I used to love their group site, until the experience I just recently had with a supervisor her name started with a C so for the purpose of the story I will refer her as C as we are far more compassionate than she is. Never in my life have I felt so attacked by someone who’s job is to interact with people on a regular basis.
We had a group site booked this weekend. Unfortunately we could not go because our son had contracted a infectious skin virus, everyone that was going we’re grandparents and immediate family who did not see the purpose of going without us. My mother called Alberta parks with the attitude that it doesn’t hurt to try and call and as for a refund , but never expected anything. Her first call was to long like where she spoke to someone who said it shouldn’t be a problem but we would need to call Alberta parks first, so that’s what we did. Alberta parks suggested that we cancel and he can ask for compassion for us but obviously could not promise anything . They were great about it. Within a few hours I get a call from “C†at long lake, while I’m at the doctors with my son her first instinct is to get on the defence “we can’t take everyone’s word for it when they call and say there is a medical issue†I told her we thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I told her I have tried all channels to find someone to take over, even posted on Facebook with no such luck. She said that she would need to speak to her supervisor and she would call me tomorrow. Tomorrow came and I got no call back. And since I was dealing with a sick child I had asked my mom take it over.
My mom called to follow up, and even suggested that fine if we can’t get the mercy on this, she will just go with a friend so it’s not a total waste. This is where things go horribly wrong ... “C†then suggested that although nobody has taken the spot over, she said we would need to rebook with alberts parks.. pay another 500.. and forfeit the other 500 we paid! My mother obviously questioned and this is where “C†got even more rude.. and eventually said she would talk to her supervisor after belittling my mother and also ranting about how Alberta parks is just a call centre and how they don’t know what they are doing. The day passes, and still no call back from “c†which in then forced my mom to call back but She would not pick up the phone.
My mom eventually had to call alberts parks and make a formal complaint and ask for intervention. Keep note that at this point all she was asking for is that our name be reinstated on the reservation that we had already paid for in full..This morning we got the call from them advising she had spoken to “C†but not the supervisor as promised who had made the decision that nothing can be done, though we had been told otherwise it would be easy to put our name back on the reservation.
At the end of it, it wasn’t about the money and it’s really disappointing to see our camping community soiled with such negative vindictive individuals.
Again I would like to point out that this used to be our favourite group site, we will no longer be coming here.