I was just reading an old review by a camper that was upset because they parked at night and assumed they were to do that and pay in the morning. We manage a campground and we have too many people that pull in late at night and then try to sneak out in the morning without paying after they have dumped, used our electric and filled their water tank. I would suggest that you always stop at the office, even if it is obviously closed, and look for a sign that tells you what to do. In our case, they are to call me at any hour to come get them registered and assign them a spot. Sometimes we have been to places where they tell you where to put your money and then park. Other places do tell you to go ahead and park and pay in the morning. Each campground is different so please do not assume that one CG wants you to park just because the last one had that policy.
QUOTE(dalsgal @ Jun 23 2012, 01:45 PM) [snapback]29809[/snapback] I was just reading an old review by a camper that was upset because they parked at night and assumed they were to do that and pay in the morning. We manage a campground and we have too many people that pull in late at night and then try to sneak out in the morning without paying after they have dumped, used our electric and filled their water tank. I would suggest that you always stop at the office, even if it is obviously closed, and look for a sign that tells you what to do. In our case, they are to call me at any hour to come get them registered and assign them a spot. Sometimes we have been to places where they tell you where to put your money and then park. Other places do tell you to go ahead and park and pay in the morning. Each campground is different so please do not assume that one CG wants you to park just because the last one had that policy. The people who snuck into your campground after closing and left before opening, using your electric, water and dumping their sewers, are probably the same people who bitch about wall mart rudely waking them at 10Am on the second day that they have been parked there, with their slides and awning out and jacks down. Go figure...
As dollars become less this problem will go on into the future. You see this in casinos as well, live in the parking lot then come in late at night to water up and dump before moving back into the parking lot again.
Rv'ing is no different than any other walk of life that you are going to find a few rotton apples in every bushel. Sorta remind me of cousin Eddy in the Chevy Chase Vacation movies!
Unfortunately, there are always a few. but it has been my experience that most RVer's are a pretty fair minded bunch.
I do understand that most campers are honest people. What the honest people don't often think about is that the campground owner/manager doesn't know which one YOU are. I have gone down to find out why someone pulled in without stopping and had them get angry with me because "the place we camped at last night wanted us to go park and pay tomorrow". You may know you are honest but I don't know you so I don't know if you are honest or not. I just ask that you respect each campground and stop long enough to find out what each campground asks of you when you are in that park. Even if you stayed in a certain park before you should realize it could have a new owner, a new manager or even new check in policies. I had one woman come in late and the next morning early(about 6:30 AM) she was leaving. I happened to be near the end of our drive working so I stopped her and asked if I could help her. She said she was on her way to the office to pay. I pointed back about 300 feet BEHIND her and pointed out that she had passed the office (plainly marked and in front of where she had parked)
QUOTE(dalsgal @ Jul 3 2012, 07:52 AM) [snapback]29891[/snapback] I had one woman come in late and the next morning early(about 6:30 AM) she was leaving. I happened to be near the end of our drive working so I stopped her and asked if I could help her. She said she was on her way to the office to pay. I pointed back about 300 feet BEHIND her and pointed out that she had passed the office (plainly marked and in front of where she had parked) Interesting, I remember calling a small country campground a few miles from the Canadian border telling them I would be checking in late, the owner replied no problem, just leave your check by the office/store cash register. What I found surprising was when we finished setting up and when I went to the office found the door open and not a sole around anywhere...I guess I was just taken back. This is something you would never see at a campground in CT I certainly agree that most RVers are honest and with just "one exception" we have been fortunate that we have never had any problems with any dishonest campers/campgrounds Mike
Several years ago when we worked at a campground in Santa Fe we had a camper in a class C come in and tell us someone was in their site. They had gone to town to visit and when they came back a 5th wheel was in their spot. We checked reservations, went over and knocked on the door, no one remembered checking them in, and so on. When we knocked on the door we heard a dog bark but all evening there was no one home. We gave the class C camper another spot and then the next morning early around 6 am I heard the 5th wheel leave. That tool some nerve to get away with a $30 camping fee.
