Bait and Switch Management - Katy Lake RV Resort

[Chuckmpa]

I am unsure if I am posting in the correct area of this forum, but here goes. We recently had the opportunity (?) (LOL) to travel from the west side of Texas to the east side of Texas in our 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV, with one night staying at Katy Lake RV Resort, Katy, Texas - UGH! We made the reservation in February 2019 for a one night stay the middle of March 2019. When we made the reservation we reserved a specific space (pull-thru #409) near the lake in the middle of the complex. Upon arrival we were informed that the people in #409 decided to stay longer so we had been moved to Space #110 near the front of the park where the entrance's squeaking gate opened and closed every time a vehicle or RV entered or left the facility. When we voiced our compliant, the girl in the office was more interested in your pretty fingernails and helping. The facility was clean and the concrete pad were level. A number of full time construction worker live in the RV park, who leave for work at 3:30 am on - there's that squeaking gate opening and closing pretty much all night long. The park is difficult to find, stuck behind a bunch of mini-storage units, with the entrance driveway being very narrow for RV's to pull in and out. I would recommend never staying at this RV park.

[Siamese]

It's always something.

[Grumpy]

Reminds me of the Rapid City KOA...

[2edgesword]

Originally Posted by Chuckmpa

I am unsure if I am posting in the correct area of this forum, but here goes. We recently had the opportunity (?) (LOL) to travel from the west side of Texas to the east side of Texas in our 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV, with one night staying at Katy Lake RV Resort, Katy, Texas - UGH! We made the reservation in February 2019 for a one night stay the middle of March 2019. When we made the reservation we reserved a specific space (pull-thru #409) near the lake in the middle of the complex. Upon arrival we were informed that the people in #409 decided to stay longer so we had been moved to Space #110 near the front of the park where the entrance's squeaking gate opened and closed every time a vehicle or RV entered or left the facility. When we voiced our compliant, the girl in the office was more interested in your pretty fingernails and helping. The facility was clean and the concrete pad were level. A number of full time construction worker live in the RV park, who leave for work at 3:30 am on - there's that squeaking gate opening and closing pretty much all night long. The park is difficult to find, stuck behind a bunch of mini-storage units, with the entrance driveway being very narrow for RV's to pull in and out. I would recommend never staying at this RV park.

This would be a total turn-off for me. While I can understand the financial side of the decision (possibly locked in payment for multiple days versus one night) it's totally dishonest in my opinion. That said I've stayed away from campgrounds that will not guarantee a particular site and have a first come/first choice of site versus first reserved/first choice of site.

[DocBrown]

They seem to have a very good rating at RV Park Reviews. You might want to add your experience there.

Katy Lake RV Resort - Katy, TX - Campground Reviews

[Mustang65]

About 6 years ago we had the same issue with River Bend Campground in Hiawassee GA. Here is where ratings sometimes do not mean squat. They had 5 stars.

So, we were coming back from Colorado and decided to stop off for a month in Hiawassee GA. On the way back DW got them on the phone and asked for a specific site that is on the river for the month. They said OK, and took the credit card info.

We got there and they said that they never give the river sites out for a month. After a few words and them accusing my wife a liar (you never want to do that), while I was driving listening to her make the request for the river spot. We requested to cancel the reservation and after more words back and forth (about 3 calls) and contacting the credit card company they agreed to refund our deposit.

So, we decided to spend the month at Bald Mountain RV resort about 10 miles away and have been going there ever since then. Like the management as they have had many not so nice RVers evicted. They keep the place very clean and constant upgrades over each winter.

Plus we have a creek site, which is beautiful. 2 happy campers.

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Bassdogs]

A suggestion is that when you make a phone reservation for something like your situation, ask for a confirmation # and also ask them to fax the confirm # along with the dates and site info. Documentation is a b*tch and might help refresh that lady at the front desk when you get there.

