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Lynne,

I could have asked this question and not named the individual but I  
specifically choose to mention Matt by name for a reason. I put a lot  
of thought into this "public" outing and I'm not one to do this sort  
of thing, but based on the facts I think bringing it to the public may  
be the only way to solve this. Matt has had numerous opportunities to  
respond, not only to me, but to other people by phone or email. The  
issue is NOT if the refunds were valid as Matt told both Cindy and I  
that refund checks would be issued. The issue is  non payment after  
being told he would mail the checks and non response to any attempts  
to reach Matt.

This is not "trial by RideCamp", but a genuine, calm discussion about  
how to proceed and also to see if others did not get promised refunds.  
Looks like there is more of us out there. Lynne, your the only  
"negative" responder to my email but I've gotten numerous private  
emails with Matt stories. Being a past ride manager I'm sure you are  
sensitive to these issues but learning what I now know, I wouldn't be  
so fast to jump on the wagon and support Matt.

I agree with you that pre paying does help out hard working ride  
managers that may need some up front seed money. What I wish I had  
known is that Matt had the reputation of not paying entries and other  
money issues and the many people who knew his reputation paid at the  
ride instead of mailing in the money. It's us trusting folks from  
another region, who had no knowledge of his reputation that sent in  
the money.

There is this one ride manager from NATRC who never refunded a friends  
entry. For two years she was promised a check. She finally had to go  
to the president of NATRC and put pressure, but why should she have to  
do that? So now, I don't up front pay when I enter that managers ride.  
I'm glad I know what I know and I just play it safe.  With Matt, it  
would have been nice to know too. Five Hundred dollars nicer for  
Cindy. That's a lot of nice.

Lauren



On Feb 12, 2008, at 9:10 AM, Lynne Glazer wrote:

> Here we go, trial by ridecamp.  This sort of thing sickens me.   
> Lauren, you could have asked this question without bringing up the  
> individual, couldn't you?
>
> "this incident sure makes me never want to pre-pay again".  You have  
> the option on most rides to pay a late fee in order to enter at the  
> last minute, don't you?
>
> Pre-payment is requested by well-meaning, hard working, ride  
> managers who can't necessarily afford to front the up-front costs of  
> a ride like awards and porta-johns, meals for volunteers and vets,  
> etc.
>
> It is interesting to me if it is true about this person as he was  
> one of the folks who didn't get a refund from the for withdrawing  
> months ahead of Great Santa Fe ride and was most vociferous about  
> the organizer's behavior.
>
> Was this Medeiros ride's refund policy in writing?  Were there  
> extenuating circumstances?  Ride management is certainly not for the  
> faint of heart, remembering the year when we had 44 withdrawals in  
> the week before a ride, due to weather.  Of course the funds had  
> already been laid out for lots of stuff, and of course the manhours  
> expended for ride packets, etc..  I hadn't cashed any of the checks,  
> but it was no less a loss just because of the convenience of being  
> able to rip them up.
>
> Lynne
> http://www.photo.lynnesite.com
>
>
>
> On Feb 12, 2008, at 7:52 AM, Lauren Horn wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do when a ride manager  
> > says that they will refund your entry fee's but then never does and  
> > doesn't return calls?
> >
> > Matt Medeiros and his wife put on the StageCoach Ride (W) last  
> > November  and strongly encouraged paid pre entries. I pre paid for  
> > two days but only ended up riding one day. Cindy Crook on the other  
> > hand paid for 2 people for 3 days and is out over $500. She called  
> > and told Matt she couldn't make it. He assured her too that he  
> > would send a refund check. Matt has originally told us both that he  
> > would send the money but has never and ignores our calls and  
> > emails. I wonder who else he owes money too?
> >
> > What do we do? I'm out $95. and that is easy to absorb but I sure  
> > feel sorry for Cindy. That's a lot of money. This incident sure  
> > makes me never to want to pre-pay again.
> >
> > Lauren


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