Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 7, 1990 TAG: 9006070127
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TAMMY POOLE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The North Carolina Attorney General's Office recently contacted the division concerning complaints it has received from Virginians who purchased memberships to North Carolina campgrounds.
The biggest difference between the two states is that Virginia law gives consumers three days to cancel the contract, but North Carolina law does not.
The Virginia Membership Camping Act gives consumers who purchase campground memberships in Virginia certain rights that must be listed in a disclosure statement. The campground must give you the statement before asking you to sign a contract and it must include:
A cancellation clause, informing you of your right to cancel a membership within three business days after signing the contract.
A statement of the type of membership that is being purchased, such as the length of time covered by the membership.
Your rights and restrictions as a member - whether or not you can transfer or sell your membership.
Identification of the campground's owners.
A description of the facilities that will be made available to you.
Any campground which mails promotional materials in Virginia also must comply with the Virginia prizes and gifts act as outlined below:
Virginians who are told they have won a prize must be given that item within 10 days, without any obligation.
If the consumer is told he or she is eligible to win or receive a prize, the following restrictions apply:
The consumer must be told on whose behalf the contest or promotion is being conducted.
Disclose any conditions, such as marital status or a minimum income level, that the consumer must meet in order to be eligible for the prize.
Any fees that must be paid in order to receive the prize or gift must be disclosed in the promotional letter or over the telephone.
The consumer must be told the actual retail value of each gift as defined by the act, the number of prizes to be awarded and the odds of receiving each item.
Shipping charges cannot exceed the cost of postage or delivery service, and handling charges cannot exceed the lesser of the cost of handling or $5.
The act also prohibits solicitors from mailing notifications which resemble invoices or checks.
A campground membership in any state is a significant investment, with the average cost around $6,000 (adding finance charges to the original cost may bring the total up to $10,000).
Before buying, ask questions. If you buy, make sure any verbal promises or commitments made by the salesperson appear in the contract. Always obtain a copy of the contract before leaving the campground.
If you're considering buying a membership to an out-of-state campground, get information about that state's membership campground law before making a final decision.
Toys recalled
Two toy manufacturers are recalling more than 69,000 toys because they contain parts that present choking hazards to small children, a federal government agency said.
The first toy maker, Goldwell International, Inc., is recalling 13,583 Public Telephone toys that were sold nationally since March 1989, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The toys, which resemble push-button, coin-operated telephones and come with plastic coins in various sizes and colors were sold for children younger than three.
However, the coins and the buttons, which can become detached from the phones, may be swallowed and could choke small children.
In the second instance, Minneapolis-based Target Stores has recalled 27,000 My First Buddy Wrecker trucks, 27,000 My First Buddy Pumper fire trucks and 1,497 Potpourri Baby Dolls.
The companies and the commission are not aware of any injuries involving the toys, but consumers are urged to return them to the stores where purchased for a refund.
by CNB