Back in the day I ran the operations for a large bank credit card. Gave me a unique position to dispute and get any charge cancelled before I left their driveway. Any one has the same right to dispute a charge it just takes a little longer to get the transaction reversed. If you are charged but the merchant did not deliver on the purchase and they balk at giving you a refund, pull out your phone while standing in front of their reservation desk and call the number on the back of your card. Speak loudly as you describe the reason for the dispute. That may be enough to get them to do what you ask. If not follow the procedure for filing the dispute and move on.

[Mustang65]

We had the name of the person (the same one that said they do not rent them out for a month), time, said they did not have a conformation number. DW is a pro at this stuff. FAX is nice but she called when we were in the truck towing the TT heading toward GA.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Quantum]

Post a reply on Google Reviews.

I always read Google reviews when I book a place to camp. I take them with a grain of salt, but sometimes you can detect a common theme in the posts.

I never leave "angry" posts (and I don't think yours is), but I state the facts.

Last year we camped at a place that had decent reviews in Nova Scotia. Once we got there, we discovered quite the opposite of what we expected. I think many of the seasonals there were encouraged to post rave reviews of the campground.

Upon leaving, we just made a factual review on Google about what we discovered while camping there. All honest, and all things I would want to know.

[Jim Davis]

Fax is nice, but in today's world with almost everyone connected by email (smart phone) I always ask for a confirmation by email. Generally I get it within minutes. Kinda makes arguing difficult and if they don't want to confirm, there are too many other places.

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

About 6 years ago we had the same issue with River Bend Campground in Hiawassee GA. Here is where ratings sometimes do not mean squat. They had 5 stars.

So, we were coming back from Colorado and decided to stop off for a month in Hiawassee GA. On the way back DW got them on the phone and asked for a specific site that is on the river for the month. They said OK, and took the credit card info.

We got there and they said that they never give the river sites out for a month. After a few words and them accusing my wife a liar (you never want to do that), while I was driving listening to her make the request for the river spot. We requested to cancel the reservation and after more words back and forth (about 3 calls) and contacting the credit card company they agreed to refund our deposit.

So, we decided to spend the month at Bald Mountain RV resort about 10 miles away and have been going there ever since then. Like the management as they have had many not so nice RVers evicted. They keep the place very clean and constant upgrades over each winter.

Plus we have a creek site, which is beautiful. 2 happy campers.

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

My grand kids spent many hours playing in that creek under the walk over bridge. Now we stay at Ga. Mountain fairgrounds overlooking Lake Chatuge. Nice campground and and lots of concerts during the year that you can walk to from your campsite.

[wags999]

Most campgrounds don't give a site number up front. For a multitude of reasons, all very innocent. That being said, i can speak for most KOA's and their policy. They do not give out a site number as above BUT, if you want a specific site they will place a hold on it (within the KOA compter system) but there will be a fee for that. One of the issues is, they promise you a site, then get 6 people wanting to be next to each other with a group. They want to be able to move people to the best possible site, for everyone. Last thing you want is to be in the middle of a family reunion with kids and people on both sides of you.. it's irritating for everyone. Also their standard cancellation policy is so many hours, typically 48, before your date of reservation.. BUT, and here is a secret, corp policy is within the first hour of your arrival you can ask for a refund and receive it. The most they charge if anything is a $10 fee. All reservations are confirmed with an EMail if you have one, immediately, as the computer does it automatically.



Working with a chain has it's good points and bad points, just as working with independent CG's. I always used google earth to see what each campground has to offer and the egress to sites.



If you had gotten an EMail with all the information on it, this would of been a moot point. Everyone has the capability of emailing from their software, faxing is no longer an option.



Good Luck and sorry for the hard lesson...


We have the next 2 1/2 months of campgrounds reserved everyone with, a confirmed Email. Some are for weeks or up to a month, others for just one nite. I expect at some point I'll be disappointed, but, we'll roll with the punches and make the best and let others know who lived up to their promises and whom didn't.

