Some potential campground members are promised, at the time of sale, that they will never have to pay another ‘Initiation  Fee’ if they will advance an additional few thousand dollars.  This is sometimes referred to as a ‘Lifetime Membership’.

No one is told that, as a member, they will be expected  to pay annual fees “until they die” or convince someone            else to do the same.

This is not a trivial oversight by the seller.

This is important information that is critical to the decision to purchase the membership and MUST be disclosed                before the purchase.

Salesmen and the people who employ them, who engage in this practice could be guilty of fraud.

Efforts of sellers to coerce members to pay money                every year “until they die” might be found guilty                of fraud and/or extortion. If they engage in interstate commerce                or use the telephone or

US mail to carry out their threats may                be guilty of a Federal crime and might face jail terms.

We are told that some courts have ruled that such                an alleged commitment would be against public policy and not                permitted. Victim of this scheme should fight back. We have posted                some tips on this web site.                             

So You Want to Cancel Your ‘Lifetime Campground                Membership’

Note that the “initiation Fee”, the initial                cost of the membership, is usually refundable for the first few                days. Most states require that the purchaser have a prescribed                number of days to change their mind about a major purchase. This                is normally between 3-5 days. After that time, the initiation                fee must be paid in full even if the purchaser changes their                mind. This is usually because the seller, by this time, has “hypothecated” the                membership (sold it, at a discount, to a third party for collection).                             

If Your Annual Dues/maintenance Fees             are Paid and Current:

Remember, if it isn’t in writing - it didn’t                happen.

Send a letter (KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR                    RECODS), return receipt                required, to the address that sends you bills. This letter should                identify you and your membership number, etc., stating that they                cancel your membership, the effective date and that you will                not use their facilities or pay any future fees to the company.

If Your Annual Fees are Delinquent:

NO campground membership contracts we have reviewed                stated that you must pay annual fees “until you die or                sell the membership to someone who will”. All of these                contracts, however, state that the campground can deny you access                to their facilities or services if the annual fees are not current.                This, in our opinion, limits their options to collect unpaid                annual fees.

Be Fair to the Campground:

Sometimes dues payments are simply late. Your campground                may feel a commitment to maintain the campground for your use                for the balance of the first unpaid dues period. Conscientious                campground owners may provide a “grace period” to                their members. Be fair to these campground owners. Make your                intentions clear - in writing.

Keep Careful Notes:

• Make a “Memo for Record” of what you                        told them and when, what they said to you in writing                        or on the phone and when. Sign and date your notes.

These notes will be useful if they actually try                to take you to court. (Rare, if it has ever really happened.)

• Harassing telephone calls from agents of the campground                        can be disregarded.

They aren’t being nice to you,                you don't have to be nice to them.

• Just tell them to                        send it to you in writing -                         then hang                        up on them.               

• Letters from alleged “Pre-litigation Officers” can                        be disregarded.                 They are neither officers of a court nor attorneys.               

• Letters from actual "Collection Agencies"                        are entitled to one response.                         Some people have mailed                        letters that simply said:

    "I am not affiliated with that company                and I do not owe them any money. I have instructed them                to send me evidence, in writing, that I can provide                to my attorney for evaluation and they have not provided                it. Do not contact me again."

• Letters from a real attorney or a clerk of courts must                        be taken seriously.                         Let us know if you get one and we                        will try to help you and ‘your’ attorney.≠

Pay-Till-You-Die Scheme

“They                            told me that I would never have to pay another                            initiation fee if I would give them an extra                          couple thousand dollars     –                                so I did! –     NOW they tell me that I have to make annual “dues” payments —                          until I die! —     That isn’t what they told me when I joined                                their camping club... What can I do?”