Bad Experience VRBO 225102

[CaribbeanSoul]

I guess I'm super confused by this owner! Why not just open the dates and try to re-rent before being an a$$!?? I am a property owner who rents on VRBO (in NC) and I would never just take the $$$ and bail. Hang in there and hopefully this owner will wise up. Thoughts and prayers to your family

Thanks NCSue. I believe the owner is having financial issues due to the fact that my original dispute, according to the owner, put his bank balance into a negative situation as the charge was reversed initially. That leads me to believe that he is using future rents or obligations to fund current operations. Not a good financial position to be in if that is the case.

[NCSue]

That is the WORST possible position to be in!!!
Fingers crossed this has a positive outcome in every way!

[philbetm]

I can relate to your experience. In 2014, we also lost a lot of money due to health problems in our family . There was to be 6 of us splitting the cost of a home ... that is how we were able to afford renting it . After a serious surgery it became clear that the 4 others would not be able to go. We cancelled more than 5 months out...it was a villa rental company on Island...They would not refund any of the security deposit or the 50% rental down payment. Their policy said if it was re-rented they would refund everything . Well...They did rebook it quickly as it is a "Very Popular" home ...but still would not refund us ! When I explained that Hubby and I were still coming and asked if we could apply the $$$$ to a different home, we were told Yes...that can be done ! I found an affordable one on their listing of homes for the same dates and called them to book it. The agent said, Ummm , Let me call you right back . Needless to say, she didn't ...instead she e-mailed me back and said "Oh no...we can't do that...You can only use it on the very same house ! I sent back a reply ...It is just going to be the 2 of us and we can't afford to pay almost $6000 for a week ! Her reply was ...Sorry ! I really thought that this company was a good one to do business with...It's not . Keep in mind ... They DID re-rent it !! We ended up staying at Grande Bay for the first time. Never got anything but a "Cold Shoulder" on all other communications with them !

Sherry in SC

[jimg20]

There is nothing like community pressure to bring a reluctant merchant around. I don't know why any of you are not naming the villa owners that have performed poorly. Unless you are unsure about your facts, let us know who you are talking about. We had a gas station that gouged us with their gas prices the days after 9/11. It was bad enough that our state's attorney general singled it out. The community came together and drove them out of business in a few months. No merchant can survive without customers.

On a trip some years ago, my wife's group was treated badly during a stay by a villa management company. They contacted the company and the company denied any responsibility for the problems. The women responded that they's like to give the villa and company a good review on this forum, but couldn't do that under these conditions. After complaining that they were being threatened, they came up with a settlement that was agreeable to everyone.

As individuals we have little or no leverage with a merchant who is unwilling to do the right thing. Together we can affect change.

JIM

[CaribbeanSoul]

There is nothing like community pressure to bring a reluctant merchant around. I don't know why any of you are not naming the villa owners that have performed poorly. Unless you are unsure about your facts, let us know who you are talking about. We had a gas station that gouged us with their gas prices the days after 9/11. It was bad enough that our state's attorney general singled it out. The community came together and drove them out of business in a few months. No merchant can survive without customers.

On a trip some years ago, my wife's group was treated badly during a stay by a villa management company. They contacted the company and the company denied any responsibility for the problems. The women responded that they's like to give the villa and company a good review on this forum, but couldn't do that under these conditions. After complaining that they were being threatened, they came up with a settlement that was agreeable to everyone.

As individuals we have little or no leverage with a merchant who is unwilling to do the right thing. Together we can affect change.

JIM

Jim, I supplied the link to the VRBO listing that contains all of that information. I don't know how much more transparent I could be. Instead of calling the individual out by name, I'd rather let interested parties click on the link and see for their self.

[chicagoans]

I would keep track of their availability calendar to see if those dates open back up and then get booked again. If they don't open up, you can use that as proof that they aren't even trying to recoup their money. If they do open up and then get booked again, that's proof that they recouped their money with a new guest.

Also, I'd ask a friend to use a different email address and submit a request to check availability. Ask about a few different weeks and see if the owner comes back with availability for 'your' week. If he does indicate availability, then the dates should be open on the online calendar. Watch that and see if they get booked again.

[jimg20]

[quote="CaribbeanSoul
Jim, I supplied the link to the VRBO listing that contains all of that information. I don't know how much more transparent I could be. Instead of calling the individual out by name, I'd rather let interested parties click on the link and see for their self.[/quote]

I'm sorry that you are having a problem and that you misunderstood my comment. I was talking about another poster's story in this thread and ones I've seen from time to time in the past.

JIM

[Agent99]

Have you gone to VRBO with the proof that they advertised a 100% refund and then reneged. False advertising. Can't do it. The owner owes you your deposit back. Don't back down. You are in the right and this person has nothing to gain because the negative reviews this can generate can significantly damage his ability to rent that property. He's being foolish. Even if he can't come up with the cash immediately he should have agreed to pay you back in installments.

Hopefully someone will tell him about this forum. He should be keeping all deposits in a separate account that is not touched so that the funds are available to deal with cancellations.

So sorry you have to deal with this on top of your dad's health issue. Wishing you the very best.

