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Holiday at Center Parcs - Do I complain?.....(Very Long Post, sorry)

Hope this is on the right board.

We went to a Center Parcs last week. shan't say which one. But it was here in England.
At first on arrival we thought great, this is a lovely villa.

1- On the first day (Monday) we reported that the fridge light was broken and also the one in the storage/boiler room.
These were duly replaced by the time we came back to the villa during the next day. So no problem there.

2- We also asked on the Monday, that could we have housekeeping remove the slice of processed cheese that is stuck to the window of the villa.
This was never removed....probably still there now.

3- Also reported was dirty kitchenware: 2 coffee mugs with rings and coffee stains in the cupboard, saucepans with old food in the corners. No one came to wash them as I told them that I had done it as I needed the pans and cups right then.

4- At the same time we reported a missing frying pan and requested one so we could fry up some eggs etc.

Wednesday we asked again for the frying pan as it still had not been given to us.
In the book at the information desk, where these things were written down, I saw that they had all been Highlighted indicating that they had all been done.
They had not.


These were reported on the Monday.
After that we got to thinking what else is wrong with this villa.

5- Most of the inner white doors had black finger marks like from news print on them.

6- The chopping board was greasy like it was used and not washed.

7- Washing up bowl was in need of some serious bleaching. I used it to put dirty dishes in and washed in the sink instead!!

8- We had an extra remote control that was of no use at all as we didn't have a dvd player in the villa (not a complaint, just an observation and a wonderance why it was in the villa at all).

9- The kitchen sink had a ghastly smell when hot water went down it, again needed a good bleaching to conquer that.

10- As we are on the topic of smells.... In the storage/boiler room there is a short pipe that comes up from the floor with a sponge like thing in it. There is a smell of sewage coming from it. Not nice.

11- Bedroom ceilings had cobwebs hanging from them.

12- THICK dust behind the bathroom radiator so that you had the burning dust smell when the heating came on.

13- Shower hose metal outer tube was broken so the shower showered you with a sputt-sputt-sputt all the way through as it restricted the water flow through the inner bendy pipe. (if that makes sense!)

14- for some reason there were strips of Sellotape on many of the walls....no idea why.

15- We also found two more lights were not working as well.


These others were not reported as I thought i'd write a letter as there were so many. I want your opinion if I SHOULD write and send it please.
Am I being picky? Am I complaining too much?

We only had a cheap one, a Comfort Villa so we were not expecting perfection.
But I did think that it should be at least clean and smell free.


Having been a Housekeeper in a Falmouth Hotel for more years than I can remember, I know when a thing is dirty and needs cleaning (not saying others don't!).
If my boss lady saw the state of the above villa I would not have been a chambermaid for very long....let alone a Housekeeper.


Thank you for wading though all this. I will appreciate any constructive advice.

(By the way, the Frying pan finally came on Thursday afternoon (we leave Friday morning mind!) so we finally had our fried eggs!)
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Comments

  • Lady_E
    Lady_E Posts: 1,046 Forumite
    Having read through your post , I honestly think that you should have complained and complained again at the time you were present in Centre Parcs. I understand that the condition of the villa did not make you pleased but I can only imagine that their first question will be "why didnt you tell us , so we could have rectified the problem". Sorry if it is not the answer you were hoping for.
    If you do complain , what are your expectations from Centre Parcs?
  • John_3:16
    John_3:16 Posts: 849 Forumite
    You may get something if you complain in writing to head office and possibly the center Manger.
    We had problems last year such as mice and heating not working ended up with free use of the sauna area and 2 free nights out meals included at the place of our choice on the park (The lads got use of a snooker table 7 free matches). My sons moaned at me for complaining but they enjoyed the free food, we got a total of about £650 if we had bought it.Also got a 25% voucher for any other time we went.
    The time to complain long and hard, was while you were away. It costs very little for them to give you things on the park itself. The only way to try is write to them. I doubt if you will get money back but you will get vouches etc.
    The measure of love is love without measure
  • Cinders2001
    Cinders2001 Posts: 1,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I am appreciative of you replies, both of you.
    I'm not very good with complaining face to face....it took a lot from me just to tell them about the first items in the list! I get easily embarrassed.

