Kevin has asked me why the previous owner is featured on my blog when there is a new owner of the park and why should I worry about what happens in the future.
The reason the past treachery is related is to warn prospective customers of the pitfalls of signing agreements which are unfair.When a caravan owner is faced with being robbed of large sums of money it is hard to come to terms with the fact that it is not illegal.When this robbery happens to a vulnerable pensioner on a fixed income it is impossible to ever recover from the attack financially.It is not likely to be forgotten in those circumstances.If you are younger and earning money you will be less likely to worry.How would you feel if it happened to you or your wife's parents or grandparents ?These disputes are being repeated all over the UK and there are always many in progress at any one time.Each individual victim feels isolated but there are numerous reports of victimisation but nothing changes.Parliament was persuaded that the caravan industry was responsible enough to police itself and that legislation was not needed.How wrong has that turned out ?
Perhaps you saw the TV programme a few months ago about the pensioner who was trying to sell her park home.Every time she had an offer the park owner told the buyer that it was in a bad condition.She had a surveyors report proving that it was perfect.Of course the park owner wanted to make more money by selling a new unit on the pitch.
Another fine example of a responsible park owner who could police himself !
Anyway,Kevin, please do not worry as long as you are OK thats all that matters.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Social
Thanks to Kevin for his latest comment and news. I was interested to see the event going on and the large gazebo arrangement.I had to give a wry smile because one of the restrictions imposed by the imfamous Charles family during the early part of their park "management" was to ban the use of "temporary structures". They also banned social gatherings on the park.It just reinforces the view that everyone who submits to signing the agreement is totally at the mercy of the park owner and it could go very badly indeed.We were not only restricted in what we were allowed to do but also in who we spoke to,as dictated by B,but also in what we should think according to a letter informing all that the son of Charles would be using caravan No 18.
I am pleased that you are having a pleasant time but do not be surprised if things change. I have knowledge of people buying caravans and a few weeks later finding that the park has changed hands and the new owners, deciding that they will be having only park homes in future,issue eviction notices. This resulted in a "lynch mob" turning up at Binton Bridges one day because they had been tipped off that the guilty park seller was on site.He was but he hid inside a caravan and refused to come out until they left. Why don't you ask B about it.She was there at the time.
If the current owner decided to leave he would sell to the highest bidder without considering your interests. Where would that leave you ?
I am pleased that you are having a pleasant time but do not be surprised if things change. I have knowledge of people buying caravans and a few weeks later finding that the park has changed hands and the new owners, deciding that they will be having only park homes in future,issue eviction notices. This resulted in a "lynch mob" turning up at Binton Bridges one day because they had been tipped off that the guilty park seller was on site.He was but he hid inside a caravan and refused to come out until they left. Why don't you ask B about it.She was there at the time.
If the current owner decided to leave he would sell to the highest bidder without considering your interests. Where would that leave you ?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Real Truth
This entry is in response to comments recently received for which I am grateful.Firstly I must withdraw the comment I published about the simulation I mentioned.Following the comment made by Martin I have looked again at the illustration and have to admit that I did not spot the empty pitch in the foreground.This was a genuine error on my part for which I apologise.I am trying to ensure that only truth is broadcast on this blog and this was an isolated case.
The other point raised by Martin was that the agreement now in force is pretty standard throughout the industry.I am pleased that the 37 clause version previously used has been dropped but the fact remains that customers have to sign away so many rights to become a customer.Can you think of any other circumstance where you would agree to someone having claim to 15% of the value of something you own ? Again would you invest so much money in an item if you thought it could be taken away by someone else on a whim with no need for any justification ? Do you realise the trauma that could be inflicted on you for no good reason or any reason at all ? In a nutshell, I have experienced how badly the agreement is weighted against you.If you do not want to take my advice you could ask your local MP,a local councillor,Citizens Advice,a solicitor,the National Association of Caravan Owners or even the park owners industry association, the BHHPA.I have consulted all of them and they all give the same answer.Basically you have a tin box on someone else's land and if they want to change that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Alan also commented that this website is without foundation but did not specify any particular aspect.I can only re iterate that I have tried to publish the truth unpleasant as it may seem.I acknowledge his statement that new owners are doing well and I am pleased if they are correcting the previous owners mistakes and only wish they had been around when I was on the site.As to me living in the past I agree but there are some things that need to be brought to wider attention to try and prevent them occuring again.I know the scale is without comparison but some people think that the Nazi's actions should be forgotten.
