SANParks.org Forums

On 8 January, I made an on-line purchase of an International All Parks Couples Wild Card. The R 2330 due was charged to my credit card and a confirmation letter was e-mailed to me. So far, so good. But that was 9 weeks ago, and the actual card has yet to reach us (we're in the UK). I see from this forum that this isn't necessarily anything to worry (too much) about (yet) - but I am more concerned that I haven't even had any response to an e-mail which I sent to the Wild Card side of SanParks more than 2 weeks ago, asking if my card had actually been issued. So I have no tracking details etc and have no way of knowing if my membership has in fact been properly processed.

More worryingly, I have no answer to the key question that I asked in my e-mail to SanParks. Namely, could they guarantee that my Wild Card purchase confirmation letter will definitely work (without the actual card, if it still hasn't turned up) when I reach South Africa in May - even though that confirmation letter will then be 5 months old.

I'd be hugely grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do now to make sure that everything is going to be ok. It would also be great to know if others here have or haven't had problems trying to access the parks with nothing but a 5-month-old confirmation letter.

Many thanks in advance for any advice!

Welcome to the forum amalinda.

I would send a PM to Lesego, unless she reads this and answers.

Confirmation letter should still be valid if you haven't received the card.

Just bring the proof with you.

I'll get Saraf to have a look here, she's the mod helping out with wild card enquiries.....

Our confirmation letter worked for us, and it was about 3 months old. I don't think the age of the confirmation letter will be an issue in your case. Just print out everything and you will be fine.

Have a fantastic trip!

I know it's a nuisance and costly, but they are very helpful if you phone and will probably be able to sort it out.
+2786 go wild !

amalinda
dont worry, the confirmation slip will work just fine
(had the same situation last year october)

Best to write a PM to moderator saraf
She helps out with WC issues
Or write directly to Joep
[img=http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=125&t=54151&start=585] info ove here[/img]

I agree with Bert your confirmation letter will be okay.
We have twice had Wild Cards ( in our dreams) once in 2010 then again in 2012
and to date have still not received our actual cards .. We know we are on the
system as we get lovely e:mails from them, but it would be nice to have actual
cards. We are in the UK ..

Thank you all for your speedy advice: what a great forum.... Relieved to see that the confirmation letter alone should work (so long as we really are properly in the system) - but, with all the expense of an annual all-parks international permit, I'd obviously prefer not have this extra uncertainty. The application procedure seemed so painless that I was lulled into thinking that everything else would go smoothly.

My main concern now is, obviously, that my membership may not have been processed properly: dellac's post says that he/she knows that (though still card-less) they certainly are in the system because they do receive e-mails - whereas SanParks hasn't even replied to my e-mail and isn't communicating with me in any other way, which makes me worry that something's gone wrong with registering the application for which I have been charged. I appreciate the suggestion about phoning - but what I think I really need is something in writing which confirms that my membership and payment have been processed and that my membership letter is valid. Or even something as simple as the actual card promised during the application process.... So I guess that, as helpfully suggested here, I ought indeed to PM saraf, much as I hate to take up the moderator's time and goodwill in this way.

Thanks again for everyone's help. Sorry that my first contribution to the forum is so tedious. But we're going to be in Kruger for 10+ days in May (can't wait....), so I hope that I'll have marginally more interesting contributions in future.

Please PM me with your details (name, email address, Wild Card number) and I'll pass the details on.

Thanks, saraf. But ... I've tried to PM you (twice) today with the details, but each time I get told 'This message has been flagged as spam and has been denied'. Since I'm a newbie here I'm obviously doing something stupid, but the FAQs haven't made me any the wiser. Suggestions, anybody? Sorry...

Are you putting in any smilies or links in your message?

Let me see if I can PM you.

Received your PM and have replied to the e-mail address you kindly provided. Many thanks.

I found your PM in the SPAM folder and I've emailed my contact.

She is going to chase up your card and make sure it has been made. However she has pointed out that the Post Office in South Africa is on strike and has been for over a month. They cannot confirm it has been posted or when it will be posted.

She has confirmed that you will still be able to use your confirmation letter in May.

Hope this sets your mind at rest.

Many thanks for such a speedy and helpful response. It's great to know that your contact will be checking that our membership is in the system and that our Wild Card confirmation letter will still work in May.

Thanks again for your help: much appreciated. Now back to the trip-planning - far more fun....

Saraf, your intervention has done the trick - thank you. I have just received a reply to my earlier e-mails, saying that my Wild Card was produced yesterday and will be mailed out on Monday 18 March. So our membership certainly is in the system. The reply also says that our January Wild Card purchase confirmation letter will still work in May.

Really reassuring to know that everything is perfectly ok. Thanks again!