Maine State Campground Reservation/Billing System Fails Again!

It doesn't do any harm to email the governor about this shoddy treatment either. It has worked for me several times. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Do business with private campgrounds. Problem solved!

Still on hold. Dan, my husband would agree with you at this point that the extra $30 a night for private campgrounds would have broken us about even! lol Maybe it is not so important for my kids to grow up with the same traditions I did.... They like the heated swimming pools and game rooms.. who needs campfires and family conversation?

There are a wide variety of private facilities.

I was just kidding. I guess a little grumpy since I am still holding.... I actually frequent a few, I do enjoy a variety of camping areas. I am always looking for new places to bring the teen age boys though if you've got suggestions! I also like to take them to the places I grew up going to (my parents always took us to the state parks) and it is fun to see them experience everything exactly as it was when I was a kid. (except for nicer bathrooms and the handy dish sinks!)

Well, after an hour of phone time, the State will have the company that is running the site call me back.... Good thing I planned the morning off from work!

I don't think I'd let any state agency near my bank account. Use a credit card.

Agreed. Particularly as we've recently seen with the unemployment direct-deposit issues, government+bank account/debit card = bad move.

The campground reservation department must have gotten their software from the same outfit that did the DHHS billing systems.

Then system crashed twice between 9:30 and 11 AM this morning. I did get the last reservation available for my size camper just before 11 AM and have the confirmation. Today was the first opportunity to make reservations in all but one state park. Last week was set aside for Sebago Lake Campground reservations only.

The system requires that you reserve a specific site. Then the clock counts down for 10 minutes. If you didn't get the site you want you pick another site. That takes 10 minutes etc. I got my site on about the 10th try. It works a lot like an auction.

Roger, I did finally get reservations in alternate sites, for a different number of nights. The problem was, each time I didn't get the site, I was charged anyway....

Check your account or credit card or whichever way you paid.

Thanks. I'll have my treasurer (wife) watch that closely. We have the receipt and confirmation printed out.

AMG - Your Full-Service Online Forum!
:)

The reservation system is new this year. For the past 3 years reservations were handled by InfoSpherix Incorporated. They handle maybe a dozen different state park campground reservations across the US. The contract wasn't renewed, and new this year InfoMe - a "public/private long-term partnership" handles Maine's State Park campsite reservations. In the three years that InfoSpherix handled our reservations I know of only one double billing. Maybe other people had problems that were resolved without my knowledge, but in my opinion, those mistakes were rare.

The same problems occurred last year. I know of many people who got charged for reservations they did not get.

I gave up years ago with system when first introduced. I saw a person check into Sebago and pay /check in several lots all paid on one credit card from out of state. Screw Mainers and those who didn't have a card!