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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not expect to pay excessive amount as we're family.

601 replies

Boop1e · 11/04/2023 14:15

In laws brought themselves a caravan on a haven site a year ago. Decided to spend some pension money on it.
the site fees have renewed and have gone up just like everything else in life.
They don't rent it out and we only use it as family.
Anyway father in law has just charged his own son £75 for 3 nights to use it. He owed me money for ordering him a new tablet and doing him a favour so took the money out of that which I couldn't afford to lose.

Before the season started he mentioned charging £25 a day but nothing else happened and no mention of it again before we went.

He's also charged brother in law £150 to use but they paid upfront.

Am i being unreasonable to feel this is a lot to charge your own children and £10 or so a day would be sufficient. I'm not convinced I spend £25 a day heating and lighting my 3 bed home. They get their passes included with the caravan for 10 people.

Husband won't challenge it because it won't make any difference.

OP posts:
MorrisZapp · 11/04/2023 14:19

We pay per night in my dad's caravan, what kind of person wouldn't pay? 25 quid a night is extremely good value. They pay site fees, bills,maintenance, wear and tear etc. If you don't like it then you could try finding somewhere cheaper to stay?

OneSmallStepUp · 11/04/2023 14:20

If you can't afford to stay there, then don't. They don't owe you access to their holiday home.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 11/04/2023 14:21

It’s really up to the in-laws what they charge, and to whom, and then it’s up to you whether you use it or not. Still seems like a cheap holiday.

As to deducting the £75 from money he owed you, he should have discussed it all first, before you used the caravan, so you could make a decision then. So I would just refuse to order him anything in future unless you were sure you would get paid.

nothingcomestonothing · 11/04/2023 14:21

Have a look how much Haven would have charged, then realise you got a good deal!

itsgettingweird · 11/04/2023 14:23

Of course it's ok to charge.

£25 a night is really cheap.

£175 for a weeks holiday inclusive of passes for entertainment.

Do they want to adopt me?

TrombonesAreNotBones · 11/04/2023 14:23

Pay or don't use it.
Also, no more lending anyone money or buying items for people you can't afford to not get back. Fair's fair n all that, cuts both ways.

Marchforward · 11/04/2023 14:23

That is absolutely nothing compared to the cost of renting a caravan. If you want to pay then don’t stay there in future.

tescocreditcard · 11/04/2023 14:24

Well he did tell you he was going to charge you £25 a day. I'm assuming he paid for the tablet (less £75) when you came back and didn't show any signs of paying for the caravan!

Or did he deduct the £75 first? In which case - you knew it was costing you £75 and that would have been the time to say you didn't want to pay.

IamKlaus · 11/04/2023 14:25

BOUGHT.

Seems pretty shitty to me, but families are weird. Apparently it's ok to profit off your own children for a crappy caravan that you'd be paying for either way.

KnickerlessParsons · 11/04/2023 14:25

Am i being unreasonable to feel this is a lot to charge your own children and £10 or so a day would be sufficient. I'm not convinced I spend £25 a day heating and lighting my 3 bed home

Well stay at home then, if that's how you feel. Any other holiday would cost you a lot more than the contribution you're being asked for by your in-laws, and there are lots of overhead costs involved in having a caravan on a Haven site.

hookiewookie29 · 11/04/2023 14:25

I wouldn't complain at that- I've got a touring caravan and pitches are nearly double that at some sites.
So if you went for two weeks, you'd pay £350. Go and price up some statics on other sites and you'll see what a bargain you're getting. My friend had a static- the ground rent alone was over £5k a year.

Overthebow · 11/04/2023 14:26

That's pretty cheap and lovely of them to let you all use it. I would have offered money previously if it were me using it.

UsernamePain · 11/04/2023 14:26

My parents own a caravan. We pay 25 per night plus take them out for a meal every time we use it. It’s the least we can do to be honest. We wouldn’t be able to afford a holiday at the moment if we couldn’t use their caravan.

FlounderingFruitcake · 11/04/2023 14:26

So he mentioned that he was going to charge £25 per day, and now you’re surprised that he did as he said… If you couldn’t afford that then why didn’t you say so? If you were confused for some reason then why didn’t you clarify before you went? I’m not sure how or why he could be unreasonable because it sounds like he’s been pretty clear. If you didn’t feel the amount was fair or affordable then you didn’t have to go.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 11/04/2023 14:27

He told you in advance that they planned to charge £25 per night. Surely you should have queried it before going if you didn't want to pay that amount. It seems perfectly reasonable to me, but don't go again if you don't feel that it was worth it.

userxx · 11/04/2023 14:27

I think you're being a bit grabby. My friend rents her caravan out at £600 per week, he's clearly giving you a discounted rate so maybe try and be a bit more grateful.

Coffeellama · 11/04/2023 14:27

YABU and incredibly entitled. Hes charging a really reasonable rate as it is.

mackthepony · 11/04/2023 14:27

It does seem cheap

I'd bite his hand off

I'll have a fortnight 🤣🤣😄

SheilaFentiman · 11/04/2023 14:28

£25 per night is cheap.

IamKlaus · 11/04/2023 14:29

userxx · 11/04/2023 14:27

I think you're being a bit grabby. My friend rents her caravan out at £600 per week, he's clearly giving you a discounted rate so maybe try and be a bit more grateful.

But that's not the calculation. They aren't renting it at all, so its not say 300 discounted from 600. It's say 300 added on from ZERO. Nothing, is what they would get if the children didn't use it. So, its all profit.

maddy68 · 11/04/2023 14:29

They are paying the site fees electric etc so 25 a night is fuck all

SheilaFentiman · 11/04/2023 14:30

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 11/04/2023 14:27

He told you in advance that they planned to charge £25 per night. Surely you should have queried it before going if you didn't want to pay that amount. It seems perfectly reasonable to me, but don't go again if you don't feel that it was worth it.

This. He said that was the cost, you heard him say it and you went. reasonable for him to assume you had accepted it!

Honeyroar · 11/04/2023 14:30

I wouldn’t charge my family unless I thought they’d not clean it and I’d have to pay someone. Perhaps he’s trying to put you off?

bigbluebus · 11/04/2023 14:31

I'd say you're getting a good deal. Presumably they have to cover the cost of utilities as well as wear and tear from other people using it.

Shitzngiggles · 11/04/2023 14:31

Looks like I'm in a real minority here. We have a static caravan. We don't rent it out. We let a few very select close friends and family use it. Wouldn't dream of charging them.