Missold Static Caravan

Pollycat

Jenni_D said:

There's a difference between caravan and static caravan. The latter is more akin to a small house that people use as their near-permanent home (subject to site rules), whereas the former is (technically, if not done so in reality) mobile and is used for occasional/regular holidays. Myself and parents/siblings also used to regularly holiday at a caravan (owned between my parents and aunt/uncle) on a site with minimal facilities* and we all really enjoyed those breaks. But we never considered it a static caravan.

* there was a toilet block with running water, but cold only - standing in a low-down Belfast-type sink getting washed in cold water was fun. 👀 Drinking water had to be collected from a standpipe and stored in a big plastic barrel.  

Of course there's a difference.
If it stays in-situ permanently, it's a static caravan.

There were no facilities on Mum & Dad's site because all the caravans had their own toilet and shower so no need for a toilet block.
Small site = less than 50 caravans.
Only allowed to let out to family members.
Quite strict noise rules which appealed to elderly people.

Undervalued

Pollycat said:

Tucosalamanca said:

I'm early fifties, this was happening on caravan parks 30 years ago (probably longer but that's before my time).

It's not a new thing.
Buy a static van, think you're special because vanity is a powerful emotion and the sales people are very good at pushing the right buttons.
Reluctantly stump up increasing fees until you've had enough or the park tell you that it's time to upgrade your van (as yours is too old for the park).
Park offers you a pittance or even charges an astronomical sum to have the van removed.
Not forgetting all the other 'charges'.

I can't understand how so many people are still falling for this?
It's not a dig at OP, I still see family and friends falling for it, when they absolutely should/do know better.

Television, radio, newspapers, social media. Horror stories are everywhere and yet people still go for it.....

david29dpo said:

This "scam" as been going on for years.
As this is a money saving site, i am amazed the amount of people who fall for it.
A friend of mine bought a lodge for 125K with a site fee of 5k a year.
Five years later, sold for 24k to the site, 7k yearly fees
The site sold the same lodge for 75k a week later.

Sorry but your screwed. 

Not everyone who buys a static caravan 'falls for it'. 

My parents had various caravans on various sites for over 50 years.
As children, we had lots of happy holidays.

My sister - who couldn't afford a 'proper' holiday - managed to give her kids happy holidays for years.

After my parents retired, they spent months at a time at their caravan.
They were happy there (on a small site with no club, no pool, no shower block) with like-minded people who also appreciated the quiet life.

They never claimed they were 'mis-sold' a caravan - because they went into it with their eyes open.

Indeed. Some family friends (an elderly couple) had a very nice static caravan on a quiet site. They were certainly no fools where money was concerned and were very happy with the overall cost for their ten or more years of ownership.

I think you need to compare the costs with renting holiday cottages and not with buying a bricks and mortar.

I agree it needs care and a full understanding of the contracts but plenty of people are happy with their arrangements.

eskbanker

david29dpo said:

As this is a money saving site, i am amazed the amount of people who fall for it.

You do realise that most people considering themselves to have been scammed or to have dealt with shady companies, etc, only visit this site after the event, when trying to clear up the mess, rather than researching here in advance?

Skiddaw1

It's like Park Homes and retirement complex appartments- it works for some people but not for others. As has been so wisely said, you really do need to do your homework. No help to the OP I realise.