| Vacation Rental Complaints [Tag : Siesta Key] |
| 2. |
CRAIG SIEGEL - Misrepresentation and Fraud
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My wife and I arrived on December 28, 2010 for a three month stay. We immediately determined that the supposedly solar heated pool was stone cold. The owner said it was all due to the very cold weather. We paid him for the rental. On the first warm and sunny day, the pool was still stone cold. I then discovered that the solar panel system was in "bypass". I turned the system to "active" and immediately discovered multiple geysers on the roof. I have since spoken with a neighbor who attested to the fact that the pool heating system was defective long before our arrival. This "upscale" vacation rental is equipped with (1) ripped screens on most windows and on the pool cage, (2) hinges falling out of doors, (3) soiled and badly torn upholstered furniture and (4) a kitchen equipped with dishes and utensils more suitable for a Boy Scout outing. Some of the tears in the pool cage are large enough for our Labradoodle to walk through. None of the doors or windows can be opened because of these defective screens.
Despite the owner's statement in his listing that the rent includes cleaning and pool maintenance, the owner has just informed me that I am responsible for the cleaning and pool maintenance DURING our stay. The owner claims that the beach is just a walk away - make that 2.1 miles away in each direction.
On the positive side, the owner did not insist on a security deposit. Now we understand why. It would be extremely difficult to add to the damage in this house and have it be noticeable. The absence of a pet cleaning surcharge should have been a dead giveaway as to the underlying condition of this property.
BE WARNED: My wife and I have discovered other vacation rentals in the Sarasota, Florida area being offered by this owner. Unfortunately, we have also just discovered highly negative reviews of his properties by previous vacation renters. Please go to vrwd.org. The owner has now changed the spelling of his surname in order to create confusion. Before sending the owner of a vacation rental any money, it has become obvious that checking references extensively is a necessary step.
P.S. I forgot to also mention further significant safety issues with this vacation rental. They are all basic construction code violations. However, because this is a detached single family home, no government agencies in Florida (County of Sarasota and the State of Florida) are interested in helping to resolve the following safety issues. In many other places, the county, city or state would intervene and possibly prevent occupancy until the safety issues were corrected.
The safety issues:
1) No smoke detectors;
2) No Fire Extinguishers;
3) Improper electrical outlets near sinks (not GFI);
4) No telephone in the house for emergencies;
5) Plumbing fixtures reversed.
Date Added: Jan 6, 2011
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| 3. |
CRAIG SIEGEL - LYING IN TECHNICOLOR
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So, what could be bad about Vacation Rentals listing #14782 on Siesta Key, Florida?
Let’s start with the first word in the title of the listing, the word “exclusive”. One would think that this word connotes quality. Not in this case. Every neighbor on this street in Siesta Key, Florida (Sandy Cove Avenue), and we have now met several of them, has reason to be completely disgusted with Craig Siegel as a good neighbor. Siegel has done things with his property that have not been permitted, things such as building a gated wall around his property without proper preparation for drainage. One nearby long time neighbor of 40 years, when approached by Siegel, told Siegel to get off his property.
The Siegel listing declares the vacation rental rates for 5174 Sandy Cove Avenue as well as stating that “an 11% bed tax will also be included per state and county sales tax”. When I contacted Sarasota County about Siegel’s misrepresentation of this property, I discovered that Siegel had conveniently neglected to pay the Tourist Development Tax to the County. Sarasota County also referred the missing tax matter to the State of Florida Department of Revenue.
My wife and I arrived here on December 28th. The pool has not been cleaned in a month and a half. This has not been a major issue this winter because Siesta Key’s weather has been cool (make that “cold”) and the pool is not heated. The pool’s solar panels are totally useless. We allowed our dog into the pool on one warm day earlier this month.
Siegel's closing remark about this vacation rental says "you will not find a home like this for rent on Siesta Key!". THAT closing statement is the ONLY reliable statement in the listing.
Craig Siegel advertises this vacation rental under various pseudonyms. Beware of any vacation property that is advertised under the name of “Siesta Vacations” or “Siesta Resorts”. The vacation rental descriptions cannot be trusted.
Date Added: Feb 9, 2011
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| 4. |
Listing amounts to fraud
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We stayed in the house for Thanksgiving week 2011, and found this VRBO listing to be an almost-total fabrication and our vacation ruined.
(1)"Beautifully and tastefully furnished”—furniture is stained/threadbare, a collection from local garage sales.(2)“Completely updated/renovated”—obviously no maintenance or updates in years. Looks like an abandoned house. (3)"New stainless steel appliances”—appliances are old, dishwasher does not work, microwave taped together, a sign posted said use of the disposal would cause a plumbing back-up. (4)“Elegantly landscaped”—yard is covered with dead plants/trees and limbs, no landscaping maintenance for years. (5)“Solar-heated pool”—heat not working. (6)“2 sets of widescreen TV's, surround sound system with satellite dishes, Direct TV satellite, Flat-screen TV” —No flat-screen TVs, 1 TV did not work at all, 2nd had only 11 (including 2 shopping, C-Span, and four Spanish-speaking) channels. No satellite TV, no high def, no surround sound, no CNN, ESPN, etc. Owner made a show of coming out to fix the cable after we complained, but left without a word after fixing nothing. We called Comcast and found out he had cancelled cable two weeks earlier-- his visit was an act. (7)“CD player, Stereo system, music library”—none. (8)“2 open water Kayaks with Fishing Posts and all gear for ocean fishing”–Mildew-covered, rotted, and not seaworthy. (9)“Garage/covered parking”—Garage was locked; completely full of junk, not available. (10)“Deluxe King Mattress—king mattress is on a queen base with no boxspring, so a foot on each side hung over the side with no support. (11)"Fully-equipped kitchen"--the kitchen is poorly equipped; pots and pans are bent and unusable due to rust. (12)"Blocks to the beach"--at least a 30-minute walk to the nearest beach. (13)"Five Bdrms"--two bdrms plus a converted closet in the house; rooms above garage were locked and not available
There are also safety issues: Exterior doors are rotting— easily yanked open when locked. Kitchen window has no lock. Open electrical wiring. No smoke detectors.
I have photos documenting everything I've stated. We laid out these issues and asked the owner for a partial refund and he never even responded. This listing is absolute fraud, and the owner's actions are totally unscrupulous.
Date Added: Jan 23, 2012
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