Here's what happened: we pulled in to a state park without reservations. They told us at the checkin booth that we would be able to get a site. They had some electric sites and some non-electric sites. They did not recommend a non-electric site because they were "mostly for tents and small trailers like popups." (Our TT is not big at 23' but we took their advice.) We paid for two nights in an electric site and then drove in to the campground to select a site. We were very disappointed to find that this state park had constructed their only electric loop in the fashion of a private campground, with sites parallel to each other, side-by-side with no space in between, and no trees or vegetation to give you that "camping" feel. We drove through the loop and then headed into the non-electric area to see what it was like. We were able to find a very nice, large, forested site that we could get into and out of easily. I dropped the trailer and went back to the booth to make the change.That's when things started to unravel. They called this a "voluntary downgrade," and told me that no refund of the price difference was allowed. I suggested that they just cancel the original sale, since I had not set up on an electric site, and then start a new transaction for the new site. The guy I was working with seemed OK with that idea, and I thought that's what he did. After I got home and was looking at the receipts I found that I was given a "voucher" for the price difference. Now a voucher is not going to work for us because this is in a state park that is several hundred miles from our home. We like the state, but who knows when we'll be back there again.I've been trying to get them to refund my credit card, and I'm getting the run-around. Am I being unreasonable???-Speak

What are the refund policies? Have you read them? "Store credit" for "returns" isn't that uncommon. As for CG layout at the hookup sites, look at a map prior entering the park.

unreasonable? no. but if it were me i'd quit dealing with the folks that are obviously not empowered to do what you want them to do. i'd write a polute, concise letter to the parks dept superintendent and copy the governor's office. you might be surprised at the results a letter like that can produce. good luck.

Reasonable and logical. Which means it can't happen with government.

State parks almost never allow park level employees to approve refunds. Too much fear of 'wasting government money' by giving refunds to friends and family.That would include canceling an original transaction. It would greatly surprise me if a park level employee had the power to cancel a transaction once the credit card had been run.Some will allow park level employees to approve vouchers, others will require the park level employee to submit a request for a voucher to regional or state headquarters.The hardest place to get a refund that I know of is the small city owned park in the town where I graduated from high school. I know most of the people in the city government, and they can only approve a refund if I have to depart the RV park early is approved by a record vote of the City Council.Write the letter mentioned above, but be aware that some places actually have state laws which would prohibit an actual refund.

Dispute the charge on your credit card. It's one of the benefits of paying with plastic. You did not receive the goods or services you contracted for. Even if this was based on your own decision, they should not be able to retrieve the funds if you dispute it with your credit card company.Jim

What is a "Voluntary Downgrade?" | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

bucky
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2017
You're lucky they didn't charge you for the day of arrival cancellation and rebill you for the second site. That is what Reserve America usually does.
What are we talking about here? $5? Not worth the time to deal with it.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2017
Dispute the charge on your credit card. It's one of the benefits of paying with plastic. You did not receive the goods or services you contracted for. Even if this was based on your own decision, they should not be able to retrieve the funds if you dispute it with your credit card company.

Jim
PawPaw_n_Gram
Explorer
Jul 28, 2017
State parks almost never allow park level employees to approve refunds. Too much fear of 'wasting government money' by giving refunds to friends and family.

That would include canceling an original transaction. It would greatly surprise me if a park level employee had the power to cancel a transaction once the credit card had been run.

Some will allow park level employees to approve vouchers, others will require the park level employee to submit a request for a voucher to regional or state headquarters.

The hardest place to get a refund that I know of is the small city owned park in the town where I graduated from high school. I know most of the people in the city government, and they can only approve a refund if I have to depart the RV park early is approved by a record vote of the City Council.

Write the letter mentioned above, but be aware that some places actually have state laws which would prohibit an actual refund.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Jul 28, 2017
Reasonable and logical. Which means it can't happen with government.
rk911
Explorer
Jul 28, 2017
unreasonable? no. but if it were me i'd quit dealing with the folks that are obviously not empowered to do what you want them to do. i'd write a polute, concise letter to the parks dept superintendent and copy the governor's office. you might be surprised at the results a letter like that can produce. good luck.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2017
What are the refund policies? Have you read them? "Store credit" for "returns" isn't that uncommon. As for CG layout at the hookup sites, look at a map prior entering the park.

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What is a "Voluntary Downgrade?"

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