[Octopus Prime]

Originally Posted by Jim Davis

Fax is nice, but in today's world with almost everyone connected by email (smart phone) I always ask for a confirmation by email. Generally I get it within minutes. Kinda makes arguing difficult and if they don't want to confirm, there are too many other places.

Same.
We get confirmation through email, and I save them.
If reserving before leaving home, we print them out and keep in a notebook.

[norty1]

I keep ALL my reservation email confirmations in a file on my iPhone.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by wags999

Most campgrounds don't give a site number up front. For a multitude of reasons, all very innocent. That being said, i can speak for most KOA's and their policy. They do not give out a site number as above BUT, if you want a specific site they will place a hold on it (within the KOA compter system) but there will be a fee for that. One of the issues is, they promise you a site, then get 6 people wanting to be next to each other with a group. They want to be able to move people to the best possible site, for everyone. Last thing you want is to be in the middle of a family reunion with kids and people on both sides of you.. it's irritating for everyone. Also their standard cancellation policy is so many hours, typically 48, before your date of reservation.. BUT, and here is a secret, corp policy is within the first hour of your arrival you can ask for a refund and receive it. The most they charge if anything is a $10 fee. All reservations are confirmed with an EMail if you have one, immediately, as the computer does it automatically.

I agree that some do not reserve specific sites but disagree that this is the policy of most CG.s In any regard if they give you that guarantee and you have the documentation AND they don't follow thru I would vote with my wallet and leave with a full refund. I would then smoke them with bad reviews on all the major sites. Let them sue you, they have no case.

Since they did not deliver what they promised, you will win a dispute with your bank. Don't even argue with the CG management.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

I agree that some do not reserve specific sites but disagree that this is the policy of most CG.s In any regard if they give you that guarantee and you have the documentation AND they don't follow thru I would vote with my wallet and leave with a full refund. I would then smoke them with bad reviews on all the major sites. Let them sue you, they have no case.

Since they did not deliver what they promised, you will win a dispute with your bank. Don't even argue with the CG management.

^ ^ ^ ^ X2

That is what Google Reviews, Yelp, and other sites are for... to help the little guys share the poor experiences with others interested in how that business conducts itself. Nobody should be expected to suck it up and be happy with a poor experience that they paid for.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

^ ^ ^ ^ X2

That is what Google Reviews, Yelp, and other sites are for... to help the little guys share the poor experiences with others interested in how that business conducts itself. Nobody should be expected to suck it up and be happy with a poor experience that they paid for.

On the same page. Realistically people in a service business should always remember that keeping the business open means delivering top shelf customer service. We the customers also need to be realistic and not let our expectations get out of hand. Just like staying in a 5 star luxury hotel should have its special benefits to go along with the $$$$'s you are paying, a CG that prides itself as a "resort" and charges premium prices should deliver the customer experience to match. Interesting, we have experienced the highest level of customer service over the years at State and Federal CG's. The park ranger who escorted the Dish tech to my campsite to replace a faulty LNB [Daytona 500 was Saturday] is an example. Also had a situation where both of our credit cards were cloned on our trip south and the card company over-nited new cards to the campground entry office and they called when the delivery was received.

[Extreme]

I totally agree with you folks, no reason why our good money should force us to receive bad service in private cg’s and not being able to say it like it is.
We stayed at a Ute reservoir State park in New Mexico and the ranger and ladies at the desk treated us like old friends. We stayed there for Easter week end 2019 and it was patrolled at night and spotless.
On the other hand we stayed at a Koa in Florida for a couple months @1300 p/m. Second month we went and paid our rent in the morning and went to the beach, we got a call from Koa that they were gonna give our space away if we didn’t pay right away. I could overhear the girl talking rudely to my wife and arguing. We left the beach 20 miles away & went back and showed our receipt and they said it was the wrong receipt and never admitted or apologized for their error. They have a monopoly because they’re always packed to the max. Their motto has always been : pack em in as tight as you can and charge as much as you can. $110 p/night

[75H]

Thanks for the info! I put more credence in information found here than in the, shall we say, general public sites.

2018 Jayco 29MVP