DON’T BE A VICTIM FIGHT BACK !!

Barb Mozingo, VP, Project Coordinator

If you think you have been cheated by a membership camping scheme, you should file a complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection in the state(s) where it took place. NAM has developed a formto make filing complaints a little easier and more consistent with the membership campground resort industry. We are presently coordinating it with several AG offices.

Fight Back

Attorney General (AG) offices encourage consumers to send them information about suspected illegal business practices even though they do not represent individuals seeking the return of their money. By filing a complaint you notify the appropriate agency of the activities of the company so that it can be determined if law enforcement or legal action is warranted.

Who is your Attorney General?
Here is a web site where you can look them up.
[CLICK HERE]

The more reports they receive the clearer the practice is revealed. Numerous complaints often reveal a pattern of misconduct allowing the AG’s office to take action. Hopefully a person will be assigned to the complaints and get a better idea of what is going on with the industry.

This is a case where each small voice adds up to one big one.

When you address the letter to the AG office include the phrase:
“RE: Membership Campgrounds”.

BEFORE YOU FILE YOUR COMPLAINT

Many states require that you try to resolve the issue with the company by letter before filing a complaint with their office. In the letter you should briefly describe the nature of your complaint. If it is about a purchase include the date and place of the transaction along with the amount of money you paid. If it is a case of harassment, state that you no longer want to be called or bothered by this company.

Ask for specific and reasonable action from the company. Allow at least ten working days for the business to respond. Your letter should be polite. Do not be angry, sarcastic or threatening to the business. Type the letter, if possible, and keep a copy of it.

It should be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested. This will cost more, but will provide evidence of when your letter was received.

If the business does not respond within ten working days, or if it indicates an unwillingness to work with you, file a complaint with the State Office of Consumer Affairs. That is what our form is intended to help you do. Enclose copies of all letters to and from the business that relate to your complaint, including the certified mail return receipt, contracts and other important data. (Copies only – keep the originals).

Allow three to four weeks for them to review your complaint.

You have a right to a written contract and to fair treatment from your campground/camping club.
Don't let them try to freighten you or intimidate you.
Stick to your guns and fight back.

If you try to work things out - and they do not respond appropriately - there are several things you can do.

  1. Get an attorney to get it straightened out.
  2. Complain to the Attorneys General
  • in the state where the campground is located,
  • in the state where their home office is, and
  • in the state where you live.

    [CLICK HERE] to download a form you can use to file these complaints.
    Let us know if you need our help to find the addresses of these Attorneys General.
    You will have to tell us which states you are trying to contact.

Send us the details and contact information if you want us to contact the campground and try to find out what the problem is..

Be sure you let us know how things work out so that we can warn others...