Reserved RV online at El Monte RV for a trip (12/23 to 12/28) we were taking to Bellingham, WA. Long story short:
1) 12/23: We arrive to pick up the RV and it had been winterized, so I was told we could not use the water, sink, shower, toilet, etc....what? We rented a fully self-contained RV. I knew the guy that I rented it from could not resolve the issues so I figured I would talked to the manager the next day to get the issue addressed. (Since it was late and everyone had gone home and they stayed open 15 minutes late to rent me the RV - thank you.)
2) 12/24 3:00a: I am traipsing through the rain with my 8 year old daughter to the RV park campground bathrooms. Thinking to myself, really - is this why a rented a fully self contained RV for $1250 for five days (more about the bill later)?
3) 12/24 8:00a: I call the El Monte RV line trying to get to the El Monte RV local location (Ferndale) where I rented it. I got connected to the main line. The lady tried to contact the local location but they are not in until 9a. She said she would call me back and could not understand why they would rent a winterized RV.
4) 12/24 10:00a: No call back, so I call the local El Monte location (Ferndale) and talked to the manager there and described the situation. And to my surprise, he said yes you can NOT use the water system, toilet, sink, etc. I said "What? We rented this as a full self-contained RV" He said sorry, it should have told you that when you rented it online. It didn't, in fact I went online right after I spoke to him and if I was to rent it today it still does not say that. First, why would I rent a RV without this capability (toilet, sink, water, etc)? Second, I looked up the temperature for Bellingham for the period in which we are renting and it gets down to 29 degrees one night and that would NOT created an issue (It would have to get into the teens before there would be any concern):
Thu
Showers
38°31°
Fri
Mostly Sunny
37°29°
Sat
Cloudy
40°34°
Sun
Showers
42°35°
Mon
Scattered Showers
41°33°
5) 12/24 10:05a: After further discussion, the manager said "Well if you had to, you could get a bucket of water and use it to flush the toilet. Really!
6) 12/24 11a: My action to help mitigate the situation is to ask the RV park manager if we can move the RV closer to the bathrooms so we don't get drench going back and forth to the bathroom and shower.
7) Now: The real frustrating thing is we are staying at a RV Park one exit from where we rented it. You would think given that freezing is not an issue for the duration of our stay, they would offer to get it into working order...nope! Moreover, I am looking at every RV in this park is hooked up to water and sewer, they don't have an issue with freezing! In fact the RV park owner was amazed that they would claim it would be an issue.
8) Now: Back to the bill, we were told that it would be $250 more to upgrade the RV to a larger model. Our original bill was $699, our new bill is $1250. I didn't have my original confirmation as my wife had it and she was not there. So I guess the extra $250 to $300 was for the benefit of a non-working toilet, water, shower, etc. Just an extra special Christmas Gift!
I am just stunned that they think that this would be OK to:
1) Use a bucket?
2) Charge Full-tilt for a RV that does not have core necessities?
3) Not address a fixable problem?
4) Not notify us that the RV would not have water or toilet or shower before renting it.
4) Etc.
I am usually a pretty easy going guy, but this is beyond reasonable or logical (temperature) thus I feel compelled to write a review. The real testament to good/great service is when a customer comes with an issue or concern and how you respond. Have to say that El Monte got a failing grade.
On top of that, I gave the guy a $47 tip (drained my wallet) for staying late so we could pick up the RV :(.
Sorry...I have to go...need to get a bucket of water for the toilet... read more
