DFDS seaways changed sailing dates

[sirit]

DFDS have took over the Newcastle-Bergen route october 06.
We booked in December for June 07 crossing. some weeks later they decided to change the sailing schedule, now we have to sail 2 days earlier.
All sorts of arrangements and flights etc were tied in to our original sailing date so all sorts of changes, amendments etc have to be made, plus extra expense inconvenience etc.
Complaints to DFDS resulted in nothing.... even a free meal voucher would have eased our dissatisfaction a little.
Their customer relations stink!
Is this because they have the monopoly on this expensive route?
for people who must take their vehicle to Norway, there is no alternative!

Kurt Stavis at Speedferries should seriously look into setting up an alternative service... he broke the monopoly on ferry prices to France, and customer services on competitive ferry services improved too!

DFDS treat customers very badly.

[ricks]

A disastrous sequence on the DFDS Bergen/Newcastle route in June/July.
Protracted loading and complex vehicle manoevres in Newcastle made it too late on board to book dinner.
Two hours waiting for a main course to be served in steakhouse: cold and tough - so bad they didn't charge.
Out of cabin long before arrival: they haven't enough time/crew to service turnaround.
On return, cars packed in unreasonably tight.
Then, hour and a half to queue across concourse and down stairs to book dinner. Then, same again later to get into restaurant; then same queue to get at the buffet.
In the morning, a scraped new car.

Written complaint took 15 days to acknowledge, a further week to post; then no further response.
Telephone reminder yielded: 'Put it in writing!' (Again).
Refusal for telephone contact with Customer Services: then, 'No-one there to speak to you'.

Crew very pleasant and helpful: buffet was excellent, but clearly too few staff and under unreasonable stress.

Their Norway route monolopy seriously needs to be broken; given this level of customer abuse.

[charby]

That sounds annoying. I've just booked a Newcastle-Bergen trip for this summer, but not with a car or anything, and I wouldn't be too bothered if the sailing dates changed.