Trading standards probe the New Forest Lapland attraction branded a sham (From Daily Echo)

People who take their children to see Santa or put up the house Christmas lights in November, are buffoons. They kill the spirit of Christmas by kicking the backside out of it. Humbug!

Can I be the first to blame RL and MW for this. Shutting the corners was the beginning of this!

Long queues, high prices combined with low value and tacky cheap decor ... we need only throw in some annoyingly rubbish music and all the above typifies the theme for this time of year!
Merry Humbug everyone :)

next-king

Bright Spark wrote:
People who take their children to see Santa or put up the house Christmas lights in November, are buffoons. They kill the spirit of Christmas by kicking the backside out of it. Humbug!

Such kind words. BTW this attraction only opened in the last few days and was very booked up over the next few weekends.

Maybe some people were only offered tickets for last weekend etc, how about a bit of sympathy for the people ripped off and the children who have been so badly let down.

Bright Spark more like broken bulb...

Went there yesterday and like most others, came away disgusted, angry and upset.
The website bears no resemblance whatsoever to what is actually there. The whole thing is a cheap scam, riding on the back of and abusing the magic of Christmas. We paid £100 for the family. We stretched the event to 3 hours, 2 of which was spent queuing for father Christmas. In the end we just gave up as he was still no where in site! There is absolutely nothing else to do there. Forget what the website says. The reality is a few sparingly placed sheds with paper and colouring pens; long queues which result in anti-climaxes, unhappy animals, miserable agency staff who also feel like they're being scammed, and miserable, heart broken children. I took my 6 year old along to put in her in the magical mood for Christmas, and left with her in tears and bitterly dissapointed. Not exactly the outcome I was expecting when I originally booked up.The people who are behind this I'm sure are laughing all the way to the bank, but along the way should stop to consider how many children they are leaving deflated and upset.

Angry, upset and feel like a total mug. Absolute sham.

Share the views here - 6 of us went on Saturday - to be left bitterly disappointed and with very upset children. To say that the experience was a total disgrace is an understatement - nothing was as promised - just failed in every way. We asked to speak to management, surprise surprise, no one available, asked for a copy of the complaints procedure, nothing available - and am awaiting a call back from someone by the name of Henry (no one could give me a surname) - expect the wait for this will be as it was to see Santa - never ending and amounting to nothing

My advice is to take it up with the supplier first and ask for your money back. If they refuse, take other routes for satisfaction.

If you paid by credit card, there are two approaches:-

If the total paid on the card was more than £100, then the credit card company is jointly liable. You can attempt proceedings under section 75a of the consumer credit act.

Alternatively if you have not received the goods and services for which you have been charged, you could request a chargeback from the CC company - this is where you dispute the charge and tell the card company you should not be paying it.

NB: bI am not a lawyer. You should obtain your own advice as necessary.

There were 7 of us that attend this sham yesterday. 4 adults, 1 child of 6 and two infants under 2. It cost us £140 to be out in the rain and freezing cold to be left totally disappointed and in disbelief.

Like Ian Booker has pointed out their website bared no resemblance to the actual event dispite their website stating "Images and videos currently displayed on this website and our other advertising campaigns are for illustrative purposes only. We are certain the live show will far exceed these representations". All I can say is what a big joke!

I think it is disgusting that the management have the cheek to charge these prices for what you actually get in return.

We were not able to fulfil our childrens wishes of visting Santa either as the 2 + hours to queue was totally irresponsible with the current weather conditions.

It comes to something when the staff assisting on the day are also heard discussing amongst each other how much the management had ripped people off!

I shall certainly be demanding my money back and would advise others to do so as well.

My daughter and her family treated the kids to a 'wonderland' up North, Birmingham, I think, but found it to be a rip off. So here we are - they, the rip off merchants are down here. They should be taken to Court for misrepresentation. Well, lets do it!!

goard

we went to lapland on fri 28th which my two children were dreaming of a magical trip to see father christmas. there must of been 4 families there all evening when we arrived, all the snow had slightly melted away, the magical tunnel of light was a completely lifeless. for the price of £150 for a family of 6 was a rip off. i have to agreed on the b&q sheds, animals were no where to been seen up close except for 1 husky, a donkey and pigs!!!! my daughter was dying to do ice skating but it was hidden in the fair ground closed off, no-one would explain why it was closed, except for the repair man mentioning the generator was broken for a week before doing anything about it. at that price i would expect the fair ground to be FREE!

