ComplaintsforFreedom Boat Club

• Initial Complaint

  05/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  2 years ago me and my husband joined Freedom Boat Club in *********, our dog came with us to the sales meeting, she was welcomed on the intro boat ride. We told them we have no interest in boating without our dog. We were told well-behaved dogs were always welcome, and would always be. That was important to us before we signed up, As the membership is not just monthly and one can cancel at any time if they dont like something but there is a hefty financial commitment of around $6000 upfront as an initiation fee. Today, out of the blue, we received an email stating the club will no longer allow dogs due to members not cleaning up after their pet or being off leash and jumping on someone.My first choice would be that the business rescind this reactionary policy that affects all dogs and responsible dog owners, and instead just target the offending members and their dogs. Or at least grandfather, and members that they have already made this promise to. On every boating outing we interact with at least two freedom boat club, staff members and not one has ever complained to Us about our dog. They all pet her and demonstrate enjoyment interacting with her. Second choice would be a full refund of our initiation fee. and a refund of this fall/ ******* monthly boating fee as we only kept it so that we could boat this summer. Through them, we also buy an annual insurance policy that we would like prorated and refunded for the months that we wont use if they do not change the policy. I cannot get the photos to upload, but I have multiple screenshots of advertising, ******** page promoting dogs on their boats as recently as this month, the national freedom boat club ads, stating that dogs are allowed on the boats. Im not sure if the Better Business Bureau is able to help with this type of matter or if I need to pursue this in other directions. I am grateful for any assistance you can offer.Thank you,*****************************

  

  Business response

  05/23/2023

  ******,

  This decision came with a heavy heart as we know that our members who own dogs enjoy them on our boats. To start out our response, I want to clear that dogs ARE allowed on our boats. However, as the email explained, we cannot have dogs on the docks. Members are allowed to pick up their dog at a public dock after departure from the marinas that we operate out of. For example, if you were to take a boat out of our **************** location, you could pick up your guest and dog at the public dock on the other side of the very close boat ramp. 

  Unfortunately we needed to make a decision that was based on the security of the entire club. We do not own or operate the marinas and we are their guest. Recently there has been issues with members dogs that has caused some marinas to threaten removal of the boat club from the entire ******* This would be devastating to the club as a whole and affect all members. Even members without pets. 

  Our staff will be able to help you with great location to pick up your dog and friends if you need help with this. Our director of operations ****** is always available to help. HIs number is ************. 

  We will not be able to rescind the policy as of now. However, we will continue to look at ways to get dogs back on the docks that does not jeopardize the relationship with our great marinas that we operate out of. For now, the policy put in place is the best way for FBC to keep a great relationship with the marinas and continue to operate. 

  We would be happy to waive your cancelation notice term from your FBC agreement if you feel you need to leave the club. However, we really would like to keep you as a member and hope you stay with us and are able to shift your boating slightly to pick up your dogs at another location. 

  We apologize for any troubles that this has caused you and hope to maintain you as a member. 

  Thank you. 

  Customer response

  05/26/2023

  thank you for your response. My husband and I usually boat  just the two of us and the dog. My husband has multiple sclerosis, so most of the time splitting up would be a hardship to us.  I would appreciate you making an exception for someone with a disability such as my husbands. Perhaps if we came with our dog and met staff in the office and they could walk with us to the dock to see and be reassured that the dog is not off leash? 
  

  if that is not possible again, we ask that you please refund our initiation fee so that we can join another club that is willing to make this exception.

  thank you

• Initial Complaint

  09/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Complete WASTE of money. Boats are not kept in good working condition. Not a good club for fishermen bait tanks and electronics frequently don't work. Dock staff are all young kids who don't care if you spend $350 on gas and bait and the boat is not fishable. Frequent scheduling mix **** Extremely unprofessional ownership who cancels your membership without any refund after months of complaining about shoddy boats and service with nothing being fixed or improved. Happy to answer your questions ************. Seeking a refund of $4500 initiation fee and $511/month for 6 months. Also $600 insurance policy plus $1834 in gas used on fishing boats that were not fishable. Total of $10000 in refund requested at this time.

  

  Business response

  11/11/2022

  We would like to apologies for any difficult or negative experiences while on one of our boats. We strive to provide the best experience possible.However, these are saltwater boats which will have components like electronics and bait tanks that will break down from time to time. The benefit of being a member of Freedom Boat Club is that the member does not have to pay for or deal with and maintenance issues. Our membership has been developed to remove the hassleout of boating. The saltwater environment is hostile to boats and some components often break on individuals personally owned boats just as they break down on FBC vessels. In boat ownership, the owner of the vessel is responsible for the cost and headache of wear and tear on their boat. Often, members of the club will move into individual boat ownership so that they can have more control over their fishing equipment like electronics and bait tanks. We have happily transitioned many members into owning their own boat over the past 10 years with great success. We are happy that they were members and could move up to boat ownership based on the things they learned in the club. No refund will be issued as this member broke the rules of the club and was removed from boating at one of Freedom Boat Clubs location by the Marina ******** FBC does not own or operate the ******s that it operates out of and because of this we need to follow the rules of each ****** with strict policies. These policies are in our rules and regulations as well as posted at each ******. This member did not follow those rules, and we had no other choice as to remove them from the club. Our rules and regulations are in place to keep the club operating for all members enjoyment and sometimes we most remove members from the club so that they do not jeopardize the relationship with the ****** we operate out of. This will protect other members from having their boat club be closed and this business to continue for years to come.

  Customer response

  11/14/2022

  See you in court.

  

  Business response

  11/14/2022

  We look forward to the opportunity to submit the facts and provide the specific details of why this member was removed from the club. 

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