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2019: General Discussion

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Looks like you can already buy a 2020 season pass online, for £48. Although Alton Towers seem to be confused as to what year they are selling.

It seems the Scarefest and Fireworks dates for 2020 have already been set.

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Someone's messed up the dates as according to that Saturday 10th October will not be a Scarefest event day! If you're buying a 2020 Season Pass now I'd keep a record of those terms before they change.
 
Rob said:
Someone's messed up the dates as according to that Saturday 10th October will not be a Scarefest event day! If you're buying a 2020 Season Pass now I'd keep a record of those terms before they change.
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Almost certainly they'll have a clause which says they can vary the blockout dates as they see fit, and when you purchase you'll be accepting those terms and conditions; so I'd say it's hugely unlikely that you would be able to attend that day even if you have a screenshot.

EDIT - just checked, and in the 2019 T&C, it's section 17:
Alton Towers T&C Website said:
17. Alton Towers reserves the right to vary these Terms by giving you no less than 30 days’ written notice of such variation.
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So they just have to send an email 30 days before the event, and you no longer have access on that particular date.
 
grrrr said:
Almost certainly they'll have a clause which says they can vary the blockout dates as they see fit, and when you purchase you'll be accepting those terms and conditions; so I'd say it's hugely unlikely that you would be able to attend that day even if you have a screenshot.
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Purely dealing in hypotheticals, but fairly sure you could argue unfair terms of conditions on that one.

A standard term is unfair 'if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations arising under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer'– Regulation 5(1). Unfair terms are not enforceable against the consumer.
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Fairly sure movable blackout dates (which were previously stated to be on another date) could be considered unfair and to the detriment of the consumer.

Just because there is a terms and conditions doesn't mean that it's okay to change things after the customer has paid for something.

Hypothetical and fairly irrelevant to the thread generally, but worth remembering.
 
Terms and conditions must be "reasonable" under very clear trade law.
General " We can do what we like, when we like" terms are unfair, and can be challenged, either by Trading Standards, or individuals in the small claims courts.
Winter Fairs come to mind in the last few years.
Dammit Lurker...beat me by seconds.
 
I'd be inclined to agree if we were talking about revoking access for an entire month or something, but I don't think "varying the terms to add a single blockout date because someone made a typo on the website" counts as particularly unfair, personally.
 
grrrr said:
Almost certainly they'll have a clause which says they can vary the blockout dates as they see fit, and when you purchase you'll be accepting those terms and conditions; so I'd say it's hugely unlikely that you would be able to attend that day even if you have a screenshot.

EDIT - just checked, and in the 2019 T&C, it's section 17:


So they just have to send an email 30 days before the event, and you no longer have access on that particular date.
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Just ask any former VIP how good Merlin are at emailing people.

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Given they have changed their minds about the scarefest being a friend tickets this year I think it's fair to say that they can do whatever the hell they want and you aint got a leg to stand on!
 
I agree about the the share the fun issue for scarefeast! I was going to go on Sunday with some mates but they wouldn't allow them to use the share the fun option which we were going to use so we could do the scaremazes without having to spend too much on the day in total. However they wouldn't allow it so we all said bugger it and didn't bother. So the four of us saved £116 by not going, and merlin lost out on £116. I believe it was quiet too on Sunday and the rain wasn't too bad. So never mind their loss I guess
 
AT86 said:
Looks like you can already buy a 2020 season pass online, for £48.
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That's ridiculous. I know us enthusiasts moan about value for money when it comes to merlin, but that's way too cheap. It was £56 this year so they're making it £8 cheaper next season! Everyone thought the prices would increase not decrease
 
Ethan said:
That's ridiculous. I know us enthusiasts moan about value for money when it comes to merlin, but that's way too cheap. It was £56 this year so they're making it £8 cheaper next season! Everyone thought the prices would increase not decrease
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I agree it’s way too cheap. This is a special offer though as far as I can tell (buy your 2020 season pass early and get £10 off). So the model of offering standard season passes for the same as the gate price appears to be continuing into next year.
 
AT86 said:
I agree it’s way too cheap. This is a special offer though as far as I can tell (buy your 2020 season pass early and get £10 off). So the model of offering standard season passes for the same as the gate price appears to be continuing into next year.
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Oh it's an offer that makes sense
 
Obviously the numbers work for them, with parking and other add ons like fast track clearly playing a part. It does just seem way too cheap.

Visit the park 3 times and it's £16 each, per visit. That's remarkable good value for a day out. (Excluding parking, which probably adds about ~£2 per person per visit).
 
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