htm632
04-16-2004, 09:05 AM
April 14, 2004
I have been a member of Lake Havasu Marina for five years, and until two weeks ago, I had two permanent slips that I waited for a long period of time to have.
Having a second home in Lake Havasu, I use these slips frequently. I have two boats at this time, a new 30' boat and a 23' Chaparral deck boat.
I was terminated by the marina two weeks ago. After having several conversations with the managing staff at Lake Havasu Marina and getting verbal approval to moor my new boat in my existing slip until a slip became available that would accommodate my 30' boat, I was told that I was number one or two on the waiting list after waiting 8 months. I frequently boat on the weekends in Lake Havasu. Making arrangements with the Lake Havasu Marina staff, knowing them well because I have been a member there for 5 years, it was indicated to me that I would be able to put my 30 foot boat in slip that I had, which happens to be in an extra wide waterway. That worked for one night until Jeff Bekkedahl, the marina manager happened to be walking the boat slips and saw my new boat in my existing slip. At that time, he locked the boat up to the docks. When I came down to remove the boat from the slip and put it on a trailer on a Sunday morning, I found that the boat was locked to the docks. I went to the office to find out why, and Jeff Bekkedahl came out screaming at the top of his lungs like I was some type of criminal, while waving his arms and demeaning me, indicating that I was not following the marina rules. Mind you, I pay the marina $325 per month for slip rentals and I have never been late in my payments in the last 5 years. I tried to indicate this to him several times during this confrontation, that.one of the main staff people at the marina had given me prior permission to temporarily moor my 30' while I was waiting for my spot on the waiting list to be open. He seemed to not care either way and terminated the use of both of my slips. After being there over 5 years and knowing the background, I try to be as elusive as possible. I launch my boat in the early morning or late evening to assure that there is no conflict with the marina. Although, there really never is any conflict except with Jeff. As everyone knows, he discriminates tremendously against any type of performance boaters. Since I have a second home in Havasu, my family uses our deck boat frequently in the Summer months.
During, this long screaming episode (mind you, all the screaming was done by Jeff, I was doing all the listening), I did have a close friend with me at this time that is in the legal profession. He was utterly amazed at Jeff's behavior.
On top of that, I had a custom set of Gatlin mufflers made that are over 20" long when I built my new 30' boat to ensure that this thing was as quiet as possible so that it would follow all marina rules. After his demeaning behavior and screaming, walking away saying that he would be sending me a termination letter, I was in awe wondering what I even did. You would have thought by his behavior that I had just run over his dog. After I returned to California, I thought this out and decided to write the marina a letter and try to solve the issue. I sent a certified letter to the marina, which was accepted, and I explained to him that I had been a member for 5 years, and have never had a late payment in those 5 years or been notified that I had violated any rules. I use their facilities for gas, ice and everything else that is needed. I asked in the letter why he was terminating me from not only the one slip with the "offending" boat, but from both slips. As you can imagine, there was no reply. Well, I guess I did get a reply, two days later, a termination letter with no explanation arrived saying that I was terminated from both slips and giving the date that I had to have my boats out by.
After this, my wife was so upset as well, and made several attempts by going to the marina, and Jeff was never there to speak with her. She also made several phone calls, and as you can imagine, he would never come to the phone. We did get a response from one member of the staff there that according to their contract, they did not have to give a reason as to termination, and then they promptly hung up on us. Nice way to treat a 5 year member.
I could probably add a lot more here, and at this point I will say that I have really been discriminated against, and I am going to move forward with legal action. If anyone out there has had the same issues and would like to join in on a class action suit against Jeff Bekkedahl, I would be more than happy to have you. I guess that I can invest my $350 a month and more to a legal firm if that is what it is going to take. I just donÂ’t think that they treat people fairly. As I read through many of the postings here, I believe that it is definitely the "Good Ol' Boy Club" and if you are not in that club, you are not in that marina.
PS- I wonder if Richard McCulloch is aware of his manager's behavior. I would like to believe that a man of his status would never want someone like Jeff Bekkedahl running his marina. Two wrongs donÂ’t make a right. You can make the marina as nice as you want, but if you donÂ’t treat your customers in a respectful manner, I believe that is poor business for anyone. Please email me if you have any stories to share or if you have any interest in joining the suit.