It is a shame - as this idea does have the potential to be really good and a real money earner coinsideding with a good day out for the kids, it needs to be done properly though, maybe contact Rupert Lowe and see what he can do with this little projects, who if there are any young Pikies working there they maybe strutting their stuff at St Marys soon too

IF you are able to find out who promoted this scam, take them through the courts and recover your costs, hopefully stopping them taking more people for a ride. Almost as bad as the traders who stole over 400 wreaths from Southampton Crematorium a few years ago at Christmas and then sold them. How about the Echo and Radio Solent helping to trace these wicked con men?

I'm so glad I've seen this article now. Have been saving up to treat the family to this and now I will spend the money on something more worthwile. Thank you!! :o)

IF you are able to find out who promoted this scam, take them through the courts and recover your costs, hopefully stopping them taking more people for a ride. Almost as bad as the traders who stole over 400 wreaths from Southampton Crematorium a few years ago at Christmas and then sold them. How about the Echo and Radio Solent helping to trace these wicked con men?

For anyone wanting a more magical (and reliable) experience for their small children in a much nicer environment try the Santa Specials on the Watercress Line. You ride through the country side on a steam train to Santa's Grotto where every child gets to see Santa and get a present. It is well organised, very friendly and good fun for the adults as well as the children. Definitely worth looking them up on the net or giving them a ring.

Have purchased a family and a baby ticket to take my disabled mother,my 4 year old and 18month son on the 24th, for what I hoped would be a highlight of this Christmas, totally gutted, at this report - looks like thats money down the drain - hope these poeple can sleep at night having ruined all these kids dreams of Christmas

Have purchased a family and a baby ticket to take my disabled mother,my 4 year old and 18month son on the 24th, for what I hoped would be a highlight of this Christmas, totally gutted, at this report - looks like thats money down the drain - hope these poeple can sleep at night having ruined all these kids dreams of Christmas

What more can you do to 'guarantee' a good day out for your family? I contacted Trading Standards and Companies House to be told they were a new company only registered in August 2008 and it had passed the planning application. Apparently the Lapland experience in Kent only got planning permission late in the day and that has very good reviews. I even phoned them a few days before they opened to make sure they were still around!
Fortunately(?), I think we must have arrived after the crowds had left as it was very deserted and our son got to see Santa with no queue - he also made the most of the only free thing - decorating ginger biscuits!!

phew, my missus was nagging me to go to this, so glad I didn't.

amc1952, southampton says...
1:02pm Mon 1 Dec 08
As the site was showing SOLD OUT for all Dec wknds and days leading to xmas, I decided to book my 8 tickets for yesterday, 30th November, thinking it would be a great start to the festivities! Boy, was I so wrong! The place was a mess, filthy, unorganised, overpriced and nothing at all as it was described online! I have contacted every source of media possible in the area including the "Lapland" site in view of getting a Refund! I may be deluded in thinking that anyone will probably take a blind bit of notice as they are probably all off on their winter holidays with our hard earned cash! Good luck everyone and dont go if you were thinking about it, you will be sorely disappointed and enraged!As the site was showing SOLD OUT for all Dec wknds and days leading to xmas, I decided to book my 8 tickets for yesterday, 30th November, thinking it would be a great start to the festivities! Boy, was I so wrong! The place was a mess, filthy, unorganised, overpriced and nothing at all as it was described online! I have contacted every source of media possible in the area including the "Lapland" site in view of getting a Refund! I may be deluded in thinking that anyone will probably take a blind bit of notice as they are probably all off on their winter holidays with our hard earned cash! Good luck everyone and dont go if you were thinking about it, you will be sorely disappointed and enraged!

I worked at this, Its nice to hear Henrys blaming us, We were supplied through an agency who had been conned as much as everybody else into what was going on. we were expecting to be doing car parking and catering. It was only on arrival we found out we were going to be elves. The Agency has now pulled all staff out of the park,This may have left us all out of work but I would rather be poor at christmas than be associated with this disgrace that is ruining the magic of christmas for everybody that attends.

from the lapland new forest website:
"Public interest in what promises to be the ultimate Santa's Grotto is extremely high ... children are coming from all over England and other countries to see this wonderful event."



I Hope they arent coming from all around the world for this....they will be pretty annoyed when they see that rubbish!!

i'd be annoyed traveling 1 mile!

