Community Forums

DKRITTER · 02-10-2025, 07:47 AM

I just want to gripe about KOA's policy, not looking for any answers. We have had a KOA card for most of our 15 years camping and have been bit by this before. KOA has a policy where when you book a reservation they charge you for one night, no big deal until you have a situation and need to cancel, they keep it.

KOA read this part.

We frequent (several weeks a year) an East Texas KOA. We had made reservations to be there this week and the business associate we were going to see picked up a virus and was pretty I'll so as soon as I found out I called the KOA and canceled the week. I asked if they could move my deposit to the reservation we had for the end of the month (another week) and they said they couldn't do that.

So now we get to spend a half day or so looking for a new RV Park in East Texas so we can spend a couple of grand a year in over a $50.00 deposit.

workingonit · 02-10-2025, 07:52 AM

How far ahead did you cancel? Sounds like it was pretty close to when you were to be there. I have no issue with losing a night due to a cancellation but the places I have stayed usually work with me to move my dates around. Of course I'm usually there for 3 weeks to a month minimum. They have to have some protection against last minute cancellations.

DKRITTER · 02-10-2025, 08:08 AM

It was about 10 days.

znt1186 · 02-10-2025, 08:15 AM

I had to cancel a KOA reservation for January. I canceled over two weeks before the reservation. I was charged a $20 cancelation fee, which is reasonable to me. Their policy is one week before the reservation for the nominal fee. Shorter than that forfeits the entire deposit. Sorry for your inconvenience, but I have been charged over $100 before at a high brow resort.

Donskiman · 02-10-2025, 08:22 AM

Hmmm...for some unexpected health concerns we've had to cancel at KOA several times. Since we achieved VIP status there is no fee to cancel. Prior to that it was either $10 or $20. None of our cancelations were last minute though. Since most KOAs are independently owned, maybe you should call and speak with the owner. Once the owner realizes that $50 may cost several thousand in lost revenue, you may get better treatment. However, if it's a place that's always full anyway, they may not really care.

MFL · 02-10-2025, 08:23 AM

It may be due to being a KOA franchise resort, that they have to follow rules involving cancellations? I agree though, as a long time customer, it would have been a good gesture, if they could make that decision.

I stayed at a high end hotel in West Yellowstone MT for a week of snowmobiling. The next Winter, called them to reserve another week, and they said since being a repeat customer, they'd give a 10% discount. When I called the 3rd year, I asked for a free upgrade to a king suite, rather than the 10% discount. They replied, I would still get the discount, and no charge for the king suite upgrade. Nice to feel appreciated!

Mgd1961 · 02-10-2025, 08:29 AM

In my opinion no one likes to loose money but the rules are the rules. If it’s too close to your arrival date they may not be able to book someone else in that site and loose more money than you. KOA or not these campgrounds are a franchise and a small business. Your last minute cancellation cost them more than you think.

MattSiegel · 02-10-2025, 09:19 AM

It seems like a fair cancellation policy is alright when it's clearly posted on the website and in any confirmations. BUT... I do feel that any campground should want to move a deposit to another reservation without penalizing someone. Why would they rather lose the customer - probably forever - over a night's stay? I agree with DKRITTER, there is a better way to handle this situation.

oatmeal · 02-10-2025, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

I asked if they could move my deposit to the reservation we had for the end of the month (another week) and they said they couldn't do that.

But I assume you had already paid a deposit for the reservation at the end of the month, so "moving" the deposit for the stay you're cancelling is functionally the same as refunding it.

And to be fair, while it was an illness that caused you to cancel the trip (which can sometimes lead to policies bending), it wasn't your illness. You could still go.

But I feel your pain. I'm a fulltimer who got used to just flitting around wherever, whenever, and the last few years have forced me to get reservations every once in a while, and I hate the pressure.

But I also think about the campground's situation. They could end up with an empty site due to a late cancellation and deserve some compensation for that.

And if they're not busy enough that late cancellations cause empty sites, then people should feel comfortable not making reservations well in advance with the risk losing a deposit if their plans change. But if they do fear not being able to get a site, then it probably means that the campground IS busy enough that late cancellations cost the campground money.

Punkinhead · 02-10-2025, 10:58 AM

If a deposit is refundable then what's the point in it?

Bigceasar · 02-10-2025, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattSiegel

It seems like a fair cancellation policy is alright when it's clearly posted on the website and in any confirmations. BUT... I do feel that any campground should want to move a deposit to another reservation without penalizing someone. Why would they rather lose the customer - probably forever - over a night's stay? I agree with DKRITTER, there is a better way to handle this situation.

Sadly people try moving the reservation in an effort to skirt cancellation fees. They call within the cancellation period and request to move their reservation out a month. Then they call a week or so later and cancel, hoping no one notices they changed dates so the cancellation request now falls outside the period where there is a fee.

**NLOVNIT** · 02-10-2025, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigceasar

Sadly people try moving the reservation in an effort to skirt cancellation fees. They call within the cancellation period and request to move their reservation out a month. Then they call a week or so later and cancel, hoping no one notices they changed dates so the cancellation request now falls outside the period where there is a fee.

You had a legitimate reason for your change; but how do they truly know that? It's the people, as mentioned, who take advantage of the loopholes that ruin it for everyone.

spuds · 02-10-2025, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

We frequent (several weeks a year) an East Texas KOA. We had made reservations to be there this week and the business associate we were going to see picked up a virus and was pretty I'll so as soon as I found out I called the KOA and canceled the week. I asked if they could move my deposit to the reservation we had for the end of the month (another week) and they said they couldn't do that.

If you did not have the second reservation and were asking to reschedule, they could have done it. They cannot credit from one reservation (which has a unique transaction number) to another.

This is due to the credit card processor charging them fees, even if you cancel the reservation (they are out those fees. They do not get them back if you cancel.)

If you had requested a date change to a new date that wasn't another existing reservation, they could have done that and applied the deposit and fees to the new date.

Lantley · 02-10-2025, 07:59 PM

In Today's world of RV reservations and deposits you are bound to get stung by a deposit forfeit when you cancel. Yes maybe it would be a nice gesture if they could transfer your deposit somehow, but don't expect it automatically. Maybe try asking the owner nicely but if no consideration is given let it go.....You caused cancellation not them.
I imagine the CG's don't like keeping deposits either but they must enforce their policy to protect the integrity of the reservation system. Otherwise it just gets abused!

If you like the KOA otherwise besides this cancellation issue. Why stay somewhere else? Who are you impacting by spending a 1/2 day searching for an alternative CG?
Are you punishing the CG or are you punishing yourself!