[CaribbeanSoul]

Have you gone to VRBO with the proof that they advertised a 100% refund and then reneged. False advertising. Can't do it. The owner owes you your deposit back. Don't back down. You are in the right and this person has nothing to gain because the negative reviews this can generate can significantly damage his ability to rent that property. He's being foolish. Even if he can't come up with the cash immediately he should have agreed to pay you back in installments.

Hopefully someone will tell him about this forum. He should be keeping all deposits in a separate account that is not touched so that the funds are available to deal with cancellations.

So sorry you have to deal with this on top of your dad's health issue. Wishing you the very best.

Thanks Agent99. I believe the owner is monitoring this post as when it was pointed out by another poster that the cancelation policy indicated 100% refundable outside of 30 days, it magically changed to "Policy available by contacting owner when booking". Fortunately, I printed out the listing prior to the change and resubmitted my dispute to AMEX. Had he just worked with me from the outset in a reasonable manner, I wouldn't have had to air this frustration. Another concern is his ability to meet future rental needs if he is using deposits for future bookings on current obligations/needs. I certainly wouldn't be comfortable as insolvency is a valid concern.

[toes in the sand]

Sorry to hear of your fathers illness. My prayers are with him to win against this disease. His care and well being should be your top priorities and not having to deal with cheats.
Please take what I say below as an independent view on what you have told us and not slam. I do not know you nor do I know the owner of the property.

I would be cautious and review what has transpired so far.
- What exactly does the signed contract state in regards to cancellation? The contract, not the VRBO advertisement, as an ad is subject changes but the contract is not. ie: an old photo may show a brand name appliance when in actuality the appliance has been replaced or the calendar may show an opening that has already been filled but the ad not updated. I agree though that if the ad says 100% refund that there is false advertising occurring. What you signed though is the ultimate agreement.
- What reason did you give your Amex to dispute the deposit payment?
(if it was not an accurate and legitimate dispute claim and money was withheld from the owner and they can show loss as a result of a false dispute claim, you might find yourself at the wrong end of a lawsuit)
You may want to cut your losses and save yourself a lot of time and aggravation by taking an insurance payment and calling it a lesson learned.
- If you have the opportunity to still purchase travel insurance I would do so. (When ever I make plans to travel with my Mother-in-law I purchase travel insurance because of the medical benefits that it offers and the uncertainty of her health)
- If you have an attorney or can hire one cheaply I would do so with the intention of at least finding out where you stand and to have the attorney send a letter to the owner in hopes of moving things along.
- Check the contract to see if you are obligated to be the one who occupies the property for the rental period. ie: can you sell your interest to another party that is able to use the rental.
- There is a phone number listed on the VRBO website. Give a call and try to work this out.
A call should have been made to verify that you were not dealing with a scammer prior to making payment anyway. Certainly a call was in order instead of waiting for an email response to your cancellation request. But that is water under the bridge.
- Check into the background of this owner and see if there is anything that they would not want to make public knowledge, ie: does it appear that this owner charges and pays the USVI hotel tax, look into the other property holdings of these owners to see what may be going on with their gulf shore holdings, to me their facebook page seems a bit odd. If this person is a cheat, you are not the first one to fall victim to them. Not sure what it was but something struck me as a bit odd. Maybe I was looking for something.
- A note to Grande Bay might get you some movement. I do not know what they can do but it wouldn't hurt if all other avenues are exhausted.

Be cautious with your actions and words. Do not do something that you would not want to become public or something that you would be ashamed to stand in front of a judge and admit to doing or saying.

[NJsurfsup]

Insurance covers the chance of loss ,you can't buy insurance for a loss that has already occured, that's fraud. Think about it, that's like trying to get homeowners on a home that's already burned down, or auto after the accident. That being said i agree this owner is a jerk and should be working with you. Keep fighting it and good luck.

[toes in the sand]

Insurance covers the chance of loss ,you can't buy insurance for a loss that has already occured, that's fraud. Think about it, that's like trying to get homeowners on a home that's already burned down, or auto after the accident. That being said i agree this owner is a jerk and should be working with you. Keep fighting it and good luck.

Or health insurance that covers a pre-existing condition. Best to check before you buy to be sure that the loss will be covered.

[jimg20]

Since you can still go there and use the place for the time you reserved, is it a loss yet?

JIM

[Tracy in WI]

I am an owner at Grande Bay and also advertise via VRBO. I do believe the ad stating a 100% refund for cancellations is applicable when you book through VRBO. I personally handle all my own rentals and have guests sign a contract that includes a cancellation policy. It's not clear how you reserved this property so I don't know if the VRBO policy applies.

Like Tom, I have very few cancellations and I am maybe too flexible with guests when they do need to cancel! But, my policy states that I will refund all money less a $200 fee for cancellations that occur more than sixty days prior to arrival. If the cancellation occurs within sixty days I refund all money less $200 IF the property is re-rented. If the property is not re-rented, I do not refund any money.

I have been fortunate to be able to re-rent my property in every instance except one and I am always honest with my guests about the process. I hope things work out for you!

[NJsurfsup]

Jim the OP had already cancelled the reservation and lost the deposit so yes the loss already occured. I believe some travel insurance can be taken out after booking but would not cover anything occuring before the date you took it out (effective date). For instance you book villa, flights then a week later you purchase travel insurance, travel date arrives and there is a hurricane you should be covered.