Monthly rates at sun community park

I think they are collecting "option" money from you. They are reserving a spot for you and charging you a fee "option" payment each month. When you use the site the option money is credited to your bill for the site. This is done all the time in real estate. You buy an option to possibly purchase a property in X months. You may pay the option once, monthly or whatever. If you buy the property, all or a portion is applied to the purchase price. If you decide not to buy, you lose your option money. They are running the risk you will not show up to complete the rental and want to encourage you to show up. If you have money to lose, you are less likely not to fulfill your reservation. Nothing illegal about protecting yourself as the campground owner.

want-a-be wrote:

1968mooney wrote:

want-a-be wrote:
Been coming here for14 years, Sun has owned it for the last 4 we do not pay any rent for the time we are not here in the summer.
They are dividing our 6 month rent into 12 equal payments, the problem is they will have x amount of our dollars that we have paid in then if for some reason we can’t come down they will not return your money!

Just pay it all at once. I bet they will not refuse it. If you do not want to go, don't. But don't pay if you are not going to go.

I think you are missing the point! They are wanting us to pay it monthly and yes I could pay it all at once, what I am saying is if they have our money and for some reason we can not come down to their park they will not return our money!

Then don't go. Find somewhere else to go. I doubt complaining on this forum will change their policy. The reason you have a RV is the option of going elsewhere.

1968mooney wrote:

want-a-be wrote:
Been coming here for14 years, Sun has owned it for the last 4 we do not pay any rent for the time we are not here in the summer.
They are dividing our 6 month rent into 12 equal payments, the problem is they will have x amount of our dollars that we have paid in then if for some reason we can’t come down they will not return your money!

Just pay it all at once. I bet they will not refuse it. If you do not want to go, don't. But don't pay if you are not going to go.

I think you are missing the point! They are wanting us to pay it monthly and yes I could pay it all at once, what I am saying is if they have our money and for some reason we can not come down to their park they will not return our money!

want-a-be wrote:
Been coming here for14 years, Sun has owned it for the last 4 we do not pay any rent for the time we are not here in the summer.
They are dividing our 6 month rent into 12 equal payments, the problem is they will have x amount of our dollars that we have paid in then if for some reason we can’t come down they will not return your money!

Just pay it all at once. I bet they will not refuse it. If you do not want to go, don't. But don't pay if you are not going to go.

Been coming here for14 years, Sun has owned it for the last 4 we do not pay any rent for the time we are not here in the summer.
They are dividing our 6 month rent into 12 equal payments, the problem is they will have x amount of our dollars that we have paid in then if for some reason we can’t come down they will not return your money!

x3 your paying rent weather your there or not,

Like Drew and Mowermech posted, I cannot see how it could not be legal. My guess is they have corporate issues with people signing up for the season, putting down a deposit, and then deciding not to go that year and then wanting their deposit back. This would cause them to have an influx of unrented sites the beginning of each season and a public relations/administrative problem with either denying refunds or having to process them. By changing to rent, they eliminate those issues. It will either work for them or not, the customer's reaction to the new program will be the ultimate arbitrator.

ON EDIT: Deposits are also a liability to the company, rents are not, so the off season rent can be spent without any concerns, while deposits must be treated much differently, especially in a large operation. (at least in theory)

When I was renting a house, I had to pay rent even for the times I was away on vacation or on a vacation trip. It sounds like maybe you're renting a space whether you happen to be occupying it or not. It sounds like a rather straightforward time-share or rental sort of arrangement to me offhand, and those are legal (and common) arrangements.

If you don't like the terms of the contract, you're free to walk away and take your business elsewhere.

Is such a plan legal?
Well, I googled Sun Community RV parks, and discovered that there are at least 300 such "resorts" around the country. An organization that size undoubtedly has law firms on retainer in many states to tell them what they can or cannot do. So, yes, it is a pretty safe bet that they have investigated all aspects of their payment plan, and it is perfectly legal.
From what little I read in my google search, it is not the kind of place where I would be likely to stay.
Good luck.