PARENTS BEWARE -- especially if your college student is living here…read more
My son lived at Blue Sky I-35 RV Park for three years while attending TSTC. Until recently, I would have given this park 4+ stars and recommended it to other parents. He had great relationships with previous management, including Ladonna, Kim, and Brittany, and had only one minor noise complaint in three years.
Unfortunately, our experience with the new Park Manager, Jeremy, completely changed my opinion.
My son's former neighbor, an older gentleman, lived beside him for over a year and never complained to management or to us about my son being loud. That resident later moved out after, according to what we were told, being threatened with being made to leave. Jeremy then moved into the site next to my son.
Shortly afterward, Jeremy accused my son of partying Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. My son wasn't even there Friday or Saturday. He returned Sunday and had five friends over. Jeremy asked him to turn the noise down, and he did. My son then tried to introduce himself and shake Jeremy's hand, but Jeremy refused.
Then came our billing issue.
On July 23, I notified the park my son would move out August 28. We were sent an August invoice for $522.58 for August 1-28, compared with his normal $600 monthly rent.
His plans later changed and he needed to leave August 13. I emailed asking for an updated prorated invoice and said I would pay it immediately. Jeremy responded that they "do not do prorated stays."
Because we had JUST received what appeared to be a prorated August bill, I called for clarification.
That conversation lasted less than a minute.
When I questioned the discrepancy and objected to the way Jeremy was speaking to me, he told me:
"You need to be out of the park by 5 p.m. today or I'm calling the cops."
Then he hung up.
My 21-year-old son was in Waco and didn't even know this conversation had happened. I was in Brenham, suddenly being told he had only hours to leave the place he had called home for three years. I called back twice and received no answer.
I could not find an obvious corporate phone number, so I submitted the online contact form asking for help. I still have not received a response.
Thankfully, I accidentally reached another Blue Sky location and spoke with Jennifer, who listened, calmed me down, and helped connect me with someone who could actually resolve the situation.
That person was Brittany, the assistant manager at the I-35 park. Brittany listened, reviewed what happened, and handled the situation professionally.
And in the end?
The rent WAS prorated, and my son did NOT have to leave by 5 p.m.
This entire situation could have been avoided with a two-minute conversation.
Jennifer and Brittany showed exactly what customer service should look like. In my opinion, Brittany demonstrated the management skills that were completely missing from my interaction with Jeremy.
I understand businesses have policies. What I do not understand is threatening to call the police and ordering a three-year resident to leave within hours because his mother questioned a billing policy -- especially when the park's own invoice gave us a legitimate reason to question it.
College students are still paying customers and deserve to be treated with respect.
Three years of positive experiences were overshadowed by one completely unnecessary interaction with the new manager. I sincerely hope Blue Sky ownership takes this seriously.
Thank you, Jennifer and Brittany, for stepping in and turning an awful situation around.
