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03-18-2012, 12:06 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Macomb, MI
Posts: 2,112
| Possible Problem with Vacation Rental? Hi Ladies! For the detectives on here I need your help! So we're thinking about renting a home to go on vacation. Looks beautiful, has a fenced in yard for Louie, pet-friendly, etc. I e-mailed the couple that own the home and they sent me a confirmation letter to sign, copy of my driver's license...and a CHECK for the deposit. I did not feel comfortable with sending a check so I called them because I also had some other questions as well. I asked him since I did not feel comfortable sending a check for mine/their protection as well could we do paypal or they have a "Reservation Manager" on the site which insures up to 10,000. If you pay by paypal on the site it only insures it up to 1,000. The site even recommends that you pay by reservation manager or paypal. His response was no and when I had asked why he said "well...the other owners/renters had never done it that way so we just left it as just taking checks". Also, when I asked him about his cancellation/refund policy he said "oh wow... that's a good question. I haven't really thought about it and I haven't had anyone cancel. Well, we're not out to hurt anyone. We're not bad people so I guess if it comes up may be a 1/2 or a 1/4 if I can find another renter." Not that I'd want to cancel....but for some unforeseen death, jury duty, i don't know whatever else. On top of this I asked him how we would get the key for the home. Would we call when we were almost there? Would we have to pick it up? Would it be in the mailbox? On top of the door? He said "Oh....that's another good question. I guess we could discuss it when the time comes closer. I'll send you an email." Now, it says he has been renting it since 2009 and no one has asked about this before... about cancellation policies or how to get the keys? You would think someone would have an immediate answer or protocol like "What we usually do is ...blahblahblah" I just find that kind of odd. I've never rented something online and out of state before and originally I was kind of hesitant to do anything online in the first place without seeing anything. It does have 7 good reviews on it. I've tried googling their names, company name, phone numbers listed and nothing really comes up. Also, we're instructed to send the check to a company in Delaware which could be the property management company/real estate company but the rental is in North Myrtle Beach. The add does say it is a "private owner". The site that the rental is on is also legit but I know there are scams everywhere. Should I ask him to send us a copy of HIS driver's license? Is this a scam or just poor business practices? Thanks for reading my novel and thanks in advance for the opinions and advice! -Dee
__________________ Dee and Lil' Louie RIP Lil' Brody boy 6.7.99 - 1.3.10 Last edited by 111lily222; 03-18-2012 at 12:09 PM. |
Welcome Guest! | |
03-18-2012, 12:22 PM | #2 |
YT 1000 Club Member | This sounds like a scam to me! I know someone who got taken on something like this recently and lost thousands of dollars. My suggestion is for you to use a reputable real estate agent to locate a vacation rental.
__________________ Romeo and Sujata |
03-18-2012, 12:37 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Macomb, MI
Posts: 2,112
| That is just what I am afraid of. Thank you, that's a good suggestion! I feel bad because I literally just referred someone on here to vrbo.com granted the whole site probably isn't bad but this situation is just not feeling right to me. Do you know if who you're referring to went on vrbo.com? Just curious.
__________________ Dee and Lil' Louie RIP Lil' Brody boy 6.7.99 - 1.3.10 |
03-18-2012, 01:53 PM | #4 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Trust your gut and steer away from this. How do you know these people even own this home or have legal rights to rent it, even if it is not all pure scam? If there were a fire or great loss to the property while you were there, what happens? Go through a reputable agency and one with references.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
03-18-2012, 04:20 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Macomb, MI
Posts: 2,112
| Quote:
__________________ Dee and Lil' Louie RIP Lil' Brody boy 6.7.99 - 1.3.10 | |
03-18-2012, 04:37 PM | #6 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Wise woman! Good for you. There are too many unanswered questions about the terms of the "renter" and the "Oh wow....we haven't thought about that" answers all your questions about the wisdom of doing business with this guy! There's every chance you send your check, it gets cashed and you are left holding the bag - and good luck trying to trace the guy once he's totally disappeared!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
03-19-2012, 06:53 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,044
| I agree with everyone else - run in the other direction! I just finished paying for our vacation (pet friendly) and I did it all over the internet, however, you could just tell because they accepted credit cards (preferred that way) had vacation insurance in case of hurricanes, car troubles, deaths... etc. Received a rental agreement via email to read, review, sign and send back... all the things that one would normally do when renting a vacation place. The place we are going is a condo - I was looking for houses, but the ones I found were either too far from the beach or were way too expensive. We are renting a condo (3 bedroom, 2 bath) right on the ocean (master suite has a view of the ocean), has two pools, on a private beach, has a golf course right next door... everything you would want. Good luck in finding something in that area - I was looking there too and we ended up renting in Florida - we leave in less than 3 weeks and I cannot wait!
__________________ ~Lori ~ Mom to fur babies Jack, Izzy & Jada & their kitty siblings, Mr. Poops, Milo, Pearl & barn kitty Nanny. |
03-21-2012, 05:08 PM | #8 | |
YT 1000 Club Member | Quote:
I purchased a lifetime timeshare (deeded property) which my daughters inherit at my death. The "home base" is in Orlando and I get about 1 month a year (btw, I have not used it in 3yrs since I got Romeo) but also have the option to use any of the Hilton property or their partners' property worldwide. It was a bit expensive but the best vacation investment.
__________________ Romeo and Sujata | |
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