Drayton Manor - rip off

**Paul M** · 23-07-2005, 22:32

We decided to visit Drayton Manor Park this week and I thought it would be a good idea to order the tickets online.

Bad idea.

Having gone all though the ticket procedure and clicked on confirm, there is suddenly a ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50 "booking fee" appears on the transaction - when it's too late to cancel

There was no mention [that I can find] of this "fee" - it's just a blatent rip-off. It's not exactly cheap in the first place, and now they rip you off like this as well

- my advice - avoid - and go elsewhere.

tick · 23-07-2005, 22:35

you pay booking fee's everywhere now
dont make it right tho

nffc · 23-07-2005, 22:58

it rubbish anyway.

23-07-2005, 23:30

I like it there

I am local to so its cool

23-07-2005, 23:37

It's about 5-10 minutes drive from me. No need to book online

**Paul M** · 23-07-2005, 23:41

I didn't need to, I thought i'd do it to save possible time queuing on the day. big mistake.

Julian · 23-07-2005, 23:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

I didn't need to, I thought i'd do it to save possible time queuing on the day. big mistake.

You might have done better HERE Paul.

**Paul M** · 24-07-2005, 00:12

Interesting, I would never have thought of them for such a thing.

Graham · 24-07-2005, 02:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

We decided to visit Drayton Manor Park this week and I thought it would be a good idea to order the tickets online.

Bad idea.

Having gone all though the ticket procedure and clicked on confirm, there is suddenly a ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50 "booking fee" appears on the transaction - when it's too late to cancel

There was no mention [that I can find] of this "fee"

This sounds rather dubious to me, however it's a bit tricky because under the Distance Selling Regulations:

Contracts to which only part of these Regulations apply
6. [...] (2) Regulations 7 to 19(1) shall not apply to - [...]

(b) contracts for the provision of accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, where the supplier undertakes, when the contract is concluded, to provide these services on a specific date or within a specific period.

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm

Regulations 7 to 19 cover the information required prior to the completion of the contract and the cancellation rights etc, but if the tickets were for a specific day they may be excluded from these rules.

Having said that, it certainly sounds dubious that they stick you with this fee *after* you accept the deal and I think a word with you local Trading Standards Department might be in order.

zoombini · 24-07-2005, 02:05

If there was no mention on it until it's too late then perhaps you ought to drop a line to the trading standards?

Richard M · 24-07-2005, 02:12

Jesus Christ guys, it was only ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50.

Graham · 24-07-2005, 02:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

Jesus Christ guys, it was only ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50.

Fine, send me a cheque for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50 if it's so unimportant to you...

And then think about how many people book tickets online and multiply all those by ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50

The point is that companies should *not* try to get away with this. They certainly should not be *allowed* to get away with it. There's no justification for sticking this charge on, especially not at the end of a transaction (cf ATM charges).

Richard M · 24-07-2005, 02:43

They're running a business, not a charity.

slug · 24-07-2005, 02:43

Which site did you book it thru?
I have just been to the Drayton Manor site and you can only reserve tickets there to be picked up at an automated machine, only then does your credit card get charged.

zoombini · 24-07-2005, 03:01

It doesnt matter if they are running a buisness or if it is "only" ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1.50, they should make ALL charges clear before someone accepts the contract.