Camp ground tried to charge me for there heat tape

[past-MIdirector]

I've already posted a review on RV review but would like to heard from forum members on this. From the first of November till December 23 we stayed at one of the only Campgrounds in the county that was open in Monroe, MI. We paid by the month $500 full hook ups but had to pay the electric which park charged .14 per HWH well about the residential of .08 per KWH.
After the first month I happen to notice that the parks heat tape to their faucet to each site was on the sites meters when the heat tape on our site tripped the GFI. There so called electrician told me when I started to question him. I question management about the heat tape and was told that's the way it was done and I'm the first to ever complained about it being on their electric bill.
We left on the morning of Dec 23 and read the meter after I unhooked. The office was told and no one was there at the office or out to read the meter when we left, The DW had told the young man in the office that we pay by check only and was not allowed to charge anything to our credit card they had on file.
Fast forward to Jan 2 we receive a bill by email with a reading higher than what I wrote down and statement they had taken amount from our charge card on file. The DW called the bank and put a stop payment since the meter reads were wrong and that they used our credit card without permission. Yesterday got an email asking what my problem was over the few cents per day for their heat tape on my bill. An email yesterday was that they would take .10 per day for their heat tape which can out to $5. I will be sending a complain to Good Sam since this is a Good Sam park and a complain to the MI AG on the recommendations from the MI Utility Commission.
There winter rates are $35 per day includes electric, $200 a week includes electric, and $500 a month and you pay them .14 per KWH for electric. Other than a laundry room, wifi that we didn't use because it showed a security warning on our computer, low voltage, and $40 deposit for there internet TV box there was no other amenities.

[Gene_Ginny]

camperforlife wrote:
...It was well above residential because it wasn't residential. ....

The point I was making was that the rate he was charged was LESS than what I pay in RI for residential.

[colliehauler]

It has to be the campground owners fault, he should have shut down and went to Hawaii.

[mark5w]

Maybe they could go to Judge Judy or the Peoples Court. They sue for a lot of nonsense like this. AND IT IS NONSENSE.

[Francesca_Knowl]

wa8yxm wrote:

Oh, I'm suing under Title 47 SS 227 of the US code.. Read it for why.

O.K., I read it. And you're going to LOSE because you didn't read all the way through Sec.2- a common mistake for "suing on principle"-type stuff that takes up so much of our Legal System's time and resources.

You'll be lucky if the Judge only throws the case out and doesn't hit you with a "frivolous suit" Sanction.

[Lantley]

wa8yxm wrote:
I will say again, It may be much ado about very little.. But it was only a few cents discrepancy in a phone bill that brought down a network of hacker spies who were trying to swipe US military secerates.. As I recall 2 of 'em suicided and the rest are spending the rest of their lives in holes in the penal system ground.

THe O/P has a legitimate complaint in my opinion, I would find for him and way more than the few cents you folks are talking about.

He is entitled to 3x his loss PLUS penalty and interest and the penalty is entirely up to the judge. The campground is WRONG to bill him for those few cents worth of power.

How would you feel about someone suing a company because they telephoned him in order to try and sell him their useless product?

Well... When I get back to my home base.. I'll let you know how a judge feels about it.. Cause I gave the company my opening offer (Request for payment) on my way south last fall and I'm still waiting for their attorney to call me.

Oh, I'm suing under Title 47 SS 227 of the US code.. Read it for why.

Maybe the OP should sue as well!........
Where is our common Sense it's winter in Michigan. Be glad the CG has the balls to use heat Tape and stay open. There is substantial risk trying to remain open during winter in Michigan.

Instead of commending the CG for trying to remain open. We want to attack them for meter fraud. Good Grief

[wa8yxm]

I will say again, It may be much ado about very little.. But it was only a few cents discrepancy in a phone bill that brought down a network of hacker spies who were trying to swipe US military secerates.. As I recall 2 of 'em suicided and the rest are spending the rest of their lives in holes in the penal system ground.

THe O/P has a legitimate complaint in my opinion, I would find for him and way more than the few cents you folks are talking about.

He is entitled to 3x his loss PLUS penalty and interest and the penalty is entirely up to the judge. The campground is WRONG to bill him for those few cents worth of power.

How would you feel about someone suing a company because they telephoned him in order to try and sell him their useless product?

Well... When I get back to my home base.. I'll let you know how a judge feels about it.. Cause I gave the company my opening offer (Request for payment) on my way south last fall and I'm still waiting for their attorney to call me.

Oh, I'm suing under Title 47 SS 227 of the US code.. Read it for why.

[traveylin]

The dude initiating this thread seems to be making much ado about little...But check his 12/17 post about the campground, its cold and he will move on once his wife gets her last chemo treatment. There are a lot of things we do not control. Sometimes taking a stand on a minor item is a way to assert the sense that one can regain normality.

