On at least 3 occasions, I have had issues at at least two different KOA franchises and filed complaints to their corporate headquarters. The first two complaints were against the KOA at St Augustine Beach. On my first visit, we were told that we had to have a $20 deposit for the key to the cabin, which was told to us when we reserved the cabin. No problem, I knew about this and had planned for this. My Visa debit card had plently of funds in the bank and $20 was little issue. But, they wouldn't take the same card for the deposit that I had not only paid the deposit with and the remaining balance for a 3 day stay. NO!!! Cash only!!! What??? You mean I have to go find an ATM if I don't have $20 in cash? You could have said so on your website or at least in the email you sent me when I reserved the cabin!!! Luckily, my girlfriend had some cash to make up the $20, as I hadn't hit the supermarket for food yet and get a little cash for extras. On the second day, the paddle boats were not for rent because the two old ladies were too lazy to unlock them and claimed "we can't rent them because we have a tour bus coming in" What??? We might have let that slide and just assumed the old bitties forgot their Prozac that day, but after the deposit issue, this was just too much for someone who is supposed to service the paying customer.
On my second visit, we had requested in our advanced reservation a two-room cabin on the lake. The KOA took our credit card payments and deposits and never told us about any issues UNTIL we checked in. "By the way, none of our two-room cabins are on the lake, only the one room cabins".
The second KOA I had an issue with was in Titusville. Too many lights at night shining through their trailer-trash, see-through curtains, cabins less than 100 feet from a major road near the Interstate with trucks using "jake brakes" all night long and no noise barrier such as a fence or shrub line. Just to add insult to injury, we were informed "wood fires are not allowed unless you pay us a $100 deposit plus rent for an enclosed "patio type" portable fireplace. WHAT??? We can't go Kamping at a Kampground and have a Kampfire unless we pay you extra for the privledge? The lady even lied to me and said Florida state law forbids fire on the ground just to make money of the portable fireplaces. Other KOAs in Florida even deliver firewood to your campsite for you and some even provide FREE FIREWOOD! I guess all these other KOAs are breaking the law, or this one is allowed to lie and cheat the customer.
After filing 3 complaints with their corporate headquarters and receiving no reply, I informed them of my cancellation of their services in a separate letter, stating the main reason is that they failed to do anything about the complaints. I finally received a reply that said, "we notified the KOAs of your issues and asked them to respond". That's it? No follow-up? No checking to see if action was taken? No enforcement to ensure that all franchises meet a minimum level of service and satisfatction?
I have torn up my KOA Value Kard forever and refuse to ever stay at any KOA again. You can stay at plently of other campgrounds that offer the same (in fact, BETTER service than these two KOAs) for less money and not get ripped off with extra charges, cash-only deposits and lazy employees.
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