Marina Etiquette info sought re: not paying

[tcm]

A friend rented a boat recently and sailed off on a jolly weekend with some friends. In the course of his voyage he stayed overnight at a nearby marina, arriving in the late afternoon. One of his crew promptly visited the marina office to find no marina staff in attendance and hence was unable to pay the fees. The same applied the following morning - at 8am prompt, the marina office was still unmanned. So - he left.

Imagine his surprise, then, when today he received a call on his mobile phone from said marina to find them chasing for the 25 quid overnight fees. Argh!

It seems that the marina called the charter company who gave them my friend's mobile phone number! Obviously, my friend has rung up the charter company and torn them off a strip about releasing personal details to another party.

But about the overnight fees, hm? Are they due? Possibly, probably.... Or should a marina actually man the place, really? And if they don't take the loot there and then, well, that's that, innit? Or what?

Of course, my friend was one of five on board, so i imagine that that his crew will all chip in with the requisite fiver. And I imagine that the same almost certainly applies to the extra £40 for gas and diesel charged by the charter company. hah! yes, I have a very vibrant imagination.

Of course, since my friend lives in the smoke, he is of a mind that it's a dog eat dog economy. But does this apply to the scottish highlands where even the erswhile southerners are uncloseted lefties?

And...are there loads of charter companies in the highlands - or just the one? So can my friend tell Oban marina to go sing for it - or will his card be forever marked? How far does the long arm of a pictish marina owner extend in the matter of 25 quid?

[Nick]

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I have to say that Oban Marina is now such a pleasant place with good people and greatly reduced prices - cheaper than either Dunstaffnage or Tobermory - that I feel payment would be appropriate in this case. If your friend is a bit strapped or his crew are unable to assist let us know and Silkie and I could probably lend him a tenner each to help out.

[tcm]

Hm, okay. I will get my friend to stiff his mates for the extra five quid.

Dya think there will be a disability discount for the hard of driving, or for those who find themselves clinically obese?

[ljs]

I've just spent 8 quid sending Para back his waterproof troosers after he threw them into the back of my son's car at Knutsford services - so I think he should pay my 5 quid

[bilbo]

The same applied the following morning - at 8am prompt, the marina office was still unmanned. So - he left.

Er, that would be long after the morning mist had burned off in the sun, and the CalMac ferry had 'woken the dead' with its humungous fog signal - at precisely 0700 AckEmma.

Clearly, the dozy bloggers detailed for the marina morning shift had simply rolled over and gone back to sleep.....

[Silkie]

Have to agree with Nick since it turns out I know the husband and wife team who are managing it now and they have always been good to me in the past. Traditionally though, if you have made every effort to pay...

I wonder if Dave has had such a call?

[bilbo]

I can tell you that, hours later, there was still no reply to telephone calls seeking to 'meet the need' in good faith.

There's only so much one can do.... but it'll probably sort itself out.

[BigNick]

Imagine his surprise, then, when today he received a call ...

Mmmm. It is indeed strange - if there was nobody there when you arrived at the end of one day, or the following morning, how could they know that the boat had been there and hence to follow the trail to collect their money.

I hope your friend is not left out of pocket - I'd be telling him to feck off, myself!

[tcm]

Imagine his surprise, then, when today he received a call ...

Mmmm. It is indeed strange - if there was nobody there when you arrived at the end of one day, or the following morning, how could they know that the boat had been there and hence to follow the trail to collect their money.

Um, they called the charter company who obligingly gave them my details. Not to worry, they did orgainse boat taxi to oban so i think i'll probably pay, and I *won't* be sending a sizeable army in their direction to forcibly clear them from their land this time, although i spose that's always an option.

[bilbo]

A friend was talking with a friend the other day, about the virtues of a sailing community without the 'water-highwayman' approach of Salcombe ( "Stand and deliver! For I am your bold receiver...." ) or the Solent Marina Snarl ( "What the feck d'you want? Can't you see I'm doing my nails?" ) and how there was, as yet, no hint of the dreaded Antipodean GapYear Boatman's Song "Money! Money! Money!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o16uVon2NRQ

Howeffer, another wee friend should be aware that there are dark mutterings of a Celtic 'fatwa' in certain parts of Argyll and The Islands, and that the ancient Standing Stanes of Kerrera may yet see a re-enactment of the auld Pictish ( and Mayan ) blood sacrifice ritual that, legend has it, actively discourages reiving and 'doing a runner'.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

"......Many thanks.... unfortunately we do not start work until 7.30am and work until 6pm, however the ferryman who is a member of staff is around until 2230hrs every night seven days a week, as the ferry goes backwards and forwards into Oban/Kerrera every hour on the hour, all ferry times detailed outside of main office and on the ansaphone, so not sure why.....but apologies to anyone who could not find him.

At present, as with I am sure most marinas, there is no one on site until 7.30am. As there are not many people around sailing, during the summer we will still start at 7.30am but work until 7pm seven days a week, the ferry person will be working from 0730hrs until 0030hrs, hopefully this is enough time for people to come in and sort monies out. I do tell persons when they call up for a berth that the office will be closed at a certain time and no-one has complained as yet, a majority of people just say we will see you in the morning, if they have to travel earlier then people do say so and just pop a cheque in the post, or give us a call whilst travelling.
I do hope this is not a major problem, I did work at another local marina for 3 years and it was the same situation there, at present we are not running for 24hours as some larger marinas.

I can only apologise to anyone that has been inconvenienced by this. But we are open to suggestions as to how and sort this?

Kind regards, Susan Price"

Marina Manager
Oban Marina Limited
01631 565333

[DaveS]

Well I finally managed to pay this morning. (Stuck dahn sarf for the last couple of days.) Very friendly, and quite happy with late payment in the circumstances. A bit cheaper (sorry, less dear) too than Dunstaffnage or Tobermory. Re. the latter, I presume Kerrera has functioning cludgies, although we weren't there long enough to use, or even see them!

[Nick]

Kerrera has functioning cludgies

Oh yes, and very nice ones too. They even provide magazines to read while ensconsed - sadly all MBO at the moment tho'

They had some very nice half price shirts as well, so GF and I ended up as walking adverts for the place.

[claymore]

I didn't eat as much as anyone else so I don't think I should have to pay
and I'm injured.

[bilbo]

[tcm]

Well I finally managed to pay this morning.

hm, i paid as well, dammit.