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

Antispam

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1091708/Fraudster-boss-Winter-Blunderland-rake-2million.html

Fraudster boss behind 'Winter Blunderland' to rake in £2million

The boss of the ‘Winter Blunderland’ Christmas theme park that has attracted thousands of complaints is a convicted tax fraudster, it emerged last night.
Victor Mears, who runs Lapland New Forest with his younger brother, was sentenced to three years in jail in 1986 after admitting failing to pay £500,000 in VAT.
At the time he was serving a four-year sentence for tax evasion.

alison6692

Thanks Ipeg and buzzyrabbit for your reviews. Its nice to hear that they have taken on board some of the comments.

I was wondering does anyone have a copy of the letter they are sending to there credit card company to get money back for tickets - when they haven't been yet? I know its cheeky but just thought it would save me some time to have a look at someone else's.

Thanks Alison x

Edinburghlass_2

lisa_cz wrote: »

When standing it is normal for huskies to carry their tails down as I have said before most of these dogs were purchased from one of the uks top kennels, the current breed standard was written around a dog from this top uk kennel.
The RSPCA have vetted the dogs and confirmed that they are in top condition. I to have owned and bred Siberian Huskies for 20 years.

Like others I have a problem with the fact that one of the "uks top kennels" would be selling dogs purely for the purpose of chaining them up for a few weeks in December and then what, do they buy them back? Is this what you breed your dogs for?

I'm sure that reputable Husky breeders and Husky rescue folk would be interested to know exactly what top UK kennels these dogs came from.

sarahscottiedog

alison6692 wrote: »

Thanks Ipeg and buzzyrabbit for your reviews. Its nice to hear that they have taken on board some of the comments.

I was wondering does anyone have a copy of the letter they are sending to there credit card company to get money back for tickets - when they haven't been yet? I know its cheeky but just thought it would save me some time to have a look at someone else's.

Thanks Alison x

Alison, we contacted Barclaycard and we used their own forms, which we could download from their site

CazandCo_2

Hi All,

I have been reading this forum avidly the last couple of days. We have booked to visit Lapland Newforest on the 12th December. This is a treat to us from my Mum who bought the tickets for all seven of us. I will be taking my daughter on a three hour car trip to get there and we are all very concerned about the reports we’ve seen of this being not as great as we thought.

Consumer Advice informed us that we have no right to claim a refund at this stage, but that we could try. They advised that after visiting the attraction if we felt that it was not good enough we could then get further advice from them in order to make a claim. I asked the adviser if she could tell me when we would find out if Trading Standards are taking legal action, but she was unable to discuss it. She helpfully gave me this web site address http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=384532 and explained that any announcements regarding action taken should come up on there.

My mum called her credit card company and they advised that she would have to firstly write to the Lapland owner requesting a refund in full. Any correspondence would then have to be sent to the Credit Card Company who would then take it on board. The lady gave the impression that there should be no problems with this.

I’m very annoyed that we have such limited choices. We either take the risk that we will get our £190 back by asking for a refund and by not going, or we go and take the chance that it offers us everything that was stated on the web site when we booked it! They both seem unlikely at this stage so as a consumer we lose out! Why should we be forced to take a three hour car trip to see something that will most probably be a complete disappointment!

Those that have been recently have said that its ok, but still not worth £25 / £30. Please complain then! How can you not?! Don’t let them get away with it! How typically British “oh it was ok, but not worth £25 and I can’t be bothered to write for a refund”

We have to remember this…. The Web Site advertised that there would be (and this is a small selection):
A breathtaking Tunnel of Light
Magic Dust to be collected to put in your Santa envelope
Geese
Baby Ostriches
Husky team to reindeer
Delicious seasonal Hot and Cold food
Santa who is “waiting to give all young children their chosen gift”
The attraction will also wow us with their “attention to detail” and promised that there are various activities for children to take part in.

I have not seen any reports to suggest that all these things are there. We have all bought our tickets based on the information provided by the Web Site advertisement. If it’s NOT as stated then we have a right to a refund! :mad:

alison6692

sarahscottiedog wrote: »

Alison, we contacted Barclaycard and we used their own forms, which we could download from their site

Thank You

I am with Natwest and they are being a bit of a pain - first the lady told me UNOFFICIALLY it would be closed down earlier in the week and if it wasn't I needed to write a letter stating my dispute as we are choosing not to go - we have paid for £310 worth of tickets. Yikes.

mum_of_4

I guess even if you go -you all based your purchase of your tickets on what the website claimed would be on offer at the time you booked the tickets. So even if you go now after things have been removed from the website, as a load of stuff on the website wasn't correct you could still make a claim

tigger2000

I have just read a comment from someone on the daily mail site and they quite rightly brought up the fact that staff working with children need to be CRB checked. I wonder whether thats another angle that could be looked at....shall we put bets on whether the right checks have been put in place I know where my money would be, perhaps I could win some money back ha ha! It still amazes they are getting away with this.

GomerPyle

A beautiful piece of investigative journalism by the Daily Mail.

Christmas Grotto run by an ex-con - would you believe it, and now it all becomes clear.

I think Bankruptcy Enforcement and H M Revenue and Customs will be knocking on the door of Mr Victor R Mears and asking about the involvement of his Dad (I presume).

I also hope his bank hold on to any cash in their possession as H M Revenue can be a little frosty with any party acting against their interests.

lisa_cz

kirasia wrote: »

How do you know they're from a top uk kennel?

The tails weren't just down, they were between their legs as if they were frightened.. not just standing?

As I have already said I have owned and bred Siberian Huskies for 20 years, one of the top kennels here in the uk is the Azgard Kennel, they have produced such outstanding dogs that the kennel club have used one of their dogs to promote the British breed standard. Yes you are right in saying that !!!!!es are lighter built than males. But the general public picture huskies to look like the heavy built american show dogs, if you were to go to a championship dog show with breed specialists judging or a husky rallie here in the uk you will see that the dogs are a hell of a lot lighter than most people imagine them to be, also at this time of year they are being worked and are now at their leanest. Some of the dogs at that event were purchased from the Azgard kennel, other dogs at the event were imported from the top WORKING american lines (Alaskan Anadyre affix). These dogs are only there for the benefit of your children this is not an example of their homes or how they live. If in any doubt contact the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain or the Kennel Club but please stop contacting the RSPCA as they have already declared the dogs fit and well and there are animals out there being mistreated that need the RSPCAs full attention. Somebody in another post stated that the owners of the huskies are running this event, I can assure you all that again this is untrue. I have not been to the event (thankfully) but in the photos that I have seen the dogs have seen the dogs look well.