I am the manager of a well known school of sporting excellence. I recently organized a trip to the Sheffield Ski Village for my school attendants and staff members. I paid the required deposit and was promised a formal receipt but not today as the printer was not working. It would go first class tomorrow and I recognized the integrity in the voice and took it as red. Some weeks passed and we had several new faces on our campus from the USA, who in turn wished to partake in the weekend with the Sheffield Ski Center and as such I forwarded their deposits on and once again I put a note in to say we had 12 additional people for the weekend course. Two weeks before setting off for the 200 mile trip to Sheffield, I received a letter for the requirement of the full amount of 150.00 per person and as there was 48 people at 18 years old, and a further 30 at 15 years of age, it amounted to over 11, 000 in total, although we were offered a slight discount for the payment.
We all boarded our coach bound for the City of Sheffield and after some 3 hours of driving we duly arrived at what was a true disappointment. The lead road or drive upwards was littered by Prostitutes applying their trade, the road up was very seedy and frightening for some of our students and in the car park for the center we encountered a rocking car with what can only be described as the act of oral sex with a prostitute on her bended knees applying her trade to two men at the same time. Embarrassment was one term I could use in front of some almost 50 students, but to be hurled abuse with such foul language thrown in was to top it all.
After some few moments of fear, we quickly entered the Sheffield Ski Center and I told the students to go view the activities whilst I sort out the formalities etc. Oh My God, as if things were not bad enough, it was to get a whole lot worse. No record of our Booking, No record of any Purchase, No record of and correspondence and a complete denial of and instruction course of any kind.
The Manager was abusive, he denied all knowledge and any admission of any money paid was simply denied in full. We argued for some 2 hours whilst the students got bored and toward the end quite frustrated, the denials went on and the threats from the Manager got stronger. Rumors that I had pocketed the money were soon quashed, but the truth was it could on the face of it appear that I had stole the money. The Manager eventually said if we did not leave the area, he would call the Police and have us removed.
We spent the night in Sheffield and went to try and meet with the owner in the morning. He had been for warned and waiting to support his staff in the argument. Today some 12 months onward, we have been met with papers suggesting the owners were Bankrupt, the new owners deny all knowledge and no compensation whatsoever.
I would offer one thing to anyone wishing to hear my story. Don't Trust there honest approach and don't pay attention to that "Bxxxx" of a Manageress as she is a compulsive liar. If you have small children don't go anywhere near the place as it's the Red Light Area for Sheffield and one of the largest in the whole country. They paint a very attractive picture, but the truth is a different story altogether. Its a very dangerous place to visit. Our case goes on but with little sympathy or hope of recompense.
The Attitude of the Staff is "You Were Conned & Should Beware in the Future". Not Our Problem and as such Don't want to know.
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