Mugged - by a marina

[krissteyn]

I can count on 1 hand (yes I am still lucky) how many times I have dis-agreed with the marina's bill and left after paying and thinking I was ripped off.
Was wondering if the peculiar rule for the Thesalonika Aretsou Marina is abnormal or if I will find it again.
They charge midnight to midnight , so a late arrival and early next day departure is billed as 2 days.
I was aware of this and planned to leave before midnight (we were gone from the dock by 22h30) but on the day in question, they decided to close the office at 4pm so when we tried to check out , there was no-one. The port police assisted me in phoning the woman who appeared to be in charge and she just said we must pay.
I was very carefull the next morning to be firm and polite - but despite all my pleas, they threatened me with police action if I did not pay. So I paid....

Is this midnight rule prevalent ? The marina kept telling me it was but its the first time I have encountered it.

[Reefmagnet]

Sounds like a blatant ripoff to me. Imagine the stink if a hotel pulled that little scam.

[atoll]

times are tough in greece!you were easy meat!

[scoobert]

the interesting thing is how was she going to know you left without paying?

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by scoobert

the interesting thing is how was she going to know you left without paying?

Good point.

Did you pay a security deposit, which was returned on departure ?

0001 -1, hrs to 2359 + 1, hrs is a day though.

[krissteyn]

Because I am a visitor in Greece , I carry what is called a Depka , and this MUST be processed by Port Police on entry and departure - requiring proof of payment at the marina amongst other papers...
So - they hold that over your head...

Kris

[bbowers2004]

Sounds like a tourist "tax" they started when I was traveling europe.....They know we'll toss up a few extra bucks, even if its obsurd.

[Palarran]

I had that rule pulled several times last year in the Western Med and only once this year in Argostoli. The rational is that you can come any time and leave any time during that day. It is bs for sure.

[valhalla360]

Obviously horrible customer service.
- I would contact the local tourist authroities and see if they can apply some pressure.
- I would spread it around the local cruisng community not only to help other cruisers but it will cost the marina far more than the little extra they got out of you if 10 cruisers visit other marinas.

That said, especially if we know we know when we are leaving we pay when we arrive so we aren't on someone elses schedule.

[denverd0n]

I think the lesson here, for others reading this, is to be sure that you know the rules ahead of time, and also know the office hours.

[scoobert]

put up some reviews. various web sites. if the marina is mentioned by name on noonsite, send them an email to put a warning about the way they bill, and thank you! i will be asking when i get there is several years.

[rivonia]

Originally Posted by krissteyn

Because I am a visitor in Greece , I carry what is called a Depka , and this MUST be processed by Port Police on entry and departure - requiring proof of payment at the marina amongst other papers...
So - they hold that over your head...

Kris

Hi Kris, do what we do.If we are only visiting for a short time, We check in and out at the same time on the Depka. It has worked for us so far.

Good luck

Peter

[krissteyn]

I would have checked in and out at the same time - but the heat exchanger had major surgery and I had to test it first. I believed I had time to check out - but they just closed shop ???

I have so far written to the mayor of Thessaloniki - and am now looking at other avenues...

[Normanby]

Maybe it's time for some kind of central "review" website for cruisers, like "trip advisor" is for regular travellers.

Businesses servicing tourists go to great lengths to keep their Tripadvisor ratings up, the site has considerable influence.

Be great if some kind of marina review website had the same pull over marina operators.

[scoobert]

i find my marinas on google maps, they are not all there, but the ones that pop up i call.