I'm currently a Merlin annual pass holder (standard). Expiring in April 19. However, a leaflet arrived in my post box early August showing offers available if I renew early. Although it was 8 months early at the time, I thought I'd take it up, upgrade to premium and renew at the same time.
So I pay my £520 for the four of us and book a hotel for a visit to legoland in September after my youngest has had her first couple of weeks at "big school".
So, fast forward a month and here I am at legoland and go to the desk to collect the passes.
Only to be told if I collect them today, the 12 months will start today, meaning I forfeit the remaining 7 months on my existing passes!
As I only have six months to collect the passes (5 now) even if I collect them at the end of that period I'm going to lose 2 months on my current passes.
I queried this with the park duty manager here who agreed and at best the marketing is "misleading". They can only print passes with 12 months validity from the day they print them.
Even now you can find adverts on Merlins site stating "renew any time during your 12 months" and notes to say the passes must be collected within 6 months, but nowhere does it say your new pass overwrites any remaining time on your current pass.
So, and result I've had to get a refund of the £520. I did get the promise they would honour the price for me at the end of my current passes, but in all honesty given this farce I'm wondering whether I may just put that money toward a Disneyworld trip instead.
Anyone else had experience of this? It just seems bizarre, and the marketing people don't appear to have spoken to the people administering the pass printing systems.
So I pay my £520 for the four of us and book a hotel for a visit to legoland in September after my youngest has had her first couple of weeks at "big school".
So, fast forward a month and here I am at legoland and go to the desk to collect the passes.
Only to be told if I collect them today, the 12 months will start today, meaning I forfeit the remaining 7 months on my existing passes!
As I only have six months to collect the passes (5 now) even if I collect them at the end of that period I'm going to lose 2 months on my current passes.
I queried this with the park duty manager here who agreed and at best the marketing is "misleading". They can only print passes with 12 months validity from the day they print them.
Even now you can find adverts on Merlins site stating "renew any time during your 12 months" and notes to say the passes must be collected within 6 months, but nowhere does it say your new pass overwrites any remaining time on your current pass.
So, and result I've had to get a refund of the £520. I did get the promise they would honour the price for me at the end of my current passes, but in all honesty given this farce I'm wondering whether I may just put that money toward a Disneyworld trip instead.
Anyone else had experience of this? It just seems bizarre, and the marketing people don't appear to have spoken to the people administering the pass printing systems.