| History of News from la Carabasse | | last update 14th September 2011 |
| Siblu's idea of typical entertainments at LC - are the breakfasts back? January 2010 |
Hi all. The following is my impression of LC during my 7 week stay in July/August. - September 2009
The groundspeople did a great job, the flowers and bushes were a treat. Finally thanks to all the happy hour mob for the laughs and a big thanks to the Social Secretaries from Cleaner Close, for the fantastic evening does, they were the icing on a very big cake. Regards Pete Smith |
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| Owners
have again experienced break-ins and squatters. In fact UK squatters
...maybe.. at least ones that can and want to read a UK newspaper. This
someone, obviously cannot afford rent locally but can afford to pay
extra for the news back home. In my opinion, either the security are not being vigilant or its an inside job. Quite honestly, I and many owners have been impressed with the security company over the last year. I am certain, If they would have seen any "not known" people climbing walls, on their sensored cameras, and surely would have caught up with these vagrants. So where does that leave us owners. Yet another year gone and the problem has not disappeared. We know who does the burglaries. But what we dont know is who is squatting. Why have they decided there is market for plant pots this year. In my opinion, it is time for some extra security for next winter. Alas...we have to consider this now rather than later. |
| No owners swim each morning. Cancelled.... but a sunset swim on Saturdays made up for it. Entertainment around the pool was good. But whats this? who are these people??? Some suggestions were that he was a top footballer... and his delightful family. Obviously a Chelsea player as he looks so foreign. Anyone put a name to them? Rumour has it that they have not only appeared in pantomime but one of them actually played the part of Snow White. Wow. A star stuudded family no-less. Another suggestion was they are from a famous brewery family. Perhaps I should send the pic on to "Hell o" or even "OK". Parc looks beautiful by the way. All credit to Michel. Sarah doing her utmost to keep owners happy. |  |
| Onsite WiFi 2009 prices (will update soon) Card Prices Direct payment online
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We have been reassurred that the storms in the Autumn did not affect the parc and there was no damage of any sort. We have news of the change of datesThe credit crunch is bitting hard. Speedferries have ceased trading so there is a likely-hood of increased prices on ferries and maybe Ryanair etc. Owners quote "Just received my invoice for 2009 ~ 17.5% increase". Yes! even though we are still 3 months less off our visiting time, we are obliged to pay more. C'est la vie..... | 17th June |
| Yipee........ yes its MARCH 15th TO OCT 15th Hold on a moment...that means no Autumn holiday. Well for us. So whats different? Business as usual. So anything else I hear you say. Only burglaries but thats not important...is it? |
| Latest on Burglaries | 1st May | |
| Owners have lost the right to their early morning swim its official - | 11th April |
 | Ryanair News Press Release 23.04.08 New Summer Routes from Stansted - Beziers and Rimini. The flights go on sale today on www.ryanair.com and will operate in June, July and August | |
On a personal level not the first time. I have many e-mails stating that I would like my money back. All of which were ignored and at one point laughed at by a member of staff.
That apart we purchased our holiday home for 10 months of the year and I dont see why
Siblu cannot compensate us for the lack of time available to visit.
We are not the only ones that had the 10 month speel. Most new owners were treated to
the same sales talk until recently. And why did it stop....why didnt they carry on with the same lines. Perhaps it was pressure from irate French owners. Or maybe the M6 channel Tv programme. Whatever the reason, it stopped....or did it...I would sure like to know the answer to the question from the potential purchaser,
...or is there? First of all we have the announcement we will not be allowed to our holiday homes before 15th April...then surprise...yes we can go on the 12th April, according to our contracts. In the meantime we are told they are confident that the dates will change.
We then receive an apology. So do the dates remain?
My question is:
"What if the dates are written in stone and the company have been breaking the law?"  |
made a mistake, in selling us a ten month use over the 5 month use we appear to have now.
| 12th January 2007 A great time was had at a Christmas celebration held in a little Italian Restaurant, near Rochester in Kent. Several owners were there and it was a jolly occasion. Thank you to Lynda for organising the meal and a big thank you to Stephanie Kay our special waitress. | |  |
French TV Channel M6 broadcasts an investigative programme regarding the Sales techniques of Siblu staff.
