Ferry Travelers beware, 68% surcharge

[Bimbler]

Recently back from a trip to Northern Norway and used the Hull Rotterdam crossing. The following text I hope is self explanatory, and I suspect others have met the same fate. I would suggest that if we hadn't had such a dash across Germany that we couldn't guarantee getting the ferry in time, an internet booking would have been cheaper. It would certainly have been cheaper to book the ferry by internet on arrival in Rotterdam, and waiting 24 hours for the next boat! Loosely put, P&O "Care Team" ?**!? are saying p-ss off, you didn't have to accept our inflated prices. By the way, the boat was half empty, so the demand issue really doesn't arise.

--- Original Message ---
From: PW

Received: 13/06/16 11:42:48 o'clock BST
To: "[email protected]"
Subject: Rotterdam to Hull Ferry Prices Query

Dear Sirs,

Along with a colleague and two motorcycles, I travelled from Hull to Rotterdam on Wednesday May 25th. The total fare for a saver cabin and meals was £234.50 inclusive of a charge of £21.50 for the second motorcycle.

Along with the same colleague and motorcycles, with the same cabin and meals, the return charge for the Thursday June 9th crossing from Rotterdam to Hull was €502.40. Using an exchange rate from todays Times of €1.2715=£1 this equates to a Sterling price of £395.12 inclusive of a charge of £90.83 for the second motorcycle.

I have checked via your website for a Thursday June 16th Rotterdam to Hull crossing and the price is £224 for two passengers, a saver cabin, meals and one motorcycle. Your website does not allow for adding a second motorcycle. The same journey using a car is £259.

Whilst appreciating that you may employ a more advantageous exchange rate, can you let me know if I have been overcharged for the Rotterdam to Hull trip? Using my figures, the return trip from Rotterdam is 68% more expensive than the outbound trip from Hull.

I can supply you with receipts and e-mail confirmations if required.

Hoping you can explain such a large price anomaly.

Yours faithfully,

P.W


RE: Rotterdam to Hull Ferry Prices Query - AF >
[email protected] ([email protected]) Add to contacts 12:17 Flag this message
To: pw
[email protected]
If you have received this document in error please notify Customer Services

Personal Customer Number:

Dear Mr W,

Thank you for your email.

We operate fluid, demand led pricing and as such, the lowest fares are made available to those customers booking furthest in advance and at times when demand is traditionally low. As a result, the closer to your sailing date and time a booking is made, the higher the cost of that crossing. Our peak season begins from the May half term onwards and during these summer months prices are likely to be higher.

It appears that you booked your outbound ticket around 3 weeks prior to travel however you booked your return on arrival at the port and this can cause a significant change in the fare.

I can appreciate your frustration but my advice to you would always be to book in advance if you can as this gives you a much higher chance of receiving cheaper fares.

I do hope you will consider travelling with us again in the future.

If we can help you with anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at the address below or by email at the following address: [email protected].

Kind Regards

Anna-Lyze Forward

P&O Ferries Care Team

P&O Ferries Holdings Ltd

Channel House

Channel View Road

Dover, Kent. CT17 9TJ

Registered in England 6038077



For full Terms and Conditions please visit:

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/conten ... itions.htm

[wwdph02]

Be warned! the same issue on the channel tunnel, turn up and try to book like I did 2 years ago and the £40 outward became nearer to £100 when I came back.
This time I booked from home, outbound, using the debit card I would take with me £41, when coming back I text home, my son booked the return 2 hours before arrival using my same debit card details = cost £42
They did ask for my printed ticket but I just quoted the 8 digit ref and all was ok.
Shuttle was nearly empty but the car in front of me had been screwed as his missed his arrival and got extra charges applied.

[SteveR]

That was a real bummer, Paul, I can see why you were hacked off Big Time! The issue is bugger all competition on that route I suspect.

I can appreciate your frustration but my advice to you would always be to book in advance if you can as this gives you a much higher chance of receiving cheaper fares.

I do hope you will consider travelling with us again in the future

I wait to see your response to that one... Do mention the publicity they are getting :whistle:

I was going to be hit with a big excess a few years ago arriving at the Port early coming back from a French trip, and opted instead to wait 2 hours and pay nowt. Guess who with..?

[Alan29]

Its the same with all ferries companies. Book far in advance to save money. Turning up on the day will always be dearest.

[Africa John]

Its the same with all ferries companies. Book far in advance to save money. Turning up on the day will always be dearest.

Yeah can't see what the beef is. We know that's what they do. They don't do last minute deals to fill the boat unlike a plane! Even booking in advance P&O from Hull is a very expensive run to Rotterdam

[AndyB]

I always book a fixed ticket going over to Europe then a flexi one coming home so I can change it for a small charge and over the years I'm probably out of pocket by doing it this way but it just feels like a safety blanket so I still do it.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Been in that situation and now always check on line pricing. Hotels are same.

One has to play them at their own game. When you go on line use private browsing too, they track you and screw you when you come back again.

[Peirre]

If it's anything like the bucket airlines, the optimum date to book for cheap prices is 40 days before departure

[AndyB]

Even sitting half a mile up the road and booking online saves you money but sometimes it's pouring with rain and just seems easier to go straight to the port and accept the financial hit.

I've had a thick as pigs**t woman (English) at Calais Eurotunnel tell me there were no places on a certain crossing and I couldn't pay to change my booking when their website said there were places and I could book online. When I tried to get her to look at the screen on my phone she called her supervisor and said she felt intimidated. At that point I retreated and sat down for a 5 hour wait rather than be arrested. I nearly paid the full price online instead of sitting around but the difference was about £30 between the price I originally paid and the price at that time and I didn't see why I should pay £70 rather than the £30 difference.

Edit: this is one of the reasons I now pay extra a book flexi tickets (thumbs)

[kitped]

I'd take this further, did you clock her name!!! Think the person writing back to you was taking the piss!! Anna-Lyze......