| Vacation Rental Complaints [Tag : Pebble] |
| 1. |
Don't stay at Pebble Beach Property, CA
|
|
|
I made a phone reservation for a 2-night stay on 4/9/2010 at 8:03pm for 4/9 - 4/10. Seller emailed reservation confirmation/info at 8:21pm. I did not have a chance to sign the contract, but I sent 50% payment ($284) at 8:28pm. Soon after I sent the payment, I found out my husband\'s family had already made alternative lodging arrangement in advance. Since I was on the road, I notified the Seller of the change in my earliest convenience at 9:21pm. Seller acknowledged the change at 9:49pm with the following, \"Rates provided to you and your family are for a 2-night stay. I\'m very willing to make adjustments on my end, but would prefer that reservation be continued as agreed. Might that be possible?\" I responded, \"I will talk to my husband\'s family tomorrow. I think they would not mind paying a little more for a 1-nt rate.\" Since I did not hear from the Seller, I just assumed we would pay a higher 1-night rate since the initial reservation was based on a 2-night
stay. Upon arrival, Seller demanded the full 2-night payment minus a $40 discount. I did not think it was reasonable for her to charge $528 for 1 night and decided not to stay there at all. If Seller could provide evidence that she had to turn down other reservation for the first night between 8:03pm and 9:49pm due to our resevation change, I would rest my case. Since she did not miss any business opportunity on 4/9 and acknowledged the reservation change, it was unreasonable for her to demand a 2-night stay payment.
After discussing my case with 2 attorney friends, they informed me 2 issues are of relevance: 1. Equity–Is it fair for the owner to charge for two nights when she was informed of the change in reservation in a timely manner? 2. Owner suffer loss (lack thereof)-Is the owner able to show loss of business due to the change justifying charging 2 nts? Rebuttal: 1.While her contract indicate the deposit is nonrefundable; it doesn’t disallow changes to reservation. I expected the deposit to be applied toward the actual stay. She acknowledged the change & indicated she was willing to make adjustment. I made it clear in my email that we would be paying for 1 night, & she did not decline. 2. Owner seemed to imply we canceled the reservation due to a smaller party–NOT true. Had that been the case, no one would have shown up. She only had my contact info (no financial info or a ratified contract). She would not have been able to collect remaining payment. Instead, my husband, his M
om, younger brother, and older brother & his girlfriend (in 3 cars) met the owner with intent to stay. We only cancelled because she was demanding another $240 (total of $524 for 1 night).
I made a complaint against the Seller at the local Better Business Bureau. She refused to refund the $284. I then emailed her directly asking for a transferrable credit for the same amount. She did not respond. I brought it to BBB\'s attention, and she was contacted by BBB regarding my second request. Seller did not respond to BBB after 30 days. The Seller continues to advertise her property on Craigslist.org and violating the website\'s policy of only posting one ad on the same service/item once every 7 days. She posted 8 ads in 6 days. What she fails to realize is that if her business practice was friendlier, she would have more business via word of mouth. Now her property will have negative feedbacks. What a shame!
Date Added: Jul 12, 2010
|
| Vacationer Reviews |
 |
Vacationer Ratings |
 |
|
|
|