Towards the end of September Angie & I spent a pleasant week at Les Charmettes at Haven's expense. (Our own expense I suppose really in a round about way). The site was very nice, with large emplacements and is open for ten months a year. The owners office was just that, an office for the exclusive use of owners with no Siblu staff in residence. Together with the bar it was fitted with WI-FI, a facility they intend extending to cover the entire site by next year.
The sales staff were friendly and only to keen to facilitate our moving from La Carabasse, all we had to do was pay for a new mobile home minus what Siblu would offer us for ours. Tempting, but we both love the Languedoc.
the sea inviting and La Carabasse deserted except for the ground and sales staff. Vias town was at its best, we managed very good meal at Le Vieux Logis and the next morning a coffee in the sun outside the Azure Bleu before heading back north. Regards Paul Westcott
| It was an excellent summer with lots of socialising. | September 2007 |
Pity about the Beach party organised by Siblu. It wasn't until they had sold the tickets outright did we get informed of this event.
Tea dance can be struck off the list for 2008. Least said about that the better. We have taken to organising extra events.
The la Carabasse Golf Society is somewhat consistent with their early morning treks around the local courses and a new event is the go-kart racing. 8 minutes of intense stimulation I heard one owner say. Any other ideas for 2008? Perhaps a trip to a Vineyard, as you well know, I don't drink so it wouldn't matter to me.
The owners extra hour in the swimming pool was brilliant even if it did lack a comfortable temperature on certain days. As a regular I'm not going to put my family off using this privilege. Great to see a good turn out from other owners.
What about that Atoll.?.... Quik-fit, Fire station, Airport waiting lounge. Whatever you think it is... Novel.
And what was the Owner’s party like? I couldn't make it for one reason or another.
As for the opening dates....................yawn.
| La Carabasse Parc is looking good. | 12th June 2007 |
My opinion is, there is a massive amount to undertake.
A task that management could possibly complete, if given the assistance from all owners. Whether or not this is just a preparation for a mission to bring the parc back to appear as a caravan site, is yet to be seen.
As I understand this statement was made by the management but I don’t personally imagine that will happen.
You comments please...the normal place
Peter's annual report - Season 2007 BAD POINTS. GOOD POINTS |
la Carabasse management seem to have a pass key for probably all mobile
homes on the Parc.
Q.Why are new owners still being sold the idea that the site
stays open 10 months
of the year?
A. "We explain to new owners what we believe to be the current situation,
i.e. the current pitch contract is established on the basis of opening dates of 15/4 – 15/9,
and we remain optimistic that these dates will be extended in due course to bring
la Carabasse into line with other parks in the commune"
Security Knowing how much certain firms in the UK will try to charge for a linked alarm, God knows how much Siblu will want! We can only wait & hope. - Jill |
Just a few snippits of the comments on the message board. Join in. |
From Tony I bought my home in 2005 for new delivery in 2006, and the cost was around £35,000 - a substantial outlay in anyone's terms I think you'll agree. We were sold "the dream" of having a second home where we could spend our holidays and even regain some of the OPEX outlay on fees by renting the home, either via Siblu or via our own private means. Although
we did cover most of our fees by renting I am given the distinct
impression that we are amongst very few who did this, and I can't state
that I was happy with the way our home was cleaned and maintained by
Siblu. We booked our crossing in eager anticipation of an Easter visit
for 2006 but to our dismay we then find the opening times are severely
curtailed to an April 15th - September 15th window which ruled out an
Easter visit. It also prevented us from the October half term holiday we had planned at the time. We were offered alternative accommodation in nearby hotels, but that kind of defeats the purpose of owning a holiday home don't you think? Anyone, seemingly using too much gas?