Finally, Kevin,tells us that he has recently bought a caravan on this park.Having read this web site he has at least made the decision with full awareness of the pit falls and I can respect that.As long as he knows that the lovely new owners have the power to evict him if he says or does anything to upset them.As for his opinion of the previous owners I would say that by the time he met them they had probably already agreed the sale of the park after they approached the new owners at Christmas 2007.As for them being normal and pleasant I should say that his opinion is probably unique.If you wish to have some evidence of this please ask any of the caravan owners still left from that time.Certainly the ones that gave up would not agree with him.I have letters from him which you could read.He evicted me without ever meeting me or speaking on the phone.He resisted efforts by NACO,BHHPA,my solicitor to obtain a valid reason for eviction.He cost me money for solicitors and I lost out to the tune of £20,000 when the insurance paid out after the flood.Other people who would not agree are the local Millenium Committee Chairman,the local boatyard owner,the legal dept of Warks District Council and anyone else that met him and his wife and son.
I apologise for the length of this blog and hope you are persevering with my "rant" but I could not finish without correcting you about the busybody,who in future I will refer to as B.You have not known her for long and in common with everyone else,including me,have fallen for it hook line and sinker.I have known her for 8 years and was her neighbour on the park for 6 of those.Yes I am carrying a grudge because her meddling was the main reason for the loss of my caravan.Is she kind ?
When a husband left his wife B was round there the next morning.Did she want to console or offer a shoulder to cry on ? No she was there to ask for first refusal on the caravan which was newer,bigger,more luxurious and on the best pitch.
Thoughtful ? Yes she is always out there being nice to people until they confide in her and give her some personal information which she can then use against them in a whispering campaign.
Integrity ? She had the gas supply concession for many years and consistently earned a lot of money extracting large profits from her captive audience whilst telling everyone that she was doing it on a voluntary basis for their benefit.When confronted she said any profits were taken up by the cost of telephone calls.She was operating on a 50% mark up.
Honest ? For many years she and her partner have worked "voluntarily" on behalf of the park owners and accepted cash in hand payments.I bet none of this appeared on any tax returns.
Ref the floatation fitted to all the caravans we will see if this works during the next flood.At this time last year 2 caravans had floatation fitted and 50% of them survived.
The other point raised by Martin was that the agreement now in force is pretty standard throughout the industry.I am pleased that the 37 clause version previously used has been dropped but the fact remains that customers have to sign away so many rights to become a customer.Can you think of any other circumstance where you would agree to someone having claim to 15% of the value of something you own ? Again would you invest so much money in an item if you thought it could be taken away by someone else on a whim with no need for any justification ? Do you realise the trauma that could be inflicted on you for no good reason or any reason at all ? In a nutshell, I have experienced how badly the agreement is weighted against you.If you do not want to take my advice you could ask your local MP,a local councillor,Citizens Advice,a solicitor,the National Association of Caravan Owners or even the park owners industry association, the BHHPA.I have consulted all of them and they all give the same answer.Basically you have a tin box on someone else's land and if they want to change that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Alan also commented that this website is without foundation but did not specify any particular aspect.I can only re iterate that I have tried to publish the truth unpleasant as it may seem.I acknowledge his statement that new owners are doing well and I am pleased if they are correcting the previous owners mistakes and only wish they had been around when I was on the site.As to me living in the past I agree but there are some things that need to be brought to wider attention to try and prevent them occuring again.I know the scale is without comparison but some people think that the Nazi's actions should be forgotten.
