No one around to take $$ for campsite?

[happybooker1]

Driving to Texarkana last night we were going to be arriving after midnight. I found a PA park & about 9 PM called the after hours number as they said on the website. I left my name, phone number, when we'd be arriving, & that I'd pay them this morning before we left to get back on the road.

Arrived at the park about 12:30, took an unoccupied site at the front of the park. Didn't even unhook the truck. Just hooked up W/E, put down stabilizers, & retired inside.

This morning I went to what I assumed to be the office. It was the laundromat & snack machines. I knocked on the door of the trailer nearest the laundromat. No answer. Not a soul was out & about. It was about 10am before we were ready to leave & I went out several times to see if anyone was driving around, working on the grounds, etc. Nothing!

About 8:30 I had called the other phone number listed on the PA site, told them who I was again, here's my phone number, I'm in site #3 and we need to leave so please contact me about paying.

Never heard from anyone all day long after we left. So.... Should I just drop a check in the mail with what I *think* I owe them?

[Ohiojude]

This has happened to us in the past. When we got home I finally got ahold of someone and paid with a credit card over the phone. If you didn't want to pay with a cc then I'd call them until you get ahold of someone and find out what you owe and mail them a check. It is the right thin to do.

[KA4EBU]

I leave a note with site number, time in and time out and a phone number or address to contact. I have left money lots with only one problem, person money intended for says they never found. highly possible.
Honesty is the always the best.

[kcmoedoe]

rede2travel wrote:
Not paranoid at all...wake up and watch the news or read the newspapers... yesterday it was announced that another 1.3 billion passwords were hacked by a russian group ...I at least am diligent about my information and am prudent enough to check my credit reports periodically..if you have known anyone whose identity has been stolen it takes years to correct the theft and in some cases people have lost their homes not to mention their bank accounts. Paying by check is a security issue if the check is misused. Paying it forward is rewarding....try it .

I don't get the justification for not paying for services you used, and knew they were not free, by saying you are going to "pay it forward". Maybe your employer will try that on you. Just not give you a paycheck because you are on vacation so he didn't "know" where to send it and didn't want to risk identity theft, so he "paid it forward" to the local casino. The OP knows the address of the park, and they now know what rate the park charges, so they should send in the payment. The argument that you would but can't because sending a check would be risking identity theft is the most ridiculous justification for doing the wrong thing I have ever heard.

[rede2travel]

Not paranoid at all...wake up and watch the news or read the newspapers... yesterday it was announced that another 1.3 billion passwords were hacked by a russian group ...I at least am diligent about my information and am prudent enough to check my credit reports periodically..if you have known anyone whose identity has been stolen it takes years to correct the theft and in some cases people have lost their homes not to mention their bank accounts. Paying by check is a security issue if the check is misused. Paying it forward is rewarding....try it .

[kcmoedoe]

rede2travel wrote:
In this time of identity fraud, I would be very leary of sending a check with my identification to a campground that couldn't even be bothered to return several attempts to contact them. I would pay it forward for someone you meet on your camping adventures.

A bit paranoid, aren't you. Your checking account number, name and address is hardly a secret if you use a check for anything. It is all right there on the front of the check and has been for the last 50+ years. How many times has your account been wiped clean? My guess is the same number of times mine has, ZERO. If someone did use that info to pass a forged check, your bank will stand behind your account and refund the loss. Paying by check is not a security issue at all.

[SDcampowneroper]

rede2travel wrote:
In this time of identity fraud, I would be very leary of sending a check with my identification to a campground that couldn't even be bothered to return several attempts to contact them. I would pay it forward for someone you meet on your camping adventures.

This is a very good argument about personal identity.
If the OP has done due diligence in attempting to pay for service, at time of delivery, if the business does not have a posted visible rate or collection structure, where there is an ambiguous delivery of service, then 'theft of service' for an undefined service or payment for same is not applicable.
In our state ( SD) onus falls upon the provider of service to notify users of service before delivery of cost of that service and provide a system of payment at the time of delivery.
OP, You have done your best to pay for the service, the camp is at fault if all is as you report. US Mail them cash , or donate to a charity in their town in their name. Sleep Well.
Max

[rede2travel]

In this time of identity fraud, I would be very leary of sending a check with my identification to a campground that couldn't even be bothered to return several attempts to contact them. I would pay it forward for someone you meet on your camping adventures.

[Stars101]

I would wonder if they would even cash my check if they haven't bothered to respond to your contact attempts. been there, done that with a business. Funny that you get burned trying to do the right thing sometimes. I carried that debit for over 6 moths before I wrote it off and added it back into my account.

[lazydays]

Call me a thief because I would be having me a freebie. You did way more than I would have.

[tomkaren13]

happybooker1 wrote:
The reason I don't know how much I owe is on the PA site this CG's charges are listed as "Regular price -- $20 to $30; PA price -- $10 - $15". I don't know what type site I picked or what's the difference.

Regardless, once I get home on Monday I have determined I will send them a check & letter of explanation for $15. It will ease MY conscience at least!

And BTW, I'm a she. 😉

Just what I would do. I knew you are a "She" Me too = Karen

[monkey44]

QUOTE: "And BTW, I'm a she."

"She"s are no less moral and ethical than "he"s in my book.

Paying a campsite fee has nothing to do with gender either. You did what you did as a person, more than a lot of folks would do ... relax 'she', if they don't call you, pay it forward. 🙂 🙂 In my opinion, you've already done all you should do ... let them call you.

Although, if anyone called me a 'she', guess I'd correct that notion quickly too. 🙂

[happybooker1]

The reason I don't know how much I owe is on the PA site this CG's charges are listed as "Regular price -- $20 to $30; PA price -- $10 - $15". I don't know what type site I picked or what's the difference.

Regardless, once I get home on Monday I have determined I will send them a check & letter of explanation for $15. It will ease MY conscience at least!

And BTW, I'm a she. 😉

[2012Coleman]

happybooker1 wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
Just curious - how did you get in? Is there a gate code associated with passport america, which is somehow connected to an account with your name?

No gate. Instructions on PA site said basically "after hours/weekends call XXX, leave message if no one answers, Come in CG, set up & someone will be around to see you for payment the next morning."

Lots of people on high horses in this thread. Sounds to me like the OP made an honest attempt to pay - the onus is now on the CG to get their act together and return the phone call as stated in THEIR instructions.

OP - don't worry about it - leave another message for them if you want to, but IMO, you're off the hook.

[monkey44]

Been watching this thread with interest ... some of the responses attack the OP as if HE did something wrong. I do not buy into that.

No one there to collect - he tried twice or more times to pay his fee -- there is NOTHING immoral or unethical about that, RIGHT? That's where the judging stops.

He left his information, has already made several attempts to make this right.
If the CG makes no effort to follow up on the very obvious attempt to pay his fees, then I'd ignore it until the CG called ... otherwise, I'd feel no guilt. I would feel perfectly moral and ethical about it, and probably give $20 to the next kid I saw that smiled at me, and then chalk it up to paying it forward ...

You all that want to attack everyone for everything out of the ordinary should cut a little slack. No one has the right to toss that first stone, unless you can prove to us you've never, ever done one thing in your life that might be considered incorrect behavior by some one else ... OK, anyone fit that, pick up the stone, toss it in the air, and stand under it ... or hold your comments.