Storage charges
I have just renewed my annual storage charge which for this year has shot up to £900. I have questioned the amount with the club and the response I got was basically they use the storage revenue to pay for the short fall in the finances due to the increases raised by the new government. This is all very nice to hear when us more senior members are having to contend with high prices across the board in living costs. My question has been, why does the club keep offering cheap deals on site stays, large discounts and free extra night stays on some sites. People like myself and no doubt other members use club storage compounds because we don't have the facilities at home to store our units, but we don't get any deals from the club for storage. Myself and other members I've spoken to who use compounds are seriously considering packing up caravanning because of this ridiculous inflated charge which increases every year.
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Surely at £900 the answer is to seek another storage facility.
Colin
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I would have a look around in your area to see if there are cheaper places with comparable security. Surely that's a better alternative than giving up?
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"…why does the club keep offering cheap deals on site stays, large discounts and free extra night stays on some sites"
Because they’re not giving anything away. The offers generate more business and income so cost CAMC nothing. The increase in income will also help offset the outgoings as with your storage fees.
EM has given the best solution above.
Btw, we’re all having to contend with higher prices regardless of our age.
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I've just looked at the club storage in our area (North East) and the two quoted, both Gold rated, are exactly either side of what we pay for a Platinum rated one.
The prices appear to depend upon area but around £400 -£600 appears to be the 'average' or most common price. It certainly depends upon area with the south being more expensive. There are two around and above £1000 though.
Another factor, an important one for us, is being close to home but like all things shop around.
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they use the storage revenue to pay for the short fall in the finances due to the increases raised by the new government.
Sorry could you elaborate on this? What new increases?
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The main purpose of the Club is to provide a network of campsites that members can use. Any extra activities organised by the Club go towards keeping touring as cost effective as possible. Unfortunately everything is going up, Council Tax, energy prices etc. As a pensioner just be grateful that the Triple Lock provides a substantial increase in individual state pensions.
David
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£900 seems a lot, we are at Strathclyde Park and pay far less. I assume you are in the London area given that figure but it will be based on the costs incurred in running the facility. The site will incur business rates, staffing costs, insurance and maintenance of both the site and security, none of which come cheap these days. I doubt the club are profiteering.
If you think t is too high I would follow the advice from Cornersteady and compare other storage prices in the area and their facilities.
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The £900 is a ridiculous amount to charge so my advice is to look elsewhere.
I couldn't believe your comment to be grateful for the triple lock , that should be part of the pension …full stop and last year it was £9 and £7 a week , (dependant on age) nothing substantial about that.
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"…it was £9 and £7 a week , (dependant on age) nothing substantial about that."
It’s substantially more than the increase in some company schemes. My OH has one which increased by only £12 per year! The triple lock is part of the State Pension but all rules regarding benefits change over time, even those you think are set in stone.
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It could only be considered ridiculous if you can find an equivalent product in the same area at a substantially lower price. Our fees are close to that, but the storage is close to home and very secure. Other cheaper sites are either, not as secure or much further away.
As to the triple lock, it very nice to have but I’m not sure why it should be part of the pension. I’m sure younger folk would like a triple lock on their pay rises.
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@joanie I can only comment on my own circumstances but for both my wife and my state pensions, including an element of SERP's rose for two years running by amounts in excess of the annual figure you mentioned for storage. As TW points out a lot of occupational pension schemes increases are way off the inflation rate. It will also depend what sort of pension scheme you had, whether it opted out of the state scheme or remained within. Unfortunately you can't escape paying more tax even when state pensions are increased. I appreciate that not all state pensions are equal as it depends on the schemes operated by employers. Whilst big increases in anything we need is unwelcome I don't think whether you are a pensioner comes into it. I was always fortunate that we could store the van at home so have no experience of storage costs but surely the Club can't be that much out of line with the general run of commercial storage which seems to be inline with what @SteveL was saying? Apologies for go a bit off topic.
David
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@eribaMotters Unfortunately that is easier said than done around our area.Unless you want a reduced level of security,or a lengthy drive ,just to pick your van up.
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