© St. Petersburg Times, published January 7, 2002
In June 1987, my husband and I purchased a campground membership from Outdoor World. We paid the membership fee off and used the campground from time to time, always paying the dues on time. In 1996, my husband had to start using a wheelchair, and we did not use the campground at all, although we still paid the dues.
In January 1998, my husband died. At this time I lost about half of my income. I never was able to get to the campground again. I struggled all though 1998, making payments on the dues and paying interest that accumulated each month on the unpaid balance.
In 1999, I realized I could not afford the dues and was not going to use the campground. I am now retired and on a fixed income. There is no way I can pay these dues.
It states in my contract that if I don't pay the dues, I will lose my membership. I have written to Outdoor World over and over since 1999. I have also called and told it that I no longer want the membership and that I don't use the campground and cannot afford to pay those dues. Outdoor World never even acknowledges my letters and phone calls. I get threatening letters about my credit at least three times a year.
I remarried in June and I certainly don't want my new husband to have to be concerned about the mounting debt on these dues, which I don't feel I should have to pay. I would appreciate any help you can give me with this terrible situation. Linda Long-Burmeister
Response: Tony Konn, director of customer service for Resorts USA in Bushkill, Pa., said that in August, a letter was sent to you requesting $930.92 for past due maintenance dues. It was addressed to your husband because a copy of his death certificate had never been received.
On June 17, 1998, you told Suzette Roman of Resorts USA's collection department that your husband had passed away and on July 8, 1998, you told Renee Houck you would send the death certificate, which was never received. Konn said your husband's name cannot be removed as an owner until this information is received.
Konn said all correspondence from members is recorded and the last contacts you had with the company were on June 19, 2000, when Shirley Eaton told you that your balance was $411.73, and on Sept. 11, 2000, when Trinity Baines left a message with your daughter for you to call.
Since then, Konn said the company has called your home nine times and sent letters requesting you to contact it about the delinquent dues, but you have never responded. He asked that you send him copies of the past correspondence to which you referred in your letter to Action. At present, he said the delinquent amount is $930.92, which represents the maintenance fees for 2000 and 2001. The company will cancel your membership with no further amount due upon receipt of $465.46, which is half of what is owed.
We suggest you send the company copies of your correspondence and the death certificate and ask it to waive the reduced amount it says you still know. Please us know what the reply is.
The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3:
28,000 "Midget Racer" mini-bicycles by Kent International; the front fork assembly can loosen or break, causing the rider to lose control and crash. The yellow mini-bicycles are about 31 inches long and 23 inches high with 8-inch black rubber tires, a black seat and black hand grips. "MIDGET RACER" and "KENT" are written in red lettering on the bicycle frame. Call toll-free 1-800-451-5368 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Web site: www.kentbicycles.com.
5,000 Advantage Model E9022 convertible car seats by Britax Child Safety; tether brackets may allow the tether attachments to separate from the seat shell in a crash. Affected seats were made from March 5 to July 26, 2000. The date of manufacture is on the label on the side of the seat. Call toll-free 1-888-427-4829 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fri., for a free repair kit. Web site: www.childseat.com. Continue to use the seat but make prompt repairs once the kit is received.
15,500 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) by Arctic Cat; the pressure switch in the braking system leaks fluid and unexpected loss of fluid can cause the brakes to fail, posing the risk of serious injury or death. Contact local ATV dealer for more information. To locate local dealer, call toll-free 1-800-279-9419 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays. Web site: www.arctic-cat.com.
Pine tree candles by the Neiman Marcus Group Inc.; the candles can collapse, causing the flame and hot wax to spread, posing a fire hazard. Shaped like a pine tree, the candle comes in three colors (lime green, royal blue and gold) and three sizes. Return to any Neiman Marcus store for full refund. Call toll-free 1-800-634-6267.
5,000 cases of 12-ounce packages of Mueller's Yolk Free Medium and Wide Noodle style pasta (UPC codes 02965123 and 02965026) by American Italian Pasta Co.; the product has always contained egg whites, but this fact was omitted on new stand-up packages. The recall affects only people allergic to eggs who are at risk of a potentially serious allergic reaction. Return to place of purchase for full refund. Call toll-free 1-877-328-7278.
Sources: SafetyAlerts at www.safetyalerts.com; Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov.; government food safety information at www.foodsafety.gov.
- Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.
Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.
We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.