cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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After 3 years of attempting to get reservations at recreation.gov, they piss me off. First let me say this is a .gov web page, but it's run by Booze Allen and their sub-contractors.
This year after getting a REALLY hard to get spot which I was shut out of 2 years ago and cancelled out last year due to the campground being closed entirely and this year shut out because they changed the advanced reservations from 6 months to 5 months w/out notice I finally got a spot that was available on 2 week notice.
As it happens the campground was closed again for the 1st day of our reservation. Rec.gov sent 1 generic, cryptic (word salad) email which required me to modify my 14 night reservation in order to maintain it with no deadline for that modification to happen. Of course they also sent me a reminder that my reservation was good 2 days prior to our first night.
(Does everyone travel w email access available 24/7?)
So all was apparently well until the night before our departure at 10:30pm I get an email notifying us the reservation was cancelled. The reservation was put back in the pool and resold in a heartbeat.
In the end we only live a 7 hour drive from the location, but it's a National Park that people travel to from all over the US and the world so I figured I'd do my part to make sure what happened to us doesn't happen to anyone else.
My 3 issues are:
1. Why is the default cancelling a reservation that was paid for in full?
2. Based on all their communications to me rec.gov had the information and software writing skills to write an appropriate, clearly written email stating exactly what I needed to do; why didn't they do that?
3. Why when I get a Customer Support case set up they ghost me TWICE?
PS A Park Service employee went out of his way to find us an administrative spot to use instead. He wasn't successful, but he did try.
Rant over.
I'd like to fix this. Anybody know anyone at Booze Allen?
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
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cptqueeg wrote:(Does everyone travel w email access available 24/7?)
Not that I check it all the time, but yes a lot of us can and do check our email on our phones.
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bgum
South Louisiana
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Joined: 02/22/2006
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Email on cellphone is the norm today. That being said there is no doubt that the website needs improvement.
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cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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bgum wrote:Email on cellphone is the norm today. That being said there is no doubt that the website needs improvement.
I have no problem w the web site, other than the bots booking reservations; my issues are the policies and poor communication.
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TenOC
On the road -- Full time
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One of my family members is a programmer that is CONTRACTED to write the code for the web site. Her hands are tied. She can only do as she is told.
Remember the government employees (I was one) are NOT motivated to help you. They are motivated to keep their jobs and to make sure the program need to be improved so they can get a larger budget next year. ALWAYS GROW THE DEPARTMENT.
Please give me enough troubles, uncertainty, problems, obstacles and STRESS so that I do not become arrogant, proud, and smug in my own abilities, and enough blessings and good times that I realize that someone else is in charge of my life.
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NamMedevac 70
Reno
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Joined: 11/09/2020
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I fully understand your situation and is reason why I only book and camp at Fed, State parks, etc before and after the 3 month vacation season. Just completed over two weeks of great camping at Bodega Bay and Brannan Island SPs in May.
Everywhere is to crowded and jammed up with folks during those 3 months and I am not interested in constantly checking email for reservations. Shish.
As another forum member likes to say it is just a snafu unless it happens to him of course.
During those 3 months I camp at more remote or undeveloped campgrounds waiting for wonderful September. Life is good. Rollin, Rollin, Rollin.
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cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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The campground I'm referring to is open from mid June to early October. I wouldn't set foot in this park during that window if not for this campground.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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Yes, most people have access to email and it's only getting more common.
The website is bad but it's less some secret cabal and more the challenge of an agency that doesn't contract for software...contracting to make software. Assuming they have a 2 to 5 year contract, it's a long time before they get around to fixing issues or it's an expensive contract modification that they haven't got a budget for.
Having gone thru a similar process a few times, it's a lot harder than it sounds to write the specs to get a flawless software developed.
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cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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TenOC wrote:One of my family members is a programmer that is CONTRACTED to write the code for the web site. Her hands are tied. She can only do as she is told.
Remember the government employees (I was one) are NOT motivated to help you. They are motivated to keep their jobs and to make sure the program need to be improved so they can get a larger budget next year. ALWAYS GROW THE DEPARTMENT.
I'd like to contact Julie McPherson at Booze Allen. It can be done w LinkedIn Premium (which I'm not buying) or reverse engineering her email. Can anyone one help w either of those?
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stickdog
Somewhere, USA
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Joined: 01/27/2002
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You can moan and complain all you want on an internet forum and you get nothing. Sit yourself down get out pen and paper and write a complaint letter to your US congressman and both your US senators. You will get a response and perhaps an apology from Rec.gov.
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