|
Maybe worth keeping a check on!"I would be asking for a reduction in site fees"
| Joe, owner of a mobile @ le Lac des Reves (neighbouring site near Montpellier)
Although it wasn't Siblu's fault, I would be asking for a reduction in site fees. You are losing nearly 4 months of your potential time in you caravan. It sounds ridiculous that you should pay yearly site fees and only be able to use your van for 5 months. "lots of sympathy and nothing else"My first year of ownership on a brand new home Haven/Siblu customers used the wall as a dart board despite another owner complaining to the office havens failed to take action which left a brand new home with holes in the wall, havens had let it out to four male youths and one girl. when i complained lots of sympathy and nothing else.Re the damage to another brits m/home i am informed that they had curtain cut and stolen cuts into the walls and the padlock was broken off and there personal items used. If this was the case havens should have actioned this wanton vandalism. One other thing, the prices of havens holidays are cheaper if you book in france as opposed to the uk. I have been unable to find out if this is the case with the site rent and other charges - Regards Jim Hall |
"Cant be in two places at one time"
I am hearing back,about security problems on the site. Have
you any experiences, as Siblu appear to be playing this down, as just a
minor problem? Contact me if you are also concerned, specially as we
have to get through a winter without any knowledge of what goes on. We
have noticed the wandering security men, even in November. We have to
trust them to execute their job. And I'm sure they are. But of course
they cant be in two places at one time.
Siblu should build structures and staff them with armed guard"
| Maybe you have lost items? ... from the garden... those territories, that we all seem, as individuals, to be proud over. Personally I think the staff at Siblu should build structures at each corner/various stages of the perimeter and staff them with armed guard... yeah and perhaps have some high walls topped with high voltage electric barbed wire fences. A couple of tanks constantly parading down the avenues with their threatening gun turrets. Dig out some ditches and cover them with some turf and netting so the intruders cant get out. The US have stated they will drop in, if indeed we need some heavy action. |  |
Going back to the UK owners that had their caravan trashed how many would like to comment on this story. Are you bothered? Siblu very kindly looked after a fridge freezer for me for months. Why god only knows. We asked for it back as we had never seen it before and then.... it broke down. I was asked for over + 300 euros to alloy a let to keep their stuff cool. No offer.
Why didnt they come up with half? They had more than half out of the money from the let!
Why
do they not check the caravans? Must be a reason or is it just the way
of life in the South of France. Perhaps needs clarifying, maybe!
Why not just give them our money up front and see what happens.
An open cheque. Oh no..we do that already!
| After a "natural storm" the parc was opened.... was it ready? Who knows? | April 2007 |
| March 2007 | |
| Oh yes! don't forget the sheds. |
I think that is their major advantage, that we have to change around. It is obviously used to an incredible extent.
Books |  |
Yes now +6000 hits. Something still nagging me though. It’s funny really, thinking back to that meeting in April when Alain wasn't available to answer those all important questions that most owners had been openly rehearsing.
As he suddenly had a phone call, another Siblu representative took over and announced Alain had to go to sort out an urgent gas cylinder problem. He followed it with a statement that he didn't know about any detail on any other web site and wasn’t aware of the e-mail stating he had agreed to the meeting in the Atoll.
Perhaps you were there, but strangely enough, not long after this voluntary speech, he hauled out a print out of this very website. Why was that paper in his pocket? Just makes you wonder...well it does me.
Can't think why I should be so pessimistic. Maybe I should think positive....mmm.
April 15th - September 15th
New link to update Owners
Andy reporting
| "We were sold the use of the Mobile for a | December 2006 |
| period of 10 months of the year. | |
| Now down to 5 months............there is something wrong with sales if this is the case" - an owner |
| "it bugs me that our property is unguarded" - Andy VB1 | October 2006 |
Update on site security.
I am given to understand that an evaluation has been undertaken on an alarm fitted to the mobile homes linked to a central point i believe that it is a wireless system.
Other issues are more security cameras, anti-vandal paint on the perimeter walls I should have stated non drying paint better security for the sheds and possible dog patrol with handler. We can only wait for the letter, I would like to add:-
- don't leave any valuables in the sheds, any thing that you do leave behind hide them in the mobile home to make it difficult for the thief
- don't lock any doors or cupboards they will just break them open and cause damage.
- pull the curtains or blinds so they cannot see inside
- maybe buy one of those alarms that attach to the door handle and are triggered by the door movement
- remember a thief wants to enter and leave quickly just make it as difficult as possible.
