Premier Marina. Berthing Licence & Deposit

[Gemini]

We have an annual berthing agreement with Premier & pay monthly Direct Debit ( 2 months 1st payment, then 10 additional payments ) renewal 1st July
We notice this month they took and additional payment making 13 Payments against last years agreement
We question this today and they provide an undated Premier head letter that advise that the initial payment of 2 months fees :-
Being the 1st months berthing fee and a Refundable deposit equal to one months berthing, with the normal monthly agreed fees thereafter
By all accounts this is the new policy since last year , but is not mention in there berthing agreement T&Cs

We question what the purpose of the deposit was , and after a bit of stumbling was advised it secured our berth , asked what that meant, where advised we keep use of same berth for the year. In there T&Cs , there's the normal bit about you may not get the same berth upon return , but never experience that problem.

Has any one else become aware of this Deposit scheme, we asked for a copy of the T&Cs relating to the deposit
And was just advised it only a deposit?

Also asked where the deposit was kept, and advised against out account , but unsure where, no mention of a Secure Client account

Advised the manager will call us to discuss this during this week .

 

[PhillM]

I've left Premier now, but my 2+10 equaled my annual fee. No deposit element. But there contracts could have changed in the past year.

 

[Firefly625]

If you were feeling militant you could ask for the deposit to be refunded and say you are ok if on occasion you are moved around. But do ask first how many empty berths they have. I assume they have a few (most south coast marinas do), then just add that you would assume all of those empty berths would need to be full before they then put someone in your "normal" berth...

But for the marina sounds a brilliant way to improve cash flow!

 

[Gemini]

Think it more cash flow derived, the logistic of re-allocating berths, every time someone leaves there berth and then
sorting electric reading & billing charges, would be so time consuming . They wouldn't cope.
But if other Premier marinas are not implementing this it can't be policy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

What's the betting some sharp-eyed auditor's picked it up as an unexercised clause during due diligence for the forthcoming sale.

 

[AllanG]

Which Premier Marina are you at, Gemini?

 

[Go with the flow]

This wasn't the case when i was there 3 years ago, no deposit requested or held on account to secure the same berth year on year, so definitely new.
However this does raise a number of questions.
A) If it is a deposit, why has it not been used as payment once you confirm renewal of your berth or does it sit on the account for your length of time there.
B) When i Paid by direct debit i was charged a surcharge for that, i assume it is still the same? but if there is now a months deposit to pay as well that will be held on your account some may find this cost inhibative. I certainly would not be happy paying an additional month as a deposit.
C) I assume all berth holders would now have to pay this deposit to secure the same berth for a year?

As previously stated this sounds like it is cash flow derived.

 

[lisilou]

Just queried this with Swanwick and they said absolutely not. No extra months deposit taken there.
L

 

[dunmor]

I"m at Eastbourne and we pay 2 months which is the first and last months payments, we pay by card each month.

 

[KevB]

I have a two friends moored in Chichester who mentioned this but haven't got round to looking myself. Will report back.

 

[Gemini]

We are at Brighton

 

[benjenbav]

When I was with Premier (not since 2010) the terms were 2+10, with no deposit. As it's an annual licence they might well have changed subsequently.