YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

111lily222 · 03-18-2012, 12:06 PM

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

03-18-2012, 12:06 PM	#1
111lily222 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.