I will take my police helmet of now. i will be down on the 22nd Oct.
may see some of you then. Best regards Jim / Margaret VB17
As a concerned owner what have you put in to action different from October/ November
last year? Have you perhaps added your own alarms?
We know what happened 2006....
 | Last years score in the break-ins at April: | +400 sheds +30 Mobile |
The Get2gether '06 - (on April 10th)
Brilliant turn out by owners. No discussion happened or even a positive comment from the management. We were evetually thrown out of the Atoll. They had "run out of beer" was the statement. Only open for Siblu staff and "special people."
Yesterday!
Certainly a Beatle classic.
That was the song I sang most of the 11th April. (after the meeting that was ignored)
How does it go again.......
"Yesterday all my troubles seem so far away, now it looks as if
there here to stay, oh! I believe in yesterday, why he had to go I don't know he
wouldn't say, I said something wrong now I long for yesterday" *I may just have substituted some of my own words, though. | |
Our visit at June '06
To swim in the pool was bracing but it was nevertheless, a terrific break. We again met new and some established owners and it was great to
keep up to date with life on la Carabasse where we have our second home.
Siblu, I must admit, have created a brilliant parc where we owners can escape to at various times of the year. The overall picture is looking good.
It is a great shame we are still suffering the lack of knowledge over certain issues. Lets hope they can actually come close to curing some of these ongoing problems. Watch this space for details.
We have been informed of the date of our upgrade for the mobile home and other owners have reserved seats on the neighbours decking, for the great day. As I understand it there are still some standing only tickets available. Bring your own picnic but wine will be flowing on the day. I tried to keep it quiet but the "owner gripevine" seems to be stronger.
Just someones joke.
Like I can see Siblu would put up with the audience
Our visit in August '06
Hectic 2.5 weeks. So much to do! Upgraded the mobile. We occupied Alan and Maureens
plot next door where we were able to watch every moment of the installation. This was aided by being fed by them and also another neighbour, Lynda. Alan and Ange did a super job despite having a few fraught moments. A thank you to all concerned.
Lets not forget the chance to be at Bill & Gills Pimms party with so many other owners. Good job they have a sizable plot. A brilliant afternoon. Thanks guys. Our youngsters visited places like Aqualand, Europarc and we all joined in the Go-carts. Breathtaking stuff.
Heck, none of the family wanted to return home to UK.
Our visit in October '06
The weather varied between warm and hot generally. Most meals we spent outside on the decking. It was very quiet compared to the summertime.
Many thanks to John for allowing us to be part of the "Christmas Dinner" and a special thank you to Lynda for organising such an excellent meal.
Not an easy task with ovens, pans, cuttlery etc. to consider. We did end up being slightly noisy but let's face it, it was the afternoon.... oh yes
and the evening as well.
Not forgetting a thanks to Terry and Sue for their invitiaion to their house warming over in the le Volley area. A chance to get to know others while enjoying some excellent food and some unusual drinks. Was that wine really only 48%? - David & Julie
|
"there has been a spate |
A couple who live in France but own a mobile on La Carabasse visited the site recently and saw that there has been a spate of break-ins in the sheds. Friends of ours on Le Champs were one of the unlucky owners and the couple e-mailed them to let them know.They have spoken to Haven/Siblu and they are taking no responsibility, the owners will have to claim on their insurance. Have no other details than this.I wonder if Haven/Siblu will notify any owners this affects!! Look forward to reading your comments on the web. Regards...Anon
| Just to update the situation.... it is not
|
There were over 400+ break-ins to the sheds (numbers rising by the day)...and each were professionally wired up by...I can only assume, Siblu. Their comment...they didnt have time to count how many were broken into.
| |  |
"There have indeed been a number of incidents at La Carabasse over the winter period. Incidents have been mostly
minor, and include opportunistic theft and minor vandalism to mobile homes and storage sheds.
"Keep the items, sell them", I say.... but we will catch you out soon".
We are taking every incident seriously and have worked closely with all those affected to
seal their home after a break-in, report the incident to the local police and take stock
of damage and theft."