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Monday, March 31, 2014

Frustration--I Need to Vent

Riverton, Utah High 48 Low 36

Saturday morning we found a quilters estate sale. The only thing wrong, was that we could only find one piece of fabric that Cindy liked. There were lot of sewing machine needles, and we bought 30 of them for 20 cents apiece, which I didn't think was too bad.

In the afternoon, we had a family party, and had a lot of Cindy's family over, including her mother. There was lots of noise and confusion with all the kids. But everyone seemed to have a good time and no one left hungry.

Now for my aggravation. We belong to Camperworld, and use them as our home RV Resort to belong to Coast to Coast. Early in 2012 they offered us an opportunity to pay a flat fee, and not have to pay dues of any sort again. I had already had dues paid until 2017, and even though it was a lot of money, it sounded like a good thing to pay the extra so we would never have any campground fees again with our membership.

Now comes the problem. Last week we got a notice of special assessment, asking everyone to pay $880. The timing couldn't be worse, right at income tax time, and what happened to our contract to never have to pay dues again? They started out saying pay the $880.00, or agree to pay $500.00 now and $500.00 every year, and sign away the deals we made with the old Board.

The new Board of Director put out notice that there would be an online meeting about the assessment and the reasons for it. He started out telling us that the old board didn't have every ones best interest in mind, when they made the special deals. He claimed they took the money generated and ran, leaving the Resorts 4.5 million in debt, and that was the reason for the assessment.

He said the meeting would last up to two hours, and for everyone to wait their turn to post a question. In his speech he stated that he had talked to a lawyer, and the lawyer was sure that if we all filed a class action lawsuit, we could win, but it would take many years, and the lawyers would not do it on contingency, but would want their money upfront. Ultimately the lawyers would be the only winners.

 From what I could see, some of the questions were good ones, but he didn't really answer them. Some of the people started asking questions faster than he liked, so he kicked the people off. He talked for 30 minutes after saying he would be 10 minutes. Then all at once, he terminated the meeting, and posted that all other meetings were cancelled, and that the Assessment would be $880.00.

What about the contract I and others have? The meeting started out with a max of 100 people with some getting disgusted and others coming on. He didn't seem to like talking to irate people. Did we give them the money because we are good guys and they needed the money? I am probably going to go to the State Consumer Protection Agency and see what they can do about it. The best part is it doesn't cost anything for the State to investigate the problem.

My other concern is what happens to my Coast to Coast membership if for some reason we are left without a home campground? I have used it a lot, and like using it while in Arizona.

I'm through venting, and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks for visiting.

8 comments:

  1. Wow, how frustrating is that. And I have absolutely no words of advice for you. Maybe post the issue on the Escapees' forum? I really don't know.

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  2. Sounds like you have a plan. I, too, would be very upset. Sounds like a third independent party needs to take a look at the books. Good luck!

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  3. Terrible mismanagement. The people who signed up for the flat fee should not be the victims. Sounds like an issue for the Consumer Protection Agency or State Attorney General. So sad to hear about things like this. You have every right to be angry.

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  4. I think this is a matter for the state Attorney General. Good luck.

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  5. Thats really too bad to hear. We have been coast deluxe members for 15 years are fulltime and just pay our yearly three hundred dollar fee to our home park in Ontario Canada.If you loose that home park you have one year to get another.
    Certainly something fishy going on there, good luck.

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    1. If it had been only $300 per year, that would have been OK. But they offered the chance to pay, what at the time, was a rather large amount to never have dues again.

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  6. All of the class action suits I have ever joined (with a former employer) cost me absolutely nothing as the lawyer fees are taken out of the award. Sounds like a company I would not what to do business with. Good luck getting this straightened out.

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  7. I too am a member of Camperworld and just recently received a letter telling me if I don't pay the $880 dollar special assessment they will cancel my membership and the $6,000 dollars I paid for membership will be forfeited. I told them when the assessment first came out, I will not pay it and if they try to cancel my membership I will lawyer up. I have now contacted an attorney and will see what my options are. They have sent out all kinds of notices why they need the extra funds. Mismanagement, plain and simply, not cost going up... Why should the members be liable for that?

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