What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

They also claimed a “magical tunnel of light” turned out to be a line of trees with some lights on them

This is outrageous! The organisers could have had the decency to provide a real magical tunnel

Dr Alimantado wrote:
phew, my missus was nagging me to go to this, so glad I didn't.

Don't tell her this now. You've got a golden opportunity to sit on this until the next time she disagrees with you. "I'm wrong, am I, love? You mean just like I was wrong about that Christmas attraction?".

Do you dudes have Christmas earlier than the rest of the world? Does this mean today is New years day, i don't understand the Brit calender.

This charade happens throughout the country - daughter and family went to a 'up north' a 200 mile there and back, it was the most devastating Xmas scam - and now the cowboys are down here - don't part with your money - they are fairground scruffy nothings - how on earth could we fall for such garbage. We are the innocents, but once shy etc.,...............


goard

I bought that "Trainspotting" video once from a market stall. Couldn't believe it. Not a train in sight.

"fair-burn" ? yes matey you'd better believe it if you get a more aggressive parent visiting you...

I visited lapland new forest yesterday with my family and 3 year old daughter and we all felt we were totally mislead by the website and advertisements. I personally feel evryone should be entitled to a refund. We were expecting an amazing magical christmas wonderland but it seemed half finished.

I took my two toddlers to lapland new forest yesterday and we had a whale of a time. Lots of families were complaining because it was cold, and then it just snowballed from there (no pun intended). I'm going again before Xmas it was a truly wonderful experience, well worth the £150 that it cost.

"...where dreams come true" is a practical impossibility and therefore nothing but a tagline; whether or not you take this literally, if you believe what you see in a brochure or website you are setting yourselves up for disappointment. Will you be buying Christmas nibbles from Iceland just because Kerry Katona/McFadden sang us a song?

I am gutted for the kids who went away disappointed, but not the least bit surprised. But the parents should know better; with the economic downturn that most of these parents will no doubt complain about next year, why spend all that money on something like this?

When I was 3 I sat on Santa's knee and I was gobsmacked how much he knew about what I'd been doing, and what I'd asked for in my letter. It was years later that I learned it was my Dad.

Chin up, put the money behind you and enjoy the rest of your Christmas. The 'magic' of Christmas is what you make of it, not what you spend on it.

Have they closed down the website?




security word: hole-onto

Bright Spark wrote:
What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

Sounds like it's time to roll over and die Bright Spark.

What was that old expression? "Fools and their money are soon parted." Yes, that was it.

Security words: deal-seem, how apposite!

Bright Spark wrote:
What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

For someone that talks about going to church you are not very charitable!!! You do not know these 'so called parents' situations so who gives you the right to be so spiteful? If you are trying to promote the church you are not doing a very good job of convicing others!

Bright Spark wrote:
What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

May i just start by saying that to all of you out there that think we are highly stupied for paying to go to this place ,that my husband and i work all year round ,we havent alot of money and christmas to us is all about "family " and making it special in a world where crime,financial misery and day to day worries seem to take the leading role in our lives.
We dont have time or money for fantastic holidays or living the high life ,like so many others just getting through and keeping a roof over our heads is our main priority these days.
We saw the advert for this place and may i add was not only on the internet but also advertised in the daily Echo ,and like many others ,stupied as you may think ,thought "that would be so special " so we booked to go,we havent even got our tickets yet !!,and i doubt very much if we will now,all i want is my money back that they so quickly took but unfortunatly for me and my family and all the other people out there i can not get through on the phone ,the website has magically disapeared !!(along with the elves i should imagine)so you see i am now 175.00 out of pocket ,with no idea if i will get my money back and still have no where to take my kids ,you see as funny as it seems to alot of you out there my kids find that seeing santa makes it that little bit SPECIAL !!
I would also like to add that i do also take my kids to CHURCH !!!
I feel totatly scammed ,very upset to say the least and if i was to get my hands on the people that are responsible for this ,well what can i say !!If anyone out there has got any ideas on how to deal with this i would be most gratefull !
I have allready contacted Trading Standards and they have told me to write a letter but i cant see that having much impact .
I just want my money back i wouldnt go there now after seeing the disgusting place even if santa came down my chimney and offered me a thousand pounds .
Very upset person !!!