Finally, Kevin,tells us that he has recently bought a caravan on this park.Having read this web site he has at least made the decision with full awareness of the pit falls and I can respect that.As long as he knows that the lovely new owners have the power to evict him if he says or does anything to upset them.As for his opinion of the previous owners I would say that by the time he met them they had probably already agreed the sale of the park after they approached the new owners at Christmas 2007.As for them being normal and pleasant I should say that his opinion is probably unique.If you wish to have some evidence of this please ask any of the caravan owners still left from that time.Certainly the ones that gave up would not agree with him.I have letters from him which you could read.He evicted me without ever meeting me or speaking on the phone.He resisted efforts by NACO,BHHPA,my solicitor to obtain a valid reason for eviction.He cost me money for solicitors and I lost out to the tune of £20,000 when the insurance paid out after the flood.Other people who would not agree are the local Millenium Committee Chairman,the local boatyard owner,the legal dept of Warks District Council and anyone else that met him and his wife and son.
I apologise for the length of this blog and hope you are persevering with my "rant" but I could not finish without correcting you about the busybody,who in future I will refer to as B.You have not known her for long and in common with everyone else,including me,have fallen for it hook line and sinker.I have known her for 8 years and was her neighbour on the park for 6 of those.Yes I am carrying a grudge because her meddling was the main reason for the loss of my caravan.Is she kind ?
When a husband left his wife B was round there the next morning.Did she want to console or offer a shoulder to cry on ? No she was there to ask for first refusal on the caravan which was newer,bigger,more luxurious and on the best pitch.
Thoughtful ? Yes she is always out there being nice to people until they confide in her and give her some personal information which she can then use against them in a whispering campaign.
Integrity ? She had the gas supply concession for many years and consistently earned a lot of money extracting large profits from her captive audience whilst telling everyone that she was doing it on a voluntary basis for their benefit.When confronted she said any profits were taken up by the cost of telephone calls.She was operating on a 50% mark up.
Honest ? For many years she and her partner have worked "voluntarily" on behalf of the park owners and accepted cash in hand payments.I bet none of this appeared on any tax returns.
Ref the floatation fitted to all the caravans we will see if this works during the next flood.At this time last year 2 caravans had floatation fitted and 50% of them survived.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Have You Made a Will ?
Returning to one of the points mentioned in my last blog,specifically the problem of bequeathing a static caravan in your will,an interesting thought has occured to me.The camp busybody has been sharing her life for at least 10 years with her common law husband.The caravan, and the house, are both in her name.Her partner was persuaded long ago to sell his property and the proceeds have been used to fund their joint lifestyle.She has told several neighbours at the park that if she dies first the house and caravan will pass to her only son.She has gratiously specified in her will that her partner has 4 weeks to vacate both.Heaven only knows what will happen to him but she obviously is not concerned about that.
The ironic thing is that she cannot determine the ownership of the caravan because the park owner will not miss the opportunity for a pay day.He will no doubt insist on the caravan being sold so he can take 15% of whatever value he selects.He also can veto the buyer without giving a reason.Depending on the age of the unit he may just insist on its removal and he would be within his rights to charge for desiting the van.Whatever the park owner decides he is completely within his rights to carry out.The unit owner's estate, or her partner, or heir will have no rights at all.
Whichever way it turns out her partner is destined to be left out in the cold,unless of course he manages to leave before she does.
The ironic thing is that she cannot determine the ownership of the caravan because the park owner will not miss the opportunity for a pay day.He will no doubt insist on the caravan being sold so he can take 15% of whatever value he selects.He also can veto the buyer without giving a reason.Depending on the age of the unit he may just insist on its removal and he would be within his rights to charge for desiting the van.Whatever the park owner decides he is completely within his rights to carry out.The unit owner's estate, or her partner, or heir will have no rights at all.
Whichever way it turns out her partner is destined to be left out in the cold,unless of course he manages to leave before she does.
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