For many years we have paid for our electricity by the night as it has been either built in to the pitch fee or charged as an optional extra at a nominal fee per night.
The usual charge has been around £2 per night which in the winter is probably just enough to cover the actual consumption as we all like our heating on full blast and the microwave gets a regular dose of those hot meals to cook. But during the summer months, I would say that the park owners make a reasonable profit on the electricity charge as we are more inclined to eat out or eat cold foods such as salads. Even if we do have a steak it is usually cooked on the barbie at our cost.
So why now are we seeing the introduction of coin operated meters?
Is going to be another stealth tax on caravaners?
I seem to recall that it was deemed illegal to sub-sell utility's such as piped gas, water or electricity.
Now while I would suggest that the majority of reputable parks would ensure that their electricity is sold to their customers at a rate comparable with household meter rates, there is an oportunity there for some to charge way over the odds and we the consumer would not notice. For example my sister-in-law puts £40 a week into her meter as her home is all electric and has out of date night storage heaters.
I don't mind paying 50p for a shower as I understand that a substancial amount of utility fuel is consumed heating the water rapidly for that purpose. Again a few quid for the use of laundry facilities is ok as they are mostly charged at a simlar rate to the local laundrette.
But if I was feeding a meter on the caravan site to the tune of £40 a week I would be well miffed.
So, has anyone else experienced this senario already? Or have you had this proposal announced to you at your site?
finally, is it actually a legally acceptable practice?
I'm sure we can vote withour tow bars and take our business elsewhere thus leaving the sites with meters empty but what if this business of metering developes throughout the network.
I for one think that given the difficult times ahead not only for the tourist industry but also for us the public, that putting more strain on our wallets is not conducive to profitable business or customer relations.
Just think how we all moan about car park charges.
Steve L.
The usual charge has been around £2 per night which in the winter is probably just enough to cover the actual consumption as we all like our heating on full blast and the microwave gets a regular dose of those hot meals to cook. But during the summer months, I would say that the park owners make a reasonable profit on the electricity charge as we are more inclined to eat out or eat cold foods such as salads. Even if we do have a steak it is usually cooked on the barbie at our cost.
So why now are we seeing the introduction of coin operated meters?
Is going to be another stealth tax on caravaners?
I seem to recall that it was deemed illegal to sub-sell utility's such as piped gas, water or electricity.
Now while I would suggest that the majority of reputable parks would ensure that their electricity is sold to their customers at a rate comparable with household meter rates, there is an oportunity there for some to charge way over the odds and we the consumer would not notice. For example my sister-in-law puts £40 a week into her meter as her home is all electric and has out of date night storage heaters.
I don't mind paying 50p for a shower as I understand that a substancial amount of utility fuel is consumed heating the water rapidly for that purpose. Again a few quid for the use of laundry facilities is ok as they are mostly charged at a simlar rate to the local laundrette.
But if I was feeding a meter on the caravan site to the tune of £40 a week I would be well miffed.
So, has anyone else experienced this senario already? Or have you had this proposal announced to you at your site?
finally, is it actually a legally acceptable practice?
I'm sure we can vote withour tow bars and take our business elsewhere thus leaving the sites with meters empty but what if this business of metering developes throughout the network.
I for one think that given the difficult times ahead not only for the tourist industry but also for us the public, that putting more strain on our wallets is not conducive to profitable business or customer relations.
Just think how we all moan about car park charges.
Steve L.
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