Paying a third party for overnight

[Billinwoodland]

Just returned from a 2500 mile round trip up into Montana. Had a great time and the Moho was perfect minus an issue with the windshield wipers. Second night into the trip I pulled into neat park in American Falls , ID. It was nearly empty and there was not an attendant. I picked a spot, pulled in, hooked up the power and put my slides out. Had animals to feed so was taking care of that when this fella pulled up and asked me if I had paid the attendant. I said no, there was no attendant but would stop in to the little cafe in the morning when they opened. He explained that he is a fellow camper and "watches" for late arrivals and collects the $25 fee for the unattended park (I think this is a county rv park). He needed to be paid in cash. I paid, then later regretted it thinking I was just taken by some con man. Have any of you experienced this and what would you have done?

BTW, stopped back at same park on the way home several weeks later. It was even emptier. It's a great overnight on the snake River.

[monkey44]

IF he was a camp host, he'd have had a trailer in "camp host spot" --

And no one in their right mind would 'bust you' for waiting til AM and pay the vendor or park personnel once you explain the reasoning.

There are times when we camp in distant sites where the honor system says: Put cash in envelope, no checks. Never happen - we always put a check - why? no receipt that we paid. Never once have we ever been 'called on it' - and the check always clears eventually.

Only once: Believe this one ! We return home and found a check stamped void we'd put in a box somewhere (I seem to recall OK, or Neb) and a note: We don't take checks - please pay cash.

Hmmm, we were back in Massachusetts by then. So, took the note, and a check, mailed it back. Never heard another word.

[toedtoes]

colliehauler wrote:
If the person was legit and you refused to pay you could be charged with theft of services. Verification is ok as is getting a receipt. I have had lots of camp hosts collect the fees and don't feel it was a scam. My opinion only.

Again, if the person had identified himself as a camp host, I would agree. But per the OP, the person simply asked if the OP had paid the attendant and then stated that he is a fellow camper and "watches" for late arrivals and collects the $25 fee for the unattended park.

IF this person was legit, why didn't he know there was no attendant available for the OP to pay? If he was a camp host, why didn't he identify himself as such? If he was really helping the owner, why insist on cash only (nothing on the website suggests that the owner doesn't accept checks or credit cards)? If he was legit - why not say "I can accept cash or checks, if you will be paying with a credit card, you can go to the cafe in the morning? If he was legit, why not offer a receipt - especially for a cash transaction? On the website, it states that folks arriving could pay at the cafe - nothing about paying a fellow camper.

[JT]

http://www.cityofamericanfalls.com/willow-bay-recreation-area/

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/idaho/american-falls/willow-bay-recreation-area

http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds-details/18685.htm

The site fee at this park does seem to be $25.00, but whether the "collector" was legitimate, who knows?

[colliehauler]

If the person was legit and you refused to pay you could be charged with theft of services. Verification is ok as is getting a receipt. I have had lots of camp hosts collect the fees and don't feel it was a scam. My opinion only.

[toedtoes]

Billinwoodland wrote:
I think all the suggestions are great. In my defense, I had just pulled in after a long drive, was tired, hungry, and had animals to feed. So I just paid him the $25. With the CG as empty as it was, at least I didn't wake up to flat tires.

You don't need a defense. This is what scammers do - they target people, who for whatever reason, aren't picking up on the signs right away, do their scam as quick as possible, then run as quickly as possible before the person's intuition starts kicking in.

You didn't do anything wrong. You were scammed. It happens to all of us at some point. It's really easy for all of us to sit back and tell you "of course it was scam", but in the moment, many of these same people would have done the same thing you did.

[Billinwoodland]

I think all the suggestions are great. In my defense, I had just pulled in after a long drive, was tired, hungry, and had animals to feed. So I just paid him the $25. With the CG as empty as it was, at least I didn't wake up to flat tires.

[4X4Dodger]

Rather than refuse to pay this is the simple solution: Ask for a written receipt on letterhead, ask the persons name and to see his ID.

Make a show of copying the information.

He will either comply if he is legit or make some noise and go away.

[toedtoes]

colliehauler wrote:
I have seen a camp host collect fees from late arrivals before. They are in civilian clothes.

True, but they introduce themselves as camp hosts and will have paperwork of some sort (receipts, brochures, campsite cards, etc.) that identify them as such. There is usually a campsite with a sign "camp host" that is towards the front of the campground and easily identifiable also.

[colliehauler]

I have seen a camp host collect fees from late arrivals before. They are in civilian clothes.

[monkey44]

I'm afraid he'd have gotten my money ONLY if in a FS uniform and FS truck. Otherwise, maybe a check, maybe not. And then I'd have paid officially in the AM.

But a random guy showing up at a random campground asking for cash - Nope, I don't think so.

[Roy_Lynne]

What is you didn't have any cash. I'm one for not having a lot on me, preferring to use checks and debit cards, and if he had insisted, I would have had to start counting out my laundry quarters.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

I would have taken a picture of him and his vehicle with my smartphone. If he did not like that I would not have paid him, but still would have taken the pictures. Receipt is nice but evidence is priceless.

"Happy Trails
Chiefneon

[EV2]

Had a similar but unrelated experience some time back and snapped a cell phone photo of the guy while he was talking and stated I had to also take a phot of his auto/plate as he had no receipts. He quickly retracted and said I could handle the next morning and left.

[Mr__Camper]

He might have been a Nigerian banker on a USA trip looking to return found funds to various Americans.