Been there with wife's chemo and I understand.

pops

[camperforlife]

Gene&Ginny wrote:

past-MIdirector wrote:
... but had to pay the electric which park charged .14 per HWH well about the residential of .08 per KWH.
....

I wish I could pay as little as .14 per KWH for my residential electric in Rhode Island!!!

It was well above residential because it wasn't residential. I own single family rental homes and when they are empty and the power is in my name I'm charged the commercial rate which is about a third higher than my primary residence. I've read through the whole thread a couple times and outside the fact they didn't read the meter when he vacated the site, it all sounds pretty normal and straight forward to me.

[Gene_Ginny]

past-MIdirector wrote:
... but had to pay the electric which park charged .14 per HWH well about the residential of .08 per KWH.
....

I wish I could pay as little as .14 per KWH for my residential electric in Rhode Island!!!

[mark5w]

wa8yxm wrote:
First: Insulation will only work if water is flowing if not Insulation does not stop the transfer of heat, It mearly slows it down.. Even SUPER INSULATION only slows it down,, quite a lot, but it only slows it (They put a chick (Small chicken) in a box made with super insulation, Boiled the box on a TV ad, then opened the box and the chick was not only still alive but looked happy).

The issue here is this: The park is billing him for THEIR electrical use, and likely at a maked up rate.

When I check into a park and pay by the night (usually 12 bucks for water and power and dump station use) I expect to pay for electricity used to light the office, heat the "Facilities" and such... It's part of the 12 bucks.. I do not expect to get billed beyond the nightly fee for "Administrative" electrical use.





And for sure not for power used after I leave.

Now, as for the rate, which looked marked up to me and I am from S.E. Mi, I do not know Mi law on that. SOME states say the CG can not mark it up, only pass it on, Some do not.. But I do not know MICHIGAN law in this area.

Perhaps I shoudl research

I do have a copy of the Michigan Vehicle Code.. but it does not apply here.

We're only talking about $10.00 here not $100.00. Get over it.

[wa8yxm]

First: Insulation will only work if water is flowing if not Insulation does not stop the transfer of heat, It mearly slows it down.. Even SUPER INSULATION only slows it down,, quite a lot, but it only slows it (They put a chick (Small chicken) in a box made with super insulation, Boiled the box on a TV ad, then opened the box and the chick was not only still alive but looked happy).

The issue here is this: The park is billing him for THEIR electrical use, and likely at a maked up rate.

When I check into a park and pay by the night (usually 12 bucks for water and power and dump station use) I expect to pay for electricity used to light the office, heat the "Facilities" and such... It's part of the 12 bucks.. I do not expect to get billed beyond the nightly fee for "Administrative" electrical use.

And for sure not for power used after I leave.

Now, as for the rate, which looked marked up to me and I am from S.E. Mi, I do not know Mi law on that. SOME states say the CG can not mark it up, only pass it on, Some do not.. But I do not know MICHIGAN law in this area.

Perhaps I shoudl research

I do have a copy of the Michigan Vehicle Code.. but it does not apply here.

[DSDP_Don]

I read through the entire post and see some things that were not discussed.

First, the OP was paying less than $17.00 a day for a full hook up spot. We've been across this country and RARELY see a campsite that cheap. I understand it was a monthly rental, but was still only $17.00 a day.

Second, I'm not really knowledgeable about freezing pipes and conditions since I'm from California, but couldn't the RV park put insulated covers over the water connections at sites that aren't being used and not have to use the heat tape. If this is the case, the heat tape was for the RVer's benefit.

Third, no one takes checks anymore and you proved that by giving them a credit card. Same as a hotel or any other campground, the credit card is held on file until your bill is paid in full. Why would they want to get involved in billing you at a later date and then wait for your check.

Fourth, you claim that you were charged more for electricity than a local home would be charged. If the park is like a lot of places, they are charged on a tier basis. When their power usage goes up, the rate goes up.

I think you got a great deal and your only argument would be the difference in the meter reading between when you left and when they checked it. If you were so concerned about being overcharged, why didn't you have someone note the reading when you unplugged. You also didn't say how large of a discrepancy there was and by your post, I'm guessing not much.

There are often topics about bashing posters when they post, but you asked for opinions and I think you GOT them.

The economy has caused many retirees to be frugal and watch what they spend, but I think this was an issue of being cheap!

[kkmack]

Yes I do, 2oldman. My question was because it doesn't look like tape. It looks like wires. I wasn't sure if I was looking at the right thing.

[Mocoondo]

The OP is upset over an RV park ***IN MICHIGAN*** charging 10c a day ***IN THE WINTER*** to keep running water going into his coach? Him and his wife need to sell their motorhome and move into a nursing home.

Be glad you had running water. Be glad you could even find a campground in Michigan with running water in the winter. Be glad it was only 10c a day.