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tomdinwv's avatar
tomdinwv
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013

Unexpected refund

Last week we went camping at a COE CG here in WV. When we planned the trip, we booked it on Reserve America, and payed for 4 nights online. We decided to leave after 3 nights. As I was leaving the CG there was no one in the office to tell we were leaving. Just a handmade sign saying they would be back by 2pm. No big deal, we went ahead and left. I wasn't going to ask for a refund for the last night we booked and didn't use. Never even crossed my mind to do so. A few days later, a refund for $22 showed up on my card. I was plesently suprised. I never expected to get a refund at all, much less for the full amount of 1 nights stay. Just thought I'd share a good experience since so many folks suffer so many bad ones when trying to get refunds.
Seeking Advice
  • KarenS144's avatar
    KarenS144
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    That has happened to us too! I didn't ask nor expected a refund either time. Love those COE campgrounds.
  • Robin1953's avatar
    Robin1953
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    The KOA on the Outer Banks gave me a refund for two nights but I wasn't really expecting it. We were scheduled to spend 5 nights there and after the third night I get a call that morning telling me that my dad had overturned his tractor and I needed to come home. I went to the office to just tell them that I was leaving and the reason and the lady gave me a refund for the two nights. I was pleasantly surprised and my dad wasn't seriously injured so it was a good thing all around.
  • tomdinwv's avatar
    tomdinwv
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    Correction. I said in my original post that it was through Reserve America. It was recreation.gov that we booked the site through. Reserve America will send you to recreation.gov when you try to book at some gov CGs. My mistake, just wanted to correct myself.
  • frankdamp's avatar
    frankdamp
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    We got a similar surprise last year. We reserved two nights at Steamboat Rock State park in Eastern Washington, not realising how hot it was going to get. After the first night we decided to leave, since our generator was giving us some grief and we needed both a/cs.

    The office was closed, so I left a note offering the balance of my fee to whoever got the site. About 10 days later, the refund showed up.
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    Jun 07, 2013
    Thats good to hear, we've never got a refund, but then we've never left a COE CG early. ;)
  • GaryWT's avatar
    GaryWT
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    I had booked a state park for this weekend through reserve america. I cancelled it yesterday due to weather and they refunded all but a small service charge back.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    Refunds are ALWAYS determined by the parks administrators and NEVER by the booking agent. I see LOTS of posts where people are upset with RA or REC.GOV when they have nothing to do with refunds. Sounds like the COE you stayed in has a more liberal policy than MOST others (and probably more good will also)
    Good luck / Skip
  • Jloucks's avatar
    Jloucks
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    I have found this to be the norm, not the exception.

    Maybe it is just all my rugged good looks.

    ....or more likely, luck.

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