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

He obviously forgot to log in as his other sock puppet

Georgem wrote:

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

He obviously forgot to log in as his other sock puppet

LOL Georgem - I did think from his first post he might be the organiser of this shambles but then he blew it!!

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

I did, but think I should have waited a few weeks, and they weren't my children, they are from the church and parentless.

Jack Nelson wrote:

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

I did, but think I should have waited a few weeks, and they weren't my children, they are from the church and parentless.

Confusing as you wrote "I took my two toddlers"
As you also said you're going again before Xmas, are you taking different toddlers next time? Fair play to you with such charitable work and enjoying the Lapland experience, although slightly at odds with all the other visitors who've labled it (and seeing the pictures I'd agree) a complete scam.

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

I did, but think I should have waited a few weeks, and they weren't my children, they are from the church and parentless.

Confusing as you wrote "I took my two toddlers" As you also said you're going again before Xmas, are you taking different toddlers next time? Fair play to you with such charitable work and enjoying the Lapland experience, although slightly at odds with all the other visitors who've labled it (and seeing the pictures I'd agree) a complete scam.

Sounds as if Jack Nelson is trying to promote his own 'sham' if you ask me!! Talk about contradict yourself! Funny how all the other comments on her are to say how bad it truly was and yet he's the only person I've heard of praising it!!

Jack Nelson wrote:

Miles Sway wrote:

Jack Nelson wrote:

Bright Spark wrote: What an absolutely rubbish idea for parents to take their youngsters to an event like this in November. What are these sad parents going to do for the next 4 weeks of the Christmas period? Go see Santa another half dozen times at other locations to make up for the misery endured by their little angels? Pathetic behaviour. Take them to church instead, oh sorry that's not what Christmas is about any more is it?

I agree with Bright Spark. These parents have rushed into the Christmas thing far too early. If the familys had waited until maybe Dec 20th, the event would have been established. Starting Xmas in November is very premature, why don't the parents take their children on an Easter egg hunt whilst they're at it. I mean Santa is to the birth of Jesus what eggs are to the resurrection. No wonder the nation's children don't have a Scooby Do what Chrismas and Easter are really all about. I blame the parents.

Hang on a mo - didn't you just post to say you took yours yesterday and loved it?

I did, but think I should have waited a few weeks, and they weren't my children, they are from the church and parentless.

Stop digging mate, and start writing thouse refund cheques.

Jack Nelson & Bright Spark (not very bright persons...)

You have both dug a hole.

Now just go and jump in. Bye!

I took my two young children with my partner on Saturday to the most disappointing experience and value for money we have ever had. I feel that I have been sold tickets under a false illusion and am disgusted.
The ''Secret breath taking tunnel of light'' with the ''windows to look out for polar bears''!! breathtaking it was not a few net lights and spot lights? the manger i'm sure must have been a joke!. We looked for the ''log cabins which surround the wonderful lce rink'' Which we couldn't find until we left the ''wonderland'' and walked across the fair to find it tucked away and water logged so we couldn't use it anyway.
It said ''an elf who will lead you to father christmas who will be there to give the children there chosen gift'' except it didn't mention you have to queue for 2 hours+ then have to go back to the shop to get the gift? We couldn't even find the elf!
There was no dog running, we asked a couple of times and they said they might get them out but never did. Couldn't find the toy or dolls house making,or the ''wonderful christmas market''.
It recommended 4-6 hours for the visit after 2 hours we had done everything that was there apart from queue for 2 hours for santa and couldn't believe it ,we did walk round again to double check and eked it out for another hour. We had driven for 1 1/2 hours to get there after all.
I feel conned and cheated It said ''images and videos currently displayed on this website and our other advertising campaigns are for illustrative purpose only. We are certain the live show will far exceed these representations'' The photos used gave completely the wrong impression of what you actually saw and what you did see didn't even match the pictures let alone exceed them.We came away with two very upset children and very angry, when we asked to speak to a manager we were told'' they have gone on holiday after spending 3 weeks preparing the wonderland'' What a joke.

Sarah West, Chichester,West Sussex

May i just add on here that we have actually booked to go on the 19th of December ,hardly november !!!
So yes i would like to think that the so called LAPLAND would be looking like LAPLAND by then ,if we ever go !!!

We went with our 2 children. Both children cried - one for about an hour-and-a-half. There were many more crying children about.

Any comments by the owner are post-facto lies. The whole site was a sham, not a couple of little things by being let down by a handful of employees.

