| Vacation Rental Complaints [Tag : florida] |
| 2. |
Flagler Vacation Condo Ripoff
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This condo is a ripoff and the owner is a blatant liar. We rented this, even after she admitted to us that she wasn't "legal" to rent the property in Flagler County, and even now I doubt that she ever even filed the necessary paperwork with the county. We were told via phone that the condo is about 1100 square feet and contained a large bedroom with a queen bed. In reality it would stretch it to say that it's 700 square feet, the one tiny bedroom contains twin beds. The owner admitted to us later that she rented the condo with the queen bed to her friend for the week, and stuck us with the twin beds. The landscaping looks vibrant and alive in the photos on the website, upon arrival we found it to be mostly dead. The stairs leading to the beach are unsafe, especially for children, as there is a high dropoff and no gate. The one laundry facility is noting more than a trashed out closet built on to the end of the building. We demanded a refund in exchange for our departure and was treated very rudely by the owner, Carol Welker, a real estate agent from Orlando. When I told her I would be filing reports with teh local Chamber of Commerce and Florida Tourism Commission, she called the police and told them I was threatening her. Mrs. Welker, the filing of reports is no threat, it has been done, and more complaints will be filed with state agencies. This condo is not fit for rental.
Date Added: Jun 9, 2009
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| 3. |
Spotted Grouper, Alligator Point, Florida
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My family and I rented a beach home named The Spotted Grouper in Alligator Point, Florida for the last week of July 2009. The owner, Joel Whitworth, asked for payment in full before he would reserve the home for us. Upon arriving at the Spotted Grouper, we headed straight for the beach and were shocked by what we saw. The water had a thick, muddy look and there were some dead fish on the sand. It was clear there was something wrong with the water and we would not be able to swim. We went in and called Mr. Whitworth immediately to let him know that the water conditions were not acceptable. He advised my husband that it was best we leave right away and he would see about refumding our money. We ended up staying at Mexico Beach which was lovely, but on our return home when we contacted Mr. Whitworth, he denied saying anything about giving us back our money and told my husband he was nuts. We went on the internet to see if we could find anyting out about the water conditions in Alligator Point and found an article stating that the bacterial levels were unsafe and that it was among the ten worst beaches in the state as far as water condition. I would recommend to everyone to stay clear of Alligator Point and Mr. Whitworth.
Date Added: Aug 6, 2009
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| 5. |
They never will leave you - they too addicted to your money...
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I rented an average studio apt at 209 North Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 nine years ago. It was very bad time for US - when 9/11 happened. I rented it from David Shwaery and Clifford Cone (on 11 floor)- for7 months and all 7 months payed top dollar for their empty, average, with dirty wall studio, when no one could pay no rent - economy went dramatically down and people lost their jobs...
Next door, in same building, people were renting marble floor, with great furniture apts for twice less than I payed to these guys - I was sending them every month to RI checks, issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank.
What happened next... When after 7 months I was moving out, I, practically was robbed by these guys. I left in apt series of big expensive canvases/ paintings (with an agreement to sign and send to me) so D. Shwaery could put them on display in his hair salon in RI (this is what he said we'd like to do).
When I called after couple of weeks, asking where paintings are, Clifford Cone said that they were demolished by workers who came to repair this apt after I left. Imaging my feelings...
And this is not all... I had many friends in that building, but doorman didn't let me come inside to the building after I moved out - my ex-landlords asked him not to.
Reason: these guys-Shwaery and Cone- after they performed their crime, decided to destroy me emotionally and make me look like a bad person in front of others, so I couldn't fight for my rights. And it almost happened.
As an active artist, I cannot function without my work.When I said to Shwaery that I will sue him for what he did, he said that he will tell to police that I didn't pay him rent, this is why he got paintings. (Rent was payed by checks and it is fact,)
Eventually, after many-many months of calling and askinng other people to talk to Shwaery, I got my paintings back. But damage had made. Emotional and physical.
I would never go back to this old story, if these crooks - or how to name them? (then they were around 65, and now over 70) didn't remind me about themselves. Before, in 2004, I was receiving from Shwaery lots of spam - emails, infected with spyware, he also did other damaging stuff online. After was a break for about 2 years, and now again this person bothers me with his spam and otherthing. I do not want to be bothered!
WARNING other people who going to rent property from those guys... They are never give up their bad activities (and you maybe even won't know it) and you risking stuck with them for many-many years even you won't remember their names - because they remember yours. Dangerous and nasty people, who use internet for their bad purposes.
Date Added: Jul 29, 2010
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| 7. |
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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| 8. |
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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| 9. |
NEW PORT RICHEY BEACON LAKES CONDO 5 florida
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Beware Mary or Peggy Francisco who owns several condos in Beacon lakes , my wife and I rented this condo for 3 mths 2011paying all rent upfront we had to clean both bathrooms, soap scum , also found the following, all cupboardsand shelfs full of stuff clutter everwhere, we had 3 small shelfs to store food , dust on tables and tv, lanai cluttered with stuff , windows in lanai filthy, bathtub did not drain properly, if you took a shower you'd be in water up to you ankles, balcony was dirty and cluttered along with dirty underwear , vacuum did not work ,unit in need of paint, pool and spa closed ,was not told, dirty dishes, kitchen sink dirty, Be CAREFULL
Date Added: Mar 25, 2011
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