The BBC would like to hear from you about YOUR experiences with VoD

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 03:31 AM

Paul Sawtell from BBC Sussex would like to hear from you if you have been on a cruise or who about to cruise with VoD.

He needs to hear how/when you were told of the engine trouble with the ship. He also wants to see any letters you received from VoD regarding the engine problem causing itinerary changes. He would also like to hear your thoughts about how VoD has treated you too.....both pre and post cruise when you have enquired about the itinerary changes...did they tell you about the engine or did you have to mention it first before they admitted there was a problem???

Please send your experiences to....

paul.sawtell@bbc.co.uk

Or if you would prefer to write...

Paul Sawtell
Broadcast Journalist
BBC Southern Counties Radio
Broadcasting House,
40-42 Queen's Rd,
Brighton,
BN1 3XB
England

Please mark the envelope or subject line on email - 'DISCOVERY'

Would you also make sure that you give Paul your contact information too as he may wish to chat to you about your experiences.

Paul spoke to me yesterday afternoon, he wants to build up as much information as he can from those who have been affected or could be affected by the engine problems aboard Discovery.

He would like copies of any letters that you may have received (DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS AS YOU MAY NEED THOSE IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THINGS FURTHER VIA ABTA OR THROUGH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS).

So if you have been affected by this engine problem and your cruise was spoilt in any way by the problems, then please contact Paul.

If you have paid high surcharges or the surcharge was too high and it forced you to cancel the cruise, Paul would like to hear from you too.

Thanks everyone, hopefully Paul will have alot to read through. Do not worry if you do not get an immediate reply, Paul will need to read through everything first.

Ginzinggirl · 08-30-2008, 06:04 PM

Hi Ally - This is excellent news that the BBC are taking an interest! I have written to Paul with my issues and copies of my correspondence.

**Ally** · 09-11-2008, 11:15 AM

Update...

I have just spoken to Paul at the BBC. He wishes to pass on his thanks to everyone who has taken the time to send emails and letters to him regarding VoD. He would like to apologise for not contacting those people as yet, this is due to his current shifts at the BBC covering for other staff who are on holiday. Rest assured though he is building a pretty hefty file and is reading everything sent to him about the problems with Discovery.

He asked me to pass on that he still wants to receive as much information as possible from everyone who has been affected in any way by the problems, whether it is surcharging and/or itinerary changes.

He will be contacting everyone as soon as he is able, so please do not worry if it takes a little longer than expected, he will get back to you all asap.

Please keep sending him your letters and emails to the addresses above!

Thank you

**Ally** · 11-13-2008, 09:07 AM

Further update...

I have just chatted with Paul. He is in the process of putting something together and is likely to be contacting many of those who have emailed him with their concerns and thoughts about the engine fault, the surcharging and the OBC levels and generally about how the company refused to go public with the engine fault and allow cancellation without penalty, especially when it became obvious that the fault was not going to be an easy fix. He will be contacting VoD about the emails and letters he's received and find out from him why things were so badly mishandled from March this year.

He will be calling me either later today or tomorrow with an update and I will pass any information he gets onto you here on this thread.

**Ally** · 11-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Well well well....Paul has now been in touch with David Yellow about the various issues raised by customers of VoD and the discussions on this board.

Mr Yellow refused point blank to any recorded interview and he hinted that there may well have been a problem with the AIS transponder along with the engine...but he would not go as far as to admit the problems with the ship had been handled badly and he flatly refused to discuss the issues, the surcharging & compensation, completely.

Recording statements from myself and others will be started early next week. Other authorities and consumer groups will also be contacted.

I will update as and when I can.

**Ally** · 11-13-2008, 12:00 PM

Oh and the company reason for pulling out of Antarctica....'passengers didn't want to go there again, they wanted something different'.

hmmm...yeah, OK...if you say so.

**Ally** · 11-18-2008, 12:42 PM

I have just completed my piece ready for broadcast on the BBC regarding VoD. The subject is scheduled to go on air this week. Paul will be confirming the time for the broadcast with me as soon as he can. He has a written statement from VoD (not a recorded one as they refused) and has also spoken to customers too.

To get the radio station via the internet, please visit this page..

BBC iPlayer - Radio Stations

Scroll to the bottom and click on...

Southern Counties Radio

A smaller screen will then open and you'll be able to hear the broadcast going out live on air.

You might need to install the plug-in to use the BBC I-Player, instructions will flash up if that is the case.

I will confirm timings as soon as possible.

**Ally** · 11-20-2008, 11:14 AM

To Listen to the BBC Broadcasts....

BBC - Southern Counties - Homepage

Click on 'Listen again' (halfway down the page on right hand side 'Southern Counties Radio).

Sussex Breakfast with Neil Pringle

There are two individual broadcasts, the second has a lawyer from Which?....0730 and 0810am today.

The broadcasts are available for the next 7 days.

(I cannot tell if it works as I have no sound on my pooter, sorry

)

**Ally** · 11-20-2008, 11:31 AM

All letters & emails have been handed to the consumer organisation Which who are apparently looking into what happened further, all subsequent letters and emails will be passed over to the organisation too. Paul is also tracking the ship as best he can and is going to continue to build evidence from everyone affected with an idea to make follow-up broadcasts.

**Ally** · 11-20-2008, 11:39 AM

This is the Which advice page for holiday problems...such as the altered itineraries with VoD. It gives you lots of advice on how to resolve issues and gain compensation if you feel cheated...as many have made clear to Paul...and you want to pursue a case for refund and/or compensation...

Getting compensation for holiday problems - Your rights - Which? Advice