The Anonymous Widower

Skullduggery on Eurotunnel and P&O Ferries Websites?

I am in Holland and usually keep my travel plans rather flexible. If the weather is crap then I might go early or if the weather is good then the reverse might happen.

Last night, I decided that it would be convenient to have lunch in Den Haag and then drive to the ferries at about 16:00, catching the 20:00 Norfolk Line ferry out of Dunkirk for Dover.  This would get me home about 23:00, which would be a sensible time, as it would mean I probably wouldn’t need to find any change for the Dartford Crossing. I’m not bothered about the money, as it is only a tiny proportion of my expenditure, but sometimes finding a 50 pence piece is not easy.

But I then found out at about 22:00 or so that the 20:00 was not running today.  The previous one would mean I would miss lunch and the later one, is just too late at my age.

So I looked at Eurotunnel for a suitable departure.  There was one at 20:40 or so at £73, which was just a little bit more than the ferry.  The site declined my AMEX card, probably because I put a number in wrong, as I’d used it earlier in H0lland.  So no worry, I’ll use another card.  But when I rebooked the cheap price had gone and they wanted me to pay £127 or even more.  I was so angry I couldn’t remember the real value.

So I checked P&O.  I got a similar price, but after accepting it, when I went to add the credit card it had jumped from £50 to £100.

Now I know the prices go up at around midnight, but I was about half-an-hour before the witching hour and in the middle of an accepted transaction.

So I decided to skip lunch in Den Haag and take the 18:00 on Norfolk Line.  At least I should be able to get a nice gluten-free meal on their ferries!  I know from past experience that P&O regard all those with allergies as lepers.

This morning I checked the prices again.  Norfolk Line was just a few euros more, Eurotunnel was £129 and the P&O web site was overloaded.

I know where I’ll be putting my business in future.

February 21, 2010 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Ferry