What is NACO?
The National Association of Caravan Owners has been in existence since 1996. The idea - perfectly simple and understandable – is that people who buy static holiday caravans make up a unique consumer sector because they lack the usual ability of consumers to “vote with their feet”
The static holiday caravan industry is tripartite, made up of manufacturers, park operators and customers. The manufacturers have representation via the National Caravan Council and the park operators have the British Holiday & Home Parks Association. It seems reasonable that the most vulnerable component of the industry – the customers – should have recourse to a representative body to assist in times of difficulty.
As a society, we have become used to consumer power. If for example, we have a substandard meal at a restaurant, we feel completely justified in telling the proprietor in the knowledge that he will probably try to make amends to avoid losing future custom.
This degree of consumer power is not always available in the static holiday caravan arena. When buying into the agreement to station a caravan at a particular park, the caravanner is preparing to stay for 10, 15 years – maybe more. However, they will also be spending that time with the person who sold them the caravan – the park operator. If this relationship breaks down the new caravan owners are left to fend for themselves.
Well not any longer! NACO is a friendly consumer organisation totally dedicated to owners of static holiday caravans. We aim to promote fairness in contract terms and the treatment of customers.
Initially, uptake was slow with a few committed caravanners recognising the need for representation. It is difficult to introduce a new concept to any industry, particularly a concept that can be viewed by existing players as running counter to their interests. But perseverance has paid off and the power of word-of-mouth advertising has driven NACO to a position where the initial doubts about our motivation have been dispelled.
If necessary, we will assist members with valid complaints to achieve a settlement via legal channels. Ultimately we are seeking to bring about a marketplace in which the transactions that take place between park operators and static holiday caravan owners are fully transparent.
Considering the scale of the outlay involved in purchasing a static holiday caravan, the annual £24 NACO membership fee seems a small price to pay for access to the kind of caravan industry experience described above.