    But I was annoyed when nothing was done about the cheese and the frying pan.

    You are both right that I should have done it there and then though.
    I will put it in writing to them as I can express myself better in writing than in words where I stumble a lot.


    Is there anything I can add that will make my point better to them?
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  • Chris25
    Chris25 Posts: 12,918 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic I've been Money Tipped!
    I agree with the other posters - the time to seriously complain was while you were still there. Did you have a camera with you - do you have photographic evidence to support your claims? That would help to back you up.

    I would still write though (sooner rather than later) - you said that at the info desk, you saw some of the problems highlighted in their book so there is documentary evidence at least that there were problems.

    You've got nothing to lose - go on, write to them and don't forget to let us know how you got on. Good luck
  • Cinders2001
    Cinders2001 Posts: 1,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Thanks Chris, I will.

    We did take photos of a lot of things yes. Including the cheese.

    Do you know they only thing we had a laugh about, was with the cheese slice stuck to the window.
    A Magpie every morning came up to the childrens bedroom window, perched on the window ledge or back of the outdoor chair and would peck furiously at it to eat it off!

    He came back day after day to do this......it was funny the first morning and the second but by the 3rd and 4th morning it was getting a bit tiring......you see, it came by at about 5 or 6 o'clock each morning waking us all up in the process - big bird = big pecks!!

    Why did it wake us ALL up? Because we had a baby monitor in their room and of course it sends the noise to us too!!


    Should I tell them that too??
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  • Chris25
    Chris25 Posts: 12,918 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic I've been Money Tipped!
    Ha Ha :) - that was your early morning call.
    We have a problem at the moment with a magpie that sits on our windowledge and refuses to budge until you're almost on top of it. I went out to shoo it off the other day (we have cats and I'm always worried they'll get the baby birds as they don't have that fear yet) and almost stepped on a little blackbird that was sunning itself, wings akimbo, on the sofa in the conservatory. What a funny sight :)
  • Cinders2001
    Cinders2001 Posts: 1,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    The morning call was funny the first few times!!
    ** Freebies and money saved with the help of you all? - Don't know ....lost count! **
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  • Cinders2001
    Cinders2001 Posts: 1,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Birds are funny things, they seem to be friendly when it suits them!
    I've been picturing your magpie and little blackbird!
    ** Freebies and money saved with the help of you all? - Don't know ....lost count! **
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  • TASHMA
    TASHMA Posts: 63 Forumite
    Hi Cinders2001 - I feel from reading your post that it doesn't matter what villa you paid to stay in, it should have been cleaned properly and any problems rectified while you were there. I agree with the other people who have posted that you should have complained while you were there (even asking for head of housekeeping to come and inspect your villa), but i do understand that sometimes people can find that hard. I would definitely still write and complain as i am sure they would want to know. Somebody is obviously not doing there job properly and it is affecting peoples holiday. I have stayed at Sherwood Forest Center Parcs many times and have always enjoyed it thoroughly so don't let this put you off. Just remember - Don't feel bad about complaining- You've paid the money and have every right to complain if you feel things aren't as they should be. Hope this helps!
  • Cinders2001
    Cinders2001 Posts: 1,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Thank you for replying.
    We probably will go back to Center Parcs but one a bit nearer next time like Longleat.

    I should have done it there and then I agree, I hate making trouble or seeming like a trouble maker though.

    I am writing the letter as I can word things better in a letter than by mouth. We shall see what happens and I will post the reply if I get one on here. xx

    Thanks one and all.

    (still open to more comments though xx!)
    ** Freebies and money saved with the help of you all? - Don't know ....lost count! **
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