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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Lapland 'scam' costs woman £3,000 | Lapland 'scam' costs woman £3,000 |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A woman fears she has wasted £3,000 after buying more than 100 tickets to a Lapland-style theme park described as a "scam" by scores of angry visitors. | A woman fears she has wasted £3,000 after buying more than 100 tickets to a Lapland-style theme park described as a "scam" by scores of angry visitors. |
| Sheilagh-Anne Davidson paid £25 each for 132 tickets to Lapland New Forest this weekend, on behalf of a social club in Berkshire. | Sheilagh-Anne Davidson paid £25 each for 132 tickets to Lapland New Forest this weekend, on behalf of a social club in Berkshire. |
| Hundreds of visitors have told the BBC the site on the Hampshire-Dorset border does not resemble marketing pictures. | Hundreds of visitors have told the BBC the site on the Hampshire-Dorset border does not resemble marketing pictures. |
| More than 2,000 people have complained to Consumer Direct. | |
| Many people want refunds and are calling for the closure of the attraction which opened on Friday. | Many people want refunds and are calling for the closure of the attraction which opened on Friday. |
| Ms Davidson said she had thought the park would make a great location for a day out for members of a sports and social club members in Bracknell. | Ms Davidson said she had thought the park would make a great location for a day out for members of a sports and social club members in Bracknell. |
| "I saw the website and it was fantastic," she said. | "I saw the website and it was fantastic," she said. |
| Visitors speak outside the theme park | Visitors speak outside the theme park |
| "This has to be false advertising. We don't even know what our rights are as we haven't been yet." | "This has to be false advertising. We don't even know what our rights are as we haven't been yet." |
| The theme park's website, which became unavailable on Monday afternoon, had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. | The theme park's website, which became unavailable on Monday afternoon, had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. |
| It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. | It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. |
| It said: "We can assure you of an absolutely magical scene... just look how real and cold the 'snow' appears to be." | It said: "We can assure you of an absolutely magical scene... just look how real and cold the 'snow' appears to be." |
| Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more and £10 for children under two years old. | Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more and £10 for children under two years old. |
| Organiser Henry Mears told the BBC: "We don't believe we ripped anyone off. What is not here that we haven't advertised?" | Organiser Henry Mears told the BBC: "We don't believe we ripped anyone off. What is not here that we haven't advertised?" |
| One woman who paid £150 for her family's tickets told the BBC the website was "totally misleading" leaving her children "heartbroken". | One woman who paid £150 for her family's tickets told the BBC the website was "totally misleading" leaving her children "heartbroken". |
| Others described it as a "scam", a "joke", "disorganised chaos" and "hell". | Others described it as a "scam", a "joke", "disorganised chaos" and "hell". |
| Many said the animals looked unhappy, complaining that the huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. | Many said the animals looked unhappy, complaining that the huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. |
| The day was supposed to be a Christmas treat for the grandchildren but turned out to be more like a punishment Robert Caddy Hundreds slam Lapland park 'scam' They said the other facilities, including a broken ice rink, were poor. | The day was supposed to be a Christmas treat for the grandchildren but turned out to be more like a punishment Robert Caddy Hundreds slam Lapland park 'scam' They said the other facilities, including a broken ice rink, were poor. |
| The Christmas market was a tent with a few stalls in it, the "tunnel of light" was some fairy lights hanging from some trees and the "log cabins" were green sheds, they complained. | The Christmas market was a tent with a few stalls in it, the "tunnel of light" was some fairy lights hanging from some trees and the "log cabins" were green sheds, they complained. |
| Some visitors also complained that they had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. | Some visitors also complained that they had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. |
| More than 1,000 people have joined one of at least three Facebook groups, which have been set up in protest at Lapland New Forest. | |
| 'Professional troublemakers' | 'Professional troublemakers' |
| Robert Caddy, of Andover, Hampshire, visited the park on Sunday. | Robert Caddy, of Andover, Hampshire, visited the park on Sunday. |
| "The day was supposed to be a Christmas treat for the grandchildren but turned out to be more like a punishment. | "The day was supposed to be a Christmas treat for the grandchildren but turned out to be more like a punishment. |
| People say the website was misleading | People say the website was misleading |
| "They should be charged with misrepresentation under the Consumer Protection Act." | "They should be charged with misrepresentation under the Consumer Protection Act." |
| Trading standards officers said they had visited the site after receiving 50 complaints on Monday and were aware of a "large number of others". | Trading standards officers said they had visited the site after receiving 50 complaints on Monday and were aware of a "large number of others". |
| But they said they did not have powers to shut the site down. | But they said they did not have powers to shut the site down. |
| Consumer Direct, a government-funded advice service, said unsatisfied customers should consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter was unsuccessful. | Consumer Direct, a government-funded advice service, said unsatisfied customers should consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter was unsuccessful. |
| Mr Mears, who organises the park's marketing and advertising, told the BBC he was "bemused" by the complaints. | Mr Mears, who organises the park's marketing and advertising, told the BBC he was "bemused" by the complaints. |
| He said the ice rink had since reopened. | He said the ice rink had since reopened. |
| He blamed "a few groups of professional troublemakers" for the allegations over the attraction. | He blamed "a few groups of professional troublemakers" for the allegations over the attraction. |
| "Like all people they like to get into queues and just generate a bit of aggravation." | "Like all people they like to get into queues and just generate a bit of aggravation." |
| Have you visited the theme park? Are you planning to go? | Have you visited the theme park? Are you planning to go? |
| Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |