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Top > Europe > England 
| Vacation Rental Complaints |
| 4. |
"Arts & Crafts" House in Godalming, Surrey, UK
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Of the "sleeps 5" listed, two beds were in the attic, accessible only with serious effort, through a vertical wall-mounted ladder that led to a hole in the ceiling. (This was deceptively called "a cleverly designed stair" in the listing.) One of these beds was a trundle that could not have been pulled out without virtually dismantling the portable closet. This room was unsafe (due to unshielded hole in floor) even after we purchased multiple nightlights for it (no refund for those.)
HW boiler for dishwashing etc. worked very rarely throughout one-week stay. Promised Internet disappeared too halfway through, with no response from owner when help with both were requested. No refund offered; only "Discount off of future stay" (as if...!)
Property quite lived-in, full of owner's personal effects, aged stocks of food and well-worn furniture. The only room with double bed was almost entirely taken up by a large, projecting wall-mounted piece of martial arts equipment.
Owner stated that he would appear on premises 1st day to orientate renters; did not, also did not visit to refund security deposit on last day as stated in contract; we had to request several times after returning to US and then received expensive wire refund of less than we had paid.
All in all, a disappointing experience with an unsatisfactory property from very "tarted up" VRBO listing on a website that does not allow any truthful feedback; We have had better rental experiences in Europe from other sites and will not use this one again.
Date Added: Oct 12, 2008
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| 5. |
Apartment fraud in Chelsea, London, UK
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On 20 February 2009 I forwarded a 600 pound deposit to a person purporting to be Mrs Sussan Knight to secure a week's rental on an apartment in Chelsea, UK during October 2009. Despite several emails to Knight since, including one from the website I found the advertisement on, Knight has failed to advise me of any receipt details and has in fact failed to communicate me in any other way. The phone number listed on her advertisement has also been answered as not in service.
I have conducted enquiries with my local Police here in Western Australia and am in the process of initiating a criminal fraud offence into Knight's activities with the UK Police.
I have searched the internet and found Knight's advertisement, using exactly the same photos and blurb, on at east 6 websites now, including this one. I will, in turn, be notifying every website I find this person's details on. Some of the advertisements have been placed since 20 February 2009, so Knight is obviously still soliciting unsuspecting victims.
It would appear Knight has duplicated an advertisement from a genuine apartment nearby and I have contacted that advertiser of this possibility.
The original website I made my booking through has now cancelled Knight's account with them, als has another website already contacted. It is my fervent hope that you do the same so as to ensure no other unsuspecting clients lose their hard earned money as I have apparently done.
Date Added: Mar 20, 2009
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| 7. |
Sunnyvillaorlando.com
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We rented this house located in Davenport, Florida, originally owned by Laura Kowinski, of Chicago, who sold it to Gary and Ivonne Wilson, of Isle of Arran, England {UK}. We payed all our monies, at the end to Gary Wilson, via Paypal. We had paid for the pool to be heated, the last two weeks of the month of February. We had rented the house for one month. The second week we were there, he claimed that the pool cleaner had told him "there was something wrong with the pool, and that he will fix it" However, it never took place, and he lied to us.
Laura Kowinski, had forgotten to request a deposit from us, so we told him to take the money we had paid for the pool, since he never fixed it, and applied it to the