I have been a member of Lake Havasu Marina for five years, and until two weeks ago, I had two permanent slips that I waited for a long period of time to have.
Having a second home in Lake Havasu, I use these slips frequently. I have two boats at this time, a new 30' boat and a 23' Chaparral deck boat.
I was terminated by the marina two weeks ago. After having several conversations with the managing staff at Lake Havasu Marina and getting verbal approval to moor my new boat in my existing slip until a slip became available that would accommodate my 30' boat, I was told that I was number one or two on the waiting list after waiting 8 months. I frequently boat on the weekends in Lake Havasu. Making arrangements with the Lake Havasu Marina staff, knowing them well because I have been a member there for 5 years, it was indicated to me that I would be able to put my 30 foot boat in slip that I had, which happens to be in an extra wide waterway. That worked for one night until Jeff Bekkedahl, the marina manager happened to be walking the boat slips and saw my new boat in my existing slip. At that time, he locked the boat up to the docks. When I came down to remove the boat from the slip and put it on a trailer on a Sunday morning, I found that the boat was locked to the docks. I went to the office to find out why, and Jeff Bekkedahl came out screaming at the top of his lungs like I was some type of criminal, while waving his arms and demeaning me, indicating that I was not following the marina rules. Mind you, I pay the marina $325 per month for slip rentals and I have never been late in my payments in the last 5 years. I tried to indicate this to him several times during this confrontation, that.one of the main staff people at the marina had given me prior permission to temporarily moor my 30' while I was waiting for my spot on the waiting list to be open. He seemed to not care either way and terminated the use of both of my slips. After being there over 5 years and knowing the background, I try to be as elusive as possible. I launch my boat in the early morning or late evening to assure that there is no conflict with the marina. Although, there really never is any conflict except with Jeff. As everyone knows, he discriminates tremendously against any type of performance boaters. Since I have a second home in Havasu, my family uses our deck boat frequently in the Summer months.
During, this long screaming episode (mind you, all the screaming was done by Jeff, I was doing all the listening), I did have a close friend with me at this time that is in the legal profession. He was utterly amazed at Jeff's behavior.
On top of that, I had a custom set of Gatlin mufflers made that are over 20" long when I built my new 30' boat to ensure that this thing was as quiet as possible so that it would follow all marina rules. After his demeaning behavior and screaming, walking away saying that he would be sending me a termination letter, I was in awe wondering what I even did. You would have thought by his behavior that I had just run over his dog. After I returned to California, I thought this out and decided to write the marina a letter and try to solve the issue. I sent a certified letter to the marina, which was accepted, and I explained to him that I had been a member for 5 years, and have never had a late payment in those 5 years or been notified that I had violated any rules. I use their facilities for gas, ice and everything else that is needed. I asked in the letter why he was terminating me from not only the one slip with the "offending" boat, but from both slips. As you can imagine, there was no reply. Well, I guess I did get a reply, two days later, a termination letter with no explanation arrived saying that I was terminated from both slips and giving the date that I had to have my boats out by.
After this, my wife was so upset as well, and made several attempts by going to the marina, and Jeff was never there to speak with her. She also made several phone calls, and as you can imagine, he would never come to the phone. We did get a response from one member of the staff there that according to their contract, they did not have to give a reason as to termination, and then they promptly hung up on us. Nice way to treat a 5 year member.
I could probably add a lot more here, and at this point I will say that I have really been discriminated against, and I am going to move forward with legal action. If anyone out there has had the same issues and would like to join in on a class action suit against Jeff Bekkedahl, I would be more than happy to have you. I guess that I can invest my $350 a month and more to a legal firm if that is what it is going to take. I just donÂ’t think that they treat people fairly. As I read through many of the postings here, I believe that it is definitely the "Good Ol' Boy Club" and if you are not in that club, you are not in that marina.
PS- I wonder if Richard McCulloch is aware of his manager's behavior. I would like to believe that a man of his status would never want someone like Jeff Bekkedahl running his marina. Two wrongs donÂ’t make a right. You can make the marina as nice as you want, but if you donÂ’t treat your customers in a respectful manner, I believe that is poor business for anyone. Please email me if you have any stories to share or if you have any interest in joining the suit.