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REALITY RANCH MILITARY CAMP - MY STORY
Are you considering sending your son to Reality Ranch Military Camp in Arizona? Before you make your final decision, read on about my experience with them during the summer of 2007...
After sending in a $500 deposit in April of 2007, I was then told the rest of the payment is required within 30 days. That itself it unusual, as most camps do not require the balance until the start of camp. I paid the remaining balanced ($3,300) in May, with 2 full months to go before camp starts on July 29th.
July 25th, just 4 days until camp, I get an email stating that camp has been cancelled, due to storm damage to the tents and equipment. The email goes on to say that refunds are available, and there will be a letter sent with instructions on how to obtain the refund. What is the idea about sending a letter for the refund (snail-mail), when all other correspondence has been by email or phone??? And what instructions are necessary...just refund the money, right?
Three days later I sent an email requesting a full refund. No response at all, so two days after that I sent another one, giving them a week to refund my payment (they've had it for over two months by this time). I get a reply, and they again re-iterate about the storm damage, and then state "We have specific procedures in place to refund all of the tuition from the cancelled camp."
Just what are those procedures? The next paragraph says, "The letter was going to provide instructions, to include sending us a letter with your name and amount of refund requested so that we are able to provide evidence of the necessity of these refunds when necessary. Your emails have certainly met this need. It will take approximately 90 days to receive your refund, as situations like this entail a lot more than a simple refund. I don't expect you to understand the reason behind our process, but please know that we do have a process that we have to follow, as a summer camp."
MY RESPONSE - I need to send them a letter asking for the refund "to provide evidence of the necessity of these refunds when necessary."??? Since when does a customer have to prove necessity of their refund, and when is it NOT necessary? There is no other explanation provided in this email to explain what is meant by this statement. Do they think that some customers will say "oh, you keep the money, I don't need it back, it is not necessary..."???
Another part of the email goes on to detail their priorities, which they say first is cleaning up the camp, then getting to the refunds. So, they need to clean up camp, which has no campers at this time because of the cancellation, and THEN they will get around to the refund process. What does that say about their customer service?
Even though it was way out of proportion to wait 90 days for the refund, I did. And then called my credit card company to dispute the charges since they still had not complied with their responsibility to send my money back. I also put in a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, and Reality Ranch replied, after much delay, that they were still "processing" my refund.
Take this as a warning, if you are considering Reality Ranch camp. After the cancellation, there was no posting on their web site indicating this, just a message that camp was all full for the summer. I take that as an indication they have no interest in letting others know what is going on, so I am providing information via the web. Make your own decision, but do it with fuller knowledge. I no longer trust them. Would you?
Finally, in January of 2008, I did receive a refund, but not from the ranch. Instead, my credit card company had to get it for me.
ALERT: They are no longer accredited or associated with the American Camping Association.
The Arizona News Courier has articles with problems associated with the camp, if you take the time to inquire. It is definitely a "high risk" venture to trust these people with your money, and your son.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Send E-Mail to: sameldrum1@gmail.com
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