CL Owners being let down by the club?
As a CL owner I feel that the club is neglecting the CL network, This year we have been advised that we must purchase our own booking diaries which have always previously been provided by the club and now we have been told that the club no longer offers a Public Liability insurance scheme for the sites. They have pointed us in the direction of a broker which is around 30% more expensive
The club has its own insurance division and it seems ridiculous that we now have to go to 3rd party suppliers for the insurance and then (I assume) we will have to provide copy insurance documents to the club which will just increase admin for everyone! As a club they should have so much more bargaining power with the insurers!
I know that each CL is technically a separately owned business but it provides a huge membership benefit to the club and I have no doubt that many people join a purely for access to the CL network.
I realize that we are not talking about large amounts of money but all of this is just adding to the operating costs which will be passed on!
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The insurance issue has been raised before, Stuh, and there’s an explanation on here somewhere. As I remember it, the decision was not of the club's doing but was due to the underwriter withdrawing provision. That may not be exactly the story but if you contact the club, they'll explain all.
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Or contact Ted at Cholsey Grange CL who I think raised the issue in the first instance. He, I'm sure, had a response/explanation from HO.
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To be honest with you Stuh01 if some other organisation took over the CL network, like the NFU for example, I would seriously consider leaving the CAMC.
As an insurance broker, now retired, I arranged schemes for similar type of cover for disparate groups who had a common theme. It's not difficult to do and I really cannot believe the club couldn't have found an alternative supplier if they really tried. If there's a profit to be made then there will be an insurer willing to make it.
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I totally agree, I work within the insurance industry and with 2,000+ sites they have the clout to get the policy underwritten at better terms than an individual broker on a site by site basis.
Same with the booking diaries - they are a tiny cost in comparison to membership revenue that the CL network brings in , it just seems like they don't value they CL network despite the fact that it provides a large amount of the club membership.....
Don't think I will be renewing my membership
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The CL network is my primary motivator and even then I'm thinking long and hard about renewal.
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Errr, isn’t it a condition of being exempted under the CAMC banner that you remain a member? 🤔
Btw, as you work in the insurance industry, are you in a position to organise something to benefit yourself and your fellow CL owners?
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Yes, check out the list of organisations holding the right to issue exemption certificates. It’s quite considerable.
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Who says he works at the selling end or outwith of a company TW? Might be a claims handler or auditor or....whatever.
Somebody who has put quite a lot of work into organising CLs, such as the groups that have banded together for Facebook etc., would be in a better position to at least approach a trusted Insurance Broker. They would certainly need to access a vast majority of the CLs to see how many would come on board. As mentioned on the previous thread some of them would be, or are, able to integrate this into their existing arrangements, such as added on to their Farm or Fishery Insurance etc.
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I don’t think all CL owners are Members to be honest. It’s a condition for those new providers, but we know of lots of long time CL owners who never paid membership. Not sure if that still applies, and not all CLs in handbook state “Member Owned”, so who knows🤷♀️
Stuh, your Club webpage price is still dated 2018. Has it altered, or is this still correct?
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We took a break CY, rejoined September. We could have toured NE very easily without CLs to be honest. Three out of our four over last ten days were private Sites, but we do know area and what’s available very well. Even with private Sites we averaged £13.65 per night on fees. There are some areas where private Sites are either rare on the ground, or very expensive. It’s still worth it for CL access for us.
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That’s why I asked the question "...are you in a position to...", as I'm aware not every job is, shall we say, at the coal face.
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Stuh01, As a CL you have advantages - you can by pass the requirement to obtain planning permission and you get advertising through the Club website and handbook - but there are severe restrictions on your freedom of action.
The most notable restrictions are the limit on taking only five outfits, and they must be members - but without those restrictions, and if you have the space, you could have made a lot more money this summer by operating as an independent site - as other sites in Cornwall have found.
Only you can decide whether the support and help you get from the Club persuades you to continue to operate as you are, or whether you choose now to strike out on your own. You have neighbours not far away who have done that. Good wishes to you.
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The Cl network has never been a priority for the club, now its an inconvenience. They seem to put more restrictions/costs. Likewise the club will not even consider looking at updating the antiquated 5 rule to make sites more economically viable. There will be the general demise with more sites closing/moving to other organisations and getting the simple planning requirement to expand. Thats the reality.
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Have you actually heard of the club, Local Auth,or Nat Park actually take any action? bet its a no as they have not got the resources. They also see the inconsistency of CL 5 and CS 5 + 10 s something they dont want to get involved with.
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But they do monitor numbers and act, Fish.
Anyway, as an ex-member, it's very altruistic of you to take such an interest in something that can no longer be of benefit you.👍🏻
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I have been on one CL site this year where the owner presented me with a sheet that I had to sign, it being that I understood the site didn't have public liability insurance!
I too am one of those who are only a member because I use the CL network exclusively and would rather be seen dead than going onto a large club site, furthermore, as the Club's magazine is so poorly written, I opt not to have it delivered.
For me the once great Club is no longer of any other interest to me than the CL network as I believe they have failed the majority of their members and supporters, the supporters being the CL owners.
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MM, if the CL were proved to be negligent in an accident that befell you then you signing anything would not stop you making a claim & winning damages against the CL👍🏻😊
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