Centre Parcs Complaint

Sassie72

Just need some advice please. 14 of us went to Centre Parcs last month for my Father in Laws birthday. 7 adults and 7 children, including my 3, all under 6.
We did have a great time BUT, upon checking the room my 4 and 5 year olds slept in, I found a bottle of Temazepan under one of the beds. Not only did it have two pills left in it, the top was loose, therefore not childproofed. Thank God my girls didn't find it or the results could've been potentially fatal.
My husband went straight to Guest Services, who couldn't be more apologetic and ensured him a full investigation would be carried out, especially as it is a controlled drug. In addition what was expected by way of 'a sorry' was discussed. As my husbands mum made the booking he told the manager he couldn't say what they would expect, however after 20 years of holidaying there, and always booking two villas, he said the expectation would be high.
My inlaws got an email offering, by way of a goodwill gesture £100 off our next holiday.
I'm sorry, not normally being a complainer, I just don't think this is even near enough, in fact I, my husband and inlaws think it's an insult.
But what do you think? Are we entitled legally or otherwise to more?
Your help is appreciated.
Thanks

oldgrumpygit

I doubt you are "entitled" to anything in all honesty, except whatever good will gesture they decide to make.

No harm in writing back outlining your disappointment and the severity of what could have happened if a child had taken them.

It might well focus their minds a little more.

Krojan

Honestly what's the world coming to nowdays? All this fuss over compensation etc... is blowing out of preportion, what are we? America? (Where fat kids sue McDonalds because it made 'em fat). A bit of real perspective is needed.

Literally no ACTUAL harm was done, all that really happened is you found a couple of prescription pills left over by the previous resident which were missed by the cleaners, it's called human error. Yes one of the kids COULD have taken them but the simple fact is they DIDN'T, so there was no actual harm done. Chances are, whomevers duty it was to clean that room has now probably had a disciplinary and/or been dismissed due to a mistake, AND they've already offered you an apology and in addition to that a £100 discount off your next stay.

IF the children had taken them and some harm befallen them, then fair play, you could take them on and probably have won a big fat cheque (although no childs life is worth any amount of money, nor is any comfort for the loss of a love one).

Being realistic you have to ask yourself, what do YOU want them to offer you? A free day? free week? full refund? What do YOU feel is an adequate recompense for picking up a bottle of pills missed by a cleaner and taking them to reception because thats actually whats happened.

It's a sad world we live in that we always look at the "what if's" instead of the "what actually happened's" when it comes to this kinda thing.

fozmcfc

Well said Krojan, sick of people trying to get something for nothing in this world.

pulliptears

OP, quantify your losses.

You found the pills NOT your children. 'Could haves' really don't warrant compo claims.

MamaMoo_2

Really? REALLY?
Sorry, but you are entitled to provable and quantifiable losses. There appear to be none here.
It's also highly unlikely that 2 of those pills would kill or seriously harm your child. At worst, 2 tamazepam would make them sleep for a day or so.
Whilst I agree that the cleaner should have done a better job, it's not as if the company planted them there in order to cause harm.
Nothing happened other than a quick trip to reception with a bottle containing two pills.
The children are fine, you are fine, you did not lose anything, the experience did not cost you anything.
Also, the length of time you've been renting villas is irrelevant. If anything it just goes to show that something like this isn't a regular occurrence.
Snap up the £100 as, quite frankly, you're not even entitled to that. It's a very nice good will gesture.

Valli

pulliptears wrote: »

OP, quantify your losses.

You found the pills NOT your children. 'Could haves' really don't warrant compo claims.

This.

The fact that it's a controlled drug is irrellevant; Center Parcs weren't in control of it.

The only thing that Center Parcs are responsible for is the cleaning. Or lack of. But, tbh, they could have vacuumed under the bed and the pot just rolled about.

So, what you're being offered is £100 credit because your chalet wasn't properly cleaned.

Sassie72

Whoah there! At no point in my post did I mention compensation!!! All I said was I felt £100 off another holiday wasn't quite right. Basically we will have to spend more money with them to get it. If they'd have offered it as a refund, that would've been better. And another thing. I asked for help and advice not an attack about the compensation culture, which I actually hate myself!!! I reiterate. I did not state I wanted any compensation!!!

warehouse

You aren't using the word compensation but the gist is exactly the same thing.

In my opinion what they offered was fair and just.

Valli

Sassie72 wrote: »

Whoah there! At no point in my post did I mention compensation!!! All I said was I felt £100 off another holiday wasn't quite right. Basically we will have to spend more money with them to get it. If they'd have offered it as a refund, that would've been better. And another thing. I asked for help and advice not an attack about the compensation culture, which I actually hate myself!!! I reiterate. I did not state I wanted any compensation!!!

No you didn't mention the word 'compensation' but you've been offered a goodwill gesture you're not happy with. And you want something by way of an apology - comes pretty close to compensation - or can't you see that?

Centre Parcs won't call it 'compensation' either - because if they did it would be tantamount to accepting liability!

What you're being offered is £100 off a future holiday - they would, as I'm sure you can see, like to keep the custom of regular visitors such as yourselves. Unless, of course, you're planning to holiday elsewhere in future, that is!

Sassie72

Thanks warehouse. I asked for help and you offered your opinion, in a nice way. Sometimes when your close to a situation you can't always see it for what it is. Other opinion, from an uninterested party is helpful. I just feel that to get the monetary apology by spending more money is a bit naughty.