Big Purchase - Static Caravan - Help!

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

mrrodge wrote: »

That's how it is on our site - we already have a van on there and have been on the site for over 15 years... It's very much in demand and due to that it's what you have to do; no compromise. They're absolute crooks, but you have to go along with it.

Why is it in such demand if they are such crooks? If they are overcharging and swindling people then there are better deals available elsewhere, no? Go and get one of them.

Of course if there aren't better deals available elsewhere and everyone is falling over themselves to pay for the service they provide, then they can't be crooks.

mrrodge

takman wrote: »

Is buying this Caravan really a good idea?. If you have stretched your finances so far that you can't find another £600 that is just asking for trouble if you have any unplanned expenses.

Personally if I had agreed a price for a particular specification I would never agree to pay more and would say I want it for the original price or a full refund of the deposit. But this may be difficult if they are as rude as you say they are and didn't give you a quote that stated the details and the price.

You could always get a nice touring caravan instead and have the freedom to go to different sites and locations instead of the one you have been going to for the last 15 years!.

I know, the same thing is in the back of my mind as well. It's complicated; there are parts of the site that are sort of no-go areas and we're in a nice bit, where it's often several years before pitches become available. We knew we'd be renewing our van soon (it's not big enough for kids), but the pitch next door became available, so we've had to jump start the finances.

My partner has been resident on the site since she was tiny through parents/grandparents and a lot of family are there, so it's more a second home than a weekend retreat, hence the pressure.

I'm loathed to pay the difference, but part of me thinks that rather than arguing about it we should lose a couple of extras and just pay it. But then I worry they're going to do it again before the payment is due in February.

Our finances are stretched, but we have savings/a contingency pot that doesn't get touched, to cover emergencies. When we say we can't afford something, what we mean is we can't afford something without touching the contingency money.

Fosterdog

It really is a tough one, they do sound like a complete cowboy organisation, it sounds like they did give you an actual quote which would give you more rights to hold them to their word but because it was just written on a scrap of paper there is no way to prove that it was a quote and what it was for.

Technically if you pulled out you'd be entitled to your deposit back but I'd bet you have a lot of trouble trying to actually get it.

Most caravan site are known for taking the p*ss when it comes to things like this, they have so many catches and clauses all working in their favour that it can be a nightmare to deal with.

mrrodge

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Why is it in such demand if they are such crooks? If they are overcharging and swindling people then there are better deals available elsewhere, no? Go and get one of them.

Of course if there aren't better deals available elsewhere and everyone is falling over themselves to pay for the service they provide, then they can't be crooks.

It's purely down to location. The site is situated in a better spot than any other for miles. The trade off is the underhand tactics, inflated prices and tightly packed pitches with smaller caravans.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

mrrodge wrote: »

It's purely down to location. The site is situated in a better spot than any other for miles. The trade off is the underhand tactics, inflated prices and tightly packed pitches with smaller caravans.

So you are paying that price, financial and other, for the location. And it must be a fair price, or people would go elsewhere. If it's as popular as you say, they are probably charging less than the market would stand.

mrrodge

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

So you are paying that price, financial and other, for the location. And it must be a fair price, or people would go elsewhere. If it's as popular as you say, they are probably charging less than the market would stand.

Yup, probably. But shhh; the situation's bad enough and it doesn't help us now!