someone who knows how to look into that connection to stop more unfortunate people making the same mistake as thousands of us at the new forest one.

Huh. I wonder if they have permission to use Minnie and Mickey Mouse? I really rather doubt it. I don't know if those are stock photos or if there will actually be costumed skaters dressed as Disney Characters, but I think it's highly unlikely it's with Disney's permission. Disney is notorious for cracking down on such things when they hear of them.

H.P.Bazxter

fribbleblib wrote: »

The contact phone number on the Lapland Westmidland s site is also the same phone number for a concrete suppliers http://www.onestopcreteprintsupplies.com/

I have checked, and yes, this telephone number belongs to the concrete supplier, which still holds the telephone contract with BT, it would seem!

lpeg

Hi everyone,

I thought all those of you out there who still have tickets and are wondering whether or not to go, might appreciate an update of our experience today...

Firstly I will say the ONLY reason we went (my parents, myself and two children under 3) is because we were told by Consumer Direct that if we didn't PERSONALLY experience it and all the issues/problems, we couldn't claim breach of contract (regardless of all the press and obvious problems!).

We certainly didn't plan to go for the whole day, we went along about 3.30, and ended up staying about 2 and a half hours, as we knew it would probably look better in the dark when lit up (and when you couldnt see all the mud etc!!)

It was totally deserted as you might expect, maybe a hundred people there, so certainly no queueing. The facilities were also pretty clean, but again, there was no one there to use them!! (I did see a disabled toilet too).

Please bear in mind we went expecting total C**P (apologies for the language) of course, so any improvements they have made were to be a bonus for us. I strongly suspect they have been told to make improvements or risk being shut down, in which case of course everyone has a much more solid case for compensation, and they know it!

The christmas market and navity farces have gone as far as we could tell. We certainly didn't see them. The tunnel of light wasn't that bad, and actually looked quite pretty when lit up in the dark - but I suspect they had re-snowed it (if that is the right word!). And of course we went expecting only the fairy lights and coloured lights shining up into the trees, highlighting the snow, and nothing more. Yes the dogs were chained up, but were being taken for walks (on leads of course) by elves around the site (not near children I might add). I couldn't comment on their state of health, I'm not an expert. The two reindeer were in a field grazing on straw and looked ok to me. As did the donkeys.

All the staff were making a great effort to be friendly and there were probably more of them than customers to be honest. And as alot of people have commented, it really isn't their fault is it??

Santa was just about ok, not the best 'character' - have seen much better, and I would have been disappointed had I queued, by his lack of effort, but the kids being young, probably didnt notice too much (although older ones would I suspect). The presents were in nearby huts, and yes, they were unwrapped but at least the kids got to choose something they at least liked the look of. As there wasn't much of a selection. They were separated into boys and girls, but to my eyes looked pretty much the same. I wouldn't describe them all as complete tat (although some looked like fairground cast offs and were pretty awful) but they probably aren't worth a whole lot. Maybe a fiver each at most, in a discount shop in town.. Certainly they didn't compare to what my children got last year at our garden centre. Oh yes and no problem with taking our own photos, no evidence of the £10 fee for someone else to take the photo.

The food was pretty awful, lukewarm hot dogs. To be honest there was little choice. Some vans were closed today. Take your own food for sure if you plan to stay a while!! Although there was a decent coffee stand, much needed, as it was seriously cold by half five.

Entry to the fair was free as were ALL the rides except the stalls. So my son had a ball in there. The ice rink looked fine and was in action. Presumably you would still have to pay for this - we didn't go up close to look.

I can't really think of much else to say except that I can completely understand why everyone was so outraged who went at the weekend, I can well imagine what an entirely different situation it was, and certainly with the numbers they let in and all the problems that would have involved (queueing, toilets etc). If I were one of you, I would definitely be looking to get a refund.

Will we? I don't know to be honest, as based on what we saw today, I didn't really see any obvious reason for it to be shutdown, if that is what people are hoping will happen. I didn't personally see any safety issues and the facilities were clean (but as I say it was pretty empty). I imagine improvements must have been made (I'm sure these are clever people and well know a shutdown would seriously implicate them). Certainly it's NOT worth £25 and was no-where near as wonderful as was advertised.. I don't dispute that in ANY WAY whatsoever! Maybe £10 at the most.

Would I recommend you go? Well, as I say, we were told you only have a chance of refund if you experience it yourself (unless your tickets specify cancellation rights and ours didn't). Certainly you only need a couple of hours, 3 at the most - assuming no queues, and depending on whether you ice skate etc, and how many of the activities you did in the huts - we did none, (too cold).

Wrap up VERY warm, especially kids, lots of socks, blankets for the little ones etc. Please remember people, this is England, and it will either be wet and/or cold! Its not like going to a theme park in summer by any means!!

Other people seemed to be making similar comments to us, so I suspect people will start to go, certainly locals, although if you live a long way away and have booked accommodation, you may want to think twice! There certainly isn't 4-6 hours of entertainment there unless you like the fairground!!

Please also remember I have no idea how many tickets have been sold, but imagine weekends and holiday days leading up to xmas will have been very much in demand, so it could be a very different story on those days. Who knows?

In summary I realise many people won't like this post, I'm truly sorry for those who have already been and experienced what they called hell. It wasn't hell today, not the best, just average and still disappointing given what we paid. I'm not aiming this at those who have already been and I'm certainly not disputing what anyone has already said. I'm simply trying to describe what we found today, to help all the thousands of people who still have tickets and simply don't know whether or not to go..

If I've missed anything then please post a question and I'll keep an eye out for the next couple of days and do my best to answer it based on what I saw. Hopefully a few more people will post over the next day or so too.

And to those of you who keep commenting about newbie posters, then yes I am. Of course..as for many people with this whole Lapland experience, who have felt compelled to post. I am certainly nothing to do with any mgt,staff etc who might be trying to put a post out there to make it all sound a bit better. This is a genuine post, and these thoughts represent what my parents (aged 60) thought as well..

Good luck to you all, whichever way it goes.

spark0101

Thanks ipeg great email


Sparky

GomerPyle

Yes - lpeg a very balanced and fair review, though I would imagine that you are correct in imagining that they were forced into it, knowing that closure would immediately give customers the right to obtain refunds. That is still a possibility.

The West Midlands version - well, as the story has covered the front page of the Sun and is being reported in the USA and Australia, I think most people will be well warned of the dangers. They may be unconnected, but the format is irrevocably tainted and I don't see much chance of it being a success.

fribbleblib

Actually the reason for the matching phone numbers between the west midland lapland and the concrete suppliers could be because both domain names are registered to to the same wolverhampton address.

Could be interesting when you ring up... you could book tickets for lapland and get your driveway done at the same time! :rotfl: