Several years ago my father signed up for a membership with Timber Lodge RV Resort. Since I was the only other person in the family, he convinced me to sign up as the joint owner of this membership so that we could both take advantage of the Coast to Coast campsites. It ended up being the gift that keeps on giving...and not in a good way!
After suffering a disabling spinal injury, my father wrote to the company to cancel the membership. Neither of us had ever used it and his decline in health made it impossible for him to travel as he had planned.
At the time of purchase, he was told he could cancel in writing at any time. However, when he wrote to cancel, he was given a much different story. He was told that he could not cancel...EVER. He was told that it was a lifetime membership and that there was essentially no way out.
While my father is older and not as concerned with the impact this will have on his credit, I am much younger and still have young children that will need to be put through college, etc. My creditworthiness is much more important to me and I can’t simply wash my hands of it like my father has.
A few years ago, I pulled my credit report and there was a collection account reporting for a company called Monterey Collection Services, based out of Oceanside, CA. That is how this issue was initially brought to my attention.
I called the company and was told that the collection account originated with Timber Lodge RV Resort and my father’s membership that I had naively jointly signed for years earlier. (My fault for not reading what my father presented to me as a gift of an RV club membership, I know.)
The discussion with the collection agency was more like a shake down than a business transaction. I expected to have to pay the past due membership fees that were reported on the credit report and wanted to have the membership cancelled or have my name removed once it was paid. I figured that was reasonable since i had stupidly signed on the membership.
Instead, the Monterey Collection Services Representative told me I was obligated to continue paying for the membership for life! When I said that I wanted the membership cancele, they said I could only do so my paying an exorbitant amount that was about four times what they said was owed.
I asked them them to send me a copy of the contract, but never heard back from them and never received any documentation related to the alleged debt. Five years later and it is still reporting as a collection account on my credit report.
I am at a loss. I feel like this is a type of legal extortion. I need it off my credit report, so I might be stuck paying their exorbitant buy-out price just to get it removed. However, I’m worried that even if I pay it they won’t quit. In fact, I am worried that it might make matters worse if they think they can squeeze me for the money.
I looked into reporting both Timber Lodge RV Resort and Monterey Collection Services to the BBB. Nothing was listed for the RV resort at all as a business in TX. Shockingly, Monterey Collection Services was assigned an A+ rating, despite a plethora of complaints. I feel like this is a huge scam, with both companies working together to victimize unsuspecting customers. Sadly, I’m not the only one who’s reported this and their actions seem to be supported by the law! It is highway robbery!
Last year (June 2016) I signed up for this annual membership. Then I tried to cancel. I couldn't reach the guy who runs it. HUGE Runaround via multiple emails and phone calls, wrong numbers, full phone message inbox, etc.
Then I get a collection notice for $229.33 and the collection agency says I can cancel the membership but I also have to pay the $229.33 plus another $792 cancellation fee. The collection agency threatens me repeatedly.
After several attempts to resolve this issue, I send an email to the owner of Coast to Coast ([email protected]) and I get a response that day. I spoke with the Coast to Coast National Sales Director and explained what has been happening for months now. I tell her that I recently googled Timberlodge/Hillcrest and found that hundreds of people online have filed complaints about this company.
She contacts Timberlodge/Hillcrest and speaks with the guy (Jim?). He said he would immediately contact the collection agency and have my account discontinued and no additional attempts would be made to collect any money from me. Just like that, the guy folded when Coast to Coast contacted him.
The Coast to Coast Director calls me back within a couple of hours and tells me the collection agency has closed my account. She also says the Coast to Coast higher up leadership will be pursuing this fraudulent activity.
If I were you, I'd contact Coast to Coast and let them know your situation. They might benefit from getting copies of your contracts with Timberlodge/Hillcreset. Mine for sure never said that I had to pay a $792 to cancel their membership. And for sure, I didn't owe them $229.33 for overdue membership fees. That whole enterprise is a scam. Don't pay them a dime!!
Timber Lodge RV Resort Reviews
Several years ago my father signed up for a membership with Timber Lodge RV Resort. Since I was the only other person in the family, he convinced me to sign up as the joint owner of this membership so that we could both take advantage of the Coast to Coast campsites. It ended up being the gift that keeps on giving...and not in a good way!
After suffering a disabling spinal injury, my father wrote to the company to cancel the membership. Neither of us had ever used it and his decline in health made it impossible for him to travel as he had planned.
At the time of purchase, he was told he could cancel in writing at any time. However, when he wrote to cancel, he was given a much different story. He was told that he could not cancel...EVER. He was told that it was a lifetime membership and that there was essentially no way out.
While my father is older and not as concerned with the impact this will have on his credit, I am much younger and still have young children that will need to be put through college, etc. My creditworthiness is much more important to me and I can’t simply wash my hands of it like my father has.
A few years ago, I pulled my credit report and there was a collection account reporting for a company called Monterey Collection Services, based out of Oceanside, CA. That is how this issue was initially brought to my attention.
I called the company and was told that the collection account originated with Timber Lodge RV Resort and my father’s membership that I had naively jointly signed for years earlier. (My fault for not reading what my father presented to me as a gift of an RV club membership, I know.)
The discussion with the collection agency was more like a shake down than a business transaction. I expected to have to pay the past due membership fees that were reported on the credit report and wanted to have the membership cancelled or have my name removed once it was paid. I figured that was reasonable since i had stupidly signed on the membership.
Instead, the Monterey Collection Services Representative told me I was obligated to continue paying for the membership for life! When I said that I wanted the membership cancele, they said I could only do so my paying an exorbitant amount that was about four times what they said was owed.
I asked them them to send me a copy of the contract, but never heard back from them and never received any documentation related to the alleged debt. Five years later and it is still reporting as a collection account on my credit report.
I am at a loss. I feel like this is a type of legal extortion. I need it off my credit report, so I might be stuck paying their exorbitant buy-out price just to get it removed. However, I’m worried that even if I pay it they won’t quit. In fact, I am worried that it might make matters worse if they think they can squeeze me for the money.
I looked into reporting both Timber Lodge RV Resort and Monterey Collection Services to the BBB. Nothing was listed for the RV resort at all as a business in TX. Shockingly, Monterey Collection Services was assigned an A+ rating, despite a plethora of complaints. I feel like this is a huge scam, with both companies working together to victimize unsuspecting customers. Sadly, I’m not the only one who’s reported this and their actions seem to be supported by the law! It is highway robbery!
Last year (June 2016) I signed up for this annual membership. Then I tried to cancel. I couldn't reach the guy who runs it. HUGE Runaround via multiple emails and phone calls, wrong numbers, full phone message inbox, etc.
Then I get a collection notice for $229.33 and the collection agency says I can cancel the membership but I also have to pay the $229.33 plus another $792 cancellation fee. The collection agency threatens me repeatedly.
After several attempts to resolve this issue, I send an email to the owner of Coast to Coast ([email protected]) and I get a response that day. I spoke with the Coast to Coast National Sales Director and explained what has been happening for months now. I tell her that I recently googled Timberlodge/Hillcrest and found that hundreds of people online have filed complaints about this company.
She contacts Timberlodge/Hillcrest and speaks with the guy (Jim?). He said he would immediately contact the collection agency and have my account discontinued and no additional attempts would be made to collect any money from me. Just like that, the guy folded when Coast to Coast contacted him.
The Coast to Coast Director calls me back within a couple of hours and tells me the collection agency has closed my account. She also says the Coast to Coast higher up leadership will be pursuing this fraudulent activity.
If I were you, I'd contact Coast to Coast and let them know your situation. They might benefit from getting copies of your contracts with Timberlodge/Hillcreset. Mine for sure never said that I had to pay a $792 to cancel their membership. And for sure, I didn't owe them $229.33 for overdue membership fees. That whole enterprise is a scam. Don't pay them a dime!!