seeking reports on Terlingua House

[kmck]

As far as Terlingua Ranch goes,

There is a huge uproar out at TR these days amongst the land owners having to do with the POA, etc.  I really haven't kept up with all the details  - having to do with assessments, changing the rules, certain owners being exempted, lawsuits, etc. 

This is true Shane.  It's a sad situation.  We've owned our land for almost 20 years and lived here for 7 years.  We're thinking of selling and moving to Alpine we are just that sick of the fussing.  It's so hard to leave the peace and quiet of the desert though.  We used to be like some of you who couldn't wait to get here on vacation, but the situation is tearing the place apart. 

kmck

[dave2]

MBrent; Thanks for the report on TH.  I have had mixed feeling about staying there, and now I think I'll just avoid the place. Your experience is something like what happened to me back a few years in the Gila area of NM. Stayed in an upscale place called Casasitas, and had some trouble opeing the windows (no AC but there should have been.) Naturally, I was accused of "breaking every window" in the place and I recieved a huge repair bill.  I complained but eventually paid just to get the situation behind me. 

But never again.

[Undertaker]

Sounds crazy but I usually shoot photos of every motel/hotel I stay in on check out (date stamped), avoids the BS on payment.

[mbent]

Yeah, I liked having a place to keep food and cook, etc to have bkfast, pack lunch, cook out at night, etc but it ain't worth the xtra $600...even if we'd broken a window, the 'parts' for repairs only cost less than $90...the 2 trips to Alpine $350...2 trips bc their inept, (not my fault) on-sight, imported british caretaker 'forgot' to get the doorknob keyed the first time or some such lame crap and 20 hours of labor..so, i'm sure w/a broken window, they would've still found a way to gouge me. yeah...i am looking for suggestions for next year...or next time....not a bad idea about taking pics of  a place when you get there! ridiculous that you can't trust people though...sad...i guess like renting a car...thanks for listening to me gripe though....and yes you have to pay but at least we can warn others away from such bs

[mbent]

argh...not only have they over-charged/gouged us, they have charged our credit card twice and have refused to take off the double charge!?? So...now I'm up to over $1200....for this door-knob thing....anyone got any suggestions???? Should I dispute this?? Gosh, I didn't know what to do....anyone????

[SHANEA]

Simple Solution:  Email them and tell them that you are posting your problems with their lodging on Big Bend Chat and every other travel website warning people to not rent from them.  Send them the link to Big Bend Chat and every where else that you post comments at.    I've used this "trick" before with companies when they were giving me bad service, send them an email with 1000 cc's to other people warning them to not use their service and to boycott them.  Guess what, negative publicity usually does the trick.  Heck yes I'd dispute it.   

[presidio]

argh...not only have they over-charged/gouged us, they have charged our credit card twice and have refused to take off the double charge!?? So...now I'm up to over $1200....for this door-knob thing....anyone got any suggestions???? Should I dispute this?? Gosh, I didn't know what to do....anyone????

If you are being erroneously charged on your credit card, your first step is to dispute the charge with the merchant. If they are unresponsive, meaning they do not immediately issue a credit, your next step is to call the credit card company and verbally dispute the charge. Depending on which card it is, you may get an immediate credit while they investigate, or you may have to wait while they look into it. Most likely you eventually will have to send in some documentation to substantiate the erroneous billing.

If you really want to make an impact, say fraudulent use is occurring. It will result in an account cancellation and thus an inability of the biller to post any more charges. I wouldn't do this frivolously as you will be without a credit card for the few days it takes to get a new one issued and if you have any automatic payments posting to the account you have a small nightmare to get them all updated. I've gone through this twice, once when I lost my wallet (returned several hours later without the cash but cards were intact...but did not want to chance misuse) and more recently when my card was skimmed by some puke restaurant waiter. I have never lost a nickel to a charge I did not make.

Contact the BBB for Brewster County (if there is one); however, I'm not convinced the BBB has any real clout. You'd do better to contact the county district attorney and/or the state attorney general as they enforce consumer protection issues and file a formal complaint. It's one thing to be responsible for damage, quite another to be gouged for it.

Posting rants/warnings on websites may make you feel good, but they likely won't produce any corrective action since you are dealing with a small business in a very isolated area. About as effective as standing in the desert with a protest sign. They just aren't going to have the exposure to potential customers that might affect a large business with a well-established presence.

[mbent]

 :pissed:yes, thanks you guys! I could come stand in the middle of the desert w/a sign just for the hell of it...just say I need to do that just to get back out TO the desert...you know, no one here would know that it would be completely wasted effort...and it makes me laugh to think of it...and you guys might join me, right??? well, for a few minutes, then we could go find something better to do.  It must be looking a little better than it did in June.

I know, I am already being gouged and I am going continue to warn people, however, on top of being gouged, they charged our credit card twice and told us they were going to 'take it off' but it appears that, for some reason, they did not (or are refusing to take it off)...so, this is becoming more than gouging....it's becoming more like credit card fraud which is way more serious. I want to cancel the card but it's my husband's and he's had it much longer than he's had me and he's attached to it and to his credit i guess....and who is the DA down there now???  Yes, I will look into it tomorrow...it feels like the weekend here as everything is shut down (downtown) due to faux tropical storm...and off this topic but what is going on in OJ?? I've been reading in the international -every week it's getting crazier- guess it's not the same- to go back and forth across all day long anymore.......just because you can...sadder to be living it too i imagine.

[presidio]

I want to cancel the card but it's my husband's and he's had it much longer than he's had me and he's attached to it and to his credit i guess.

Attached to a credit card NUMBER???? Repeat the new number 25 times and it's in memory as your new favorite.

All that happens is they give you a new card with a different number, your undisputed balance is transferred and your credit line is unaffected. Your credit report (you are getting the free annual ones, right?) will show the account closed due to being compromised or lost/stolen. It does not affect your credit rating one whit. Other than the inconvenience of having to go through the cancellation/reissuance, this is one of the easiest things you will ever do in the commercial world.