Three posts from me in one day! You can tell I have time on my hands --- 12 weeks of it to be precise.
I paid for my new berth in advance on receipt of the invoice in late January, blissfully unaware of the impending Covid shut down.
Because of the lockdown, I was unable to move my Mac to the new berth before movements on the river were curtailed. And if I been able to take up residence, wouldn't have been able to access my Mac because the boatyard/Marina closed and the gates were locked a day or so after the Government published its guiudelines. Even if I lived close enough to take in the marina as part of my hours permitted exercise, access to my boat would still have been denied.
So here I am, accruing two lots of fees; one for the mooring Just Add Water is currently using at a Marina on the Hamble and one (already pre-paid to the tune of several thousand pounds) to the new Marina not a million miles away.
So far, approaches to the new Marina have not been met with any success. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Are your Marinas/moorings offering any money back or discount because you are unable to access your Mac?
All experience and advice welcome.
Thanks
S
Hi Stuart, I do not have experience of the same problem exactly but sympathise with your predicament. The lockdown is a totally new experience to us all, including businesses/ marinas/yacht clubs. Do you have a contract? From what date was your payment valid from? ie. 1/1/20 or later. If you could have gotten your boat moved earlier but did not then they could argue that you are now in no different position to everyone else whos boats are now grounded there.
Maybe there is scope to appeal to the yard where the boat is trapped not to pay fees from lockdown date? Difficult question to fairly decide on as its all unprecedented situation.
Glenn.
Hello All
An update on the situation outlined in the first post of the thread:
The hitherto anonymous Marina in question can now be revealed. It's Bucklers Hard.
Because of my special personal circumstances (for those who don't know I have terminal pancreatic cancer), Bucklers Hard are refunding my fees in full with the proviso that if I am well enough later in the year I can have my berth back on a pro rata basis.
Other new customers who have not been able to make it to Beaulieu due to the restrictions have either been offered a credit against next years annual mooring invoice or a pro-rated refund for the period of the restriction plus two weeks.
This is an outstanding response, I'm sure you'd agree.
Stu
Good work Stu. I have also just paid my annual berthing fee on Windermere. I will be interested to see South Lakeland Council's response. I'm not sure how much generosity they will be able to afford.
Quentin Sands, past owner
1991 26C Mrs MacGregor
1993 Mac19, Margarita