Speedferries. Apologies for misplaced recommendations
Copy of letter sent to Speedferries in June, no reply,
sent again in July, no reply.
Rang Speedferries 14.07.06 indifferent customer interface....supervisor to ring me later. Supervisor rang and explained that now the business is viable they can get more cars into the space a motorhome takes!!!! The e-mail addresses,
[email protected] &
[email protected] is on hold as they are very busy!!!!
The booking address is operational only.
What a change from their Start up manners
""Dear Speedferries.
I was interested to note your press blurb regarding the success of your enterprise and have copied a section which I feel is relevant, namely:..
""""Strong support by loyal customers during the start up period and SpeedFerries' determination to "Fight the Pirates", saved the company and secured the success of the Dover-Boulogne fast ferry service - a service which resulted in a 50 percent reduction of the average sales price of car tickets on the Dover Straits, thereby benefiting all Cross-Channel travellers.""""
We have a Fiat Ducato based motorcaravan which has travelled with your company across the Channel on the dates detailed:-
15.09.04, 16.10.04, 10.04.05, 08.06.05, 16.08.05, 29.09.05
All crossings have been uneventful, except 15.09.04 when we berthed at Calais due to high waves. We continued to patronise Speedferries with our continuing business as it was mutually beneficial.
On August 1st 2005 we booked and paid for a Superticket (291762) at £88.00 return for use in April of 2006 and subsequently a further superticket in December 2005 (445162) for use during August 2006.
Imagine our surprise when on 21.04.06 at 0545 we presented ourselves at the check in desk at Dover only to be informed that apparently our motorhome which is, and always had been, 2200mm wide and was therefore unable, due to "safety" considerations, to travel on SPEED ONE that had many times transported us across the Channel.
At that point 0550 We were "invited" to seek alternative transportation elsewhere.
I, like most people, repeat a pattern once set on renewals and rebookings and tend not to be ultra vigilant on changes that may have been introduced in the small print.
So although we regard ourselves as Loyal customers it would appear that there are commercial considerations which will now prevent us in further usage of Speedferries and throw us back into the arms of the very Companies that we also regarded as Pirates. So be it!!
On the day 21.04.06 it was stated that our ticket fare would be refunded to the credit card immediately as we would have to pay another carrier that day.
Repayment was made on the 05.06.06 some 7 weeks later.
Considering that you had had the benefit of our cash for 10 months I feel that this was excessive.
With regard to the superticket for August 2006 I have no wish to repeat the experience of being denied access and therefore request repayment of the fare already paid which you have had since December 2005. I trust that it will not take so long for repayment.
Please fell free to give me your side of the story.
Yours sincerely
RFD""
As a result of Speedferries about face the alternative ferry was Norfolk Line which charged me £113 despite giving me a brochure that stated it would match any other supplier.
As the clerk could have said and did not but his manner did, "Why give a mug a break?"
As previously pointed out by other MHers there is no sentiment or loyalty in the ferry business.
Will I change my opinion of Speedferries in the closed season. I doubt it and to all those MHers we have met in Europe and bored you with praise of Speedferries....I apologise unreservedly.
Ron Dunning...sheringham
