A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

I need to vent...
I am at an RV park in Portland, Oregon for a month - just arrived today. SInce my rig is 25 feet long, they will not let me have a normal site. The only sites I am allowed to have are a few ends of rows that are very tiny sites with no grass. Since I was tired when I arrived I agreed to one of the tiny sites, hooked up, and found out the cable doesn't work. They still won't let me have a different site. I would be paying the same amount as a big rig - unfair!!!

that is MOST CRAPPY, Judi! I would find another place and tell them youre going to give them a bad recommendation on your camper forums and websites. that may not do any good but will make YOU feel better. I hate it when these places try to screw us! Good luck and tell us what you end up doing.

Judi, find another place! Don't let them get away with this crap.

You are right, it is unfair! Tell us the name of the park...we will spread the word! You quite obviously did not this ahead of arriving. lyn

Judi, you are paying for their services and you're not getting them! If the cable can't be fixed, demand they move you to another site. Having a teeny site, just because you have a smaller unit, is silly. All the sites here are exactly the same size and priced the same, so it doesn't matter what size unit you have. Stay on top of things and give them heck!

Definitely name the park - and inform them that you are passing on this information UNLESS they rectify the situation immediately and give you a site will ALL the amenities that you find acceptable. I have no problem with parks trying to fit rigs according to site if all else is equal. Obviously it is not - stand up and be ready to shout to the world about this place. And if you paid by credit card, call your cc company and see the recourse to be refunded - you are NOT receiving what was promised.

That's ridiculous! Yes, name the park then we can all contact them by email or phone and tell them what we think.
Sandi

Judi -

These kinds of things really get me riled up. I second what Beth said - if you paid by credit card, call your card provider and cancel the charge if the park does not provide you with what you are legitimately requesting.

But do it this way: don't get mad, get even.

Very politely tell them that you "don't understand" why you are being put in a small site when you are paying full price. Also that you "don't understand" why the amenities you were promised - and are paying for - are unavailable. All of this politely. Then when they refuse you (as they probably will) still very politely say something like this (with a smile on your face if you can manage it): "Oh. I am SO sorry about this difficulty, and I realize it is probably beyond your control. But you know... now that I think about it, I am afraid that this just doesn't work for me, so you need to know that I will be posting this story on all of the camping web groups I am a member of (name them so they know you mean business), and also will be contacting the club organizations I am a member of (Good Sam & Etc. - name them) to let them know what has happened to me here. I am sorry, but I would not wish anyone else to have this kind of experience, especially someone who had a reservation in advance."

Sometimes not getting angry, and just calmly stating what your are going to do and how you are going to do it will work wonders.

Some years ago my elderly father (he was about 94 at that time, his wife was 90) lived about 600 miles from me. He lived in a large retirement-oriented city (Hemet, Ca.) his telephone went out, and he was told -so sorry - it would be two weeks (!) before it could be repaired.

Fairly pissed off, after trying to talk to a phone company rep from my home (they could tell I wasn't in Hemet), I got in my car, drove to Hemet (12 hours one way), and once there spent about an hour (thank God for cell phones) getting through the phone tree to someone in charge. Finally got someone on the phone with some authority, and was told, again, "so sorry, but there are a lot of problems on the lines just now, and it will be two weeks before we can have it repaired." To this day, I don't know what the "problem" was (there hadn't been any storms or anything) so I very politely, with a smile in my voice, said something like this: "I am so very sorry for your difficulty. I certainly understand. But my father is 90 years old, and telephone service can be a life or death situation to someone of his age. Are you sure you can't help?"

I was assured that they could not. So I then said, very politely: "I do understand. Thank you very much for your time, and in taking the courtesy of speaking with me. But you need to know that as soon as I hang up from this call I will be telephoning the local ABC, NBC and CBS television news affiliates, because I know that they will be interested in this kind of story. They always are. I have their phone numbers right here - would you like them?, because I looked them up right before I telephoned you, because I wanted to be sure I understood the situation."

There was dead silence on the line, then "just a moment".

I kid you not: within 10 minutes there was a telephone truck pulling into my Dad's driveway, and within a further half hour or so his phone was again working.

Good luck with this, Judi. I can see no reason whatsoever that you should be put in a small spot just because of the size of your rig. Unfair is right!!

Keep us posted on how it turns out, and please let us know the name of the park.

Thank you.

Anne

Bravo, Anne! Just proves you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Yes, Judi this situation is entirely unfair and my guess is they think they'll get away with it because you are a "woman".

I have been very polite and diplomatic all through this situation, even pleasant! The park is Portland Fairview RV Park in Portland, Oregon. Phone 503-661-1047 or 877-777-1047. Fax 503-665-4643. The assistant manager is Debbie, and she is confrontational and rude. Several people here overheard our conversation about the cable not working, and they told me later that she is not a nice person and they all don't like her. I contacted another RV park in the area and I will be leaving here today. I did get some nasty feedback from Debbie about refunding my money, but after I told her I have contacted my bank she reluctantly agreed to give me a refund. The park is owned by a company in California and when I leave I will stop in the office to get the information. The managers, a couple, are away until Monday and believe me, on Monday they will hear from me.

Thank you all for making me feel better about this! I have not had such a bad experience with a park or camp in my 8 months of travel. I get along with people, and can even de-escalate a hostile situation quickly (something I learned from working in a jail). But don't push me too far.......!

I had a very similar experience at American RV Park, just west of Albuquerque. I posted a review on it because they have two sections in the RV park--one newer and with cement pads with almost all pull-thrus and an older area with mostly gravel and some asphalt pads where they put long-timers.

Because my 32' motorhome was less than 40' long, they said I had to stay in the older section. (My motorhome is less than three years old, so it is not an old wreck.) Same price for both areas, but newer section was definitely nicer, and well, newer. I was angry but very tired after a long drive. To make it worse, the water hookup was below ground level, and I had to get the guy who escorted me to my site to get on his hands and knees to hookup my water as I not only have two replaced knees I cannot kneel on but was recovering from carpal tunnel surgery! And then that night, they rented out their recreation room to an outside group and there was a band that played until late at night.

In the meantime, the big rigs were enjoying their sites away from the noise. I was there for two nights but will never go back there again. And yet, since I posted my review, tons of people have posted online about what a wonderful place it was--no doubt they stayed in the nicer side.

Good job, Judi!

Judi,

Call the city or county office and ask for the name and telephone number of the local Economic Development Council and the Housing Authority. The city does not want bad publicity that will keep tourists from visiting. Generally, there is legislation against discrimination in housing. I wouldn't be surprised if the park's actions were not discriminatory against you because you are a single female. Worth a complaint.

Be sure to contact the Calif. company and let them know you are informing all the RV groups about this. Maybe they will replace the manager and give you free camping. Maybe they own another cg somewhere.

You got it Judi! You are definitely worth fighting for your rights! Go Girl!

And be sure to write a campground review on here.