The fraudster has also taken down his own web site.

We came from Reading - a fair drive. We've never splashed out on anything like this before. Will we ever again?

like most people I and my family have been conned,a long drive from Exmouth to visit the Lapland fiasco.
Ineed some help can anyone let me have the address of the organisation that set this upif pos mail joe@harman105.fsnet.
co.uk
Merry Xmas

we were going to book our tickets for this but decided to go to the victorian christmas at portsmouth harbour instead.so glad we did.fantastic day out one to remember.recommend it to anybody worth looking into next year.feel sorry for all the families who have worked hard for a family treat and to have been so disappointed.just hope you can get some kind of refund/p

I have 6 tickets booked for the 14th for my young son's birthday. Who do I contact for a refund? I think I will be better off going somewhere else!!! Can anyone tell me who to contact for the refund as I can't get a reply from the lapland site.

I noticed that a jeff at 1.33 today states that the workers were supplied through an agency one imagines that this must be a recruitment agency, as somone who has worked within the agency field any recruitment agency having recieved a request to supply staff would have credit checked the company with companies house (TO ENSURE THEY GOT THEIR INVOICES PAID) as agencies pay the staff weekly but only get paid by the people ordering staff after say four weeks they want to make sure they get paid so often use a checking system to credit score called Dun and Bradstreet this listed directors their home addresses any court orders ect , my point is
if anyone can supply the agencies name who supplied the "elves" then the agency could be contacted and hopfully if they are a reputable company they will provide exactly who these con-persons are and they will even have details of company directors including their home addresses now they may not under the data protection act be prepared to give the specific detail but its worth trying
prehaps letters to the directors at their homes to demand refunds may help? at the very least somone should post on here and other web-sites the name of the travelling fair (beacause thats what I think it is ) so we can all avoid it during next summer, lets be honest no one will recieve a refund regardless of what route is taken on the company as they will just cease trading as one name and set up under another for the summer,but if you can find the agency they may have genuine company names and regardless they will have more details than anyone else, then you must take really quick action and send letters of complaint to the directors at home or the chances of getting any money back get smaller every day.

Wasn't that String-Peter Fellow going on about Lapland clubs in the news last week. Maybe one of these establishments would be more festive.

I think it is disgusting that Mr Mears has exploited children & Christmas and produced an absolute scam. How dare he suggest people should be happy walking around the beautiful park - we could walk around the forest for free. I think Bournemouth council and trading standards should take some responsibility and shut them down, that way people have some realistic chance of recovering the money from their banks and credit card companies, after all Bournemouth council gave them a license to trade !!!! And taking down their website is hilarious do they not realize people including myself would be using it as evidence to put forward a false advertising claim - luckily I archived every single page and item :-)

kerriejayneworlock wrote:
I have 6 tickets booked for the 14th for my young son's birthday. Who do I contact for a refund? I think I will be better off going somewhere else!!! Can anyone tell me who to contact for the refund as I can't get a reply from the lapland site.

Contact your bank. You've clearly paid over £100, you should get some help from them.

Good luck

It would have been better to educate children about the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ than this shower of a performance. It is what this country is lacking today and children in particular, need a direction in life.

Bartonian wrote:
It would have been better to educate children about the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ than this shower of a performance. It is what this country is lacking today and children in particular, need a direction in life.

Go away, if you can't be helpful to these poor people, please just don't make it worse with your silly comments.

If Trading Standards can't shut this place down, who can?

Get the Police in now and shut their bank accounts. Over £1m is moving in to offshore bank accounts as we speak.

Someone, do something NOW!

Sarah West, Chichester says...
8:45pm Mon 1 Dec 08

"I took my two young children with my partner on Saturday to the most ..."what is this 'partner' rubbish? Can't people say boyfriend or girlfriend any more? PC speak and its billocks.

Yes I agree. Partner indeed! I was talking to my business boyfriend the other day about just the same thing.After we had ripped PC to bits we decided to go and enjoy ourselves. We thought tennis would be a good idea, mixed doubles as it happened. My girlfriend was his wife and my wifes boyfriend was my business boyfriend. Those lefty do-gooders want stringing up if you ask me. Stringing them up is too good for them, it's the only language they understand, you wouldn't get away with it in my day, I was thrashed nightly as a child and it never did me any harm, why don't you see white dog poo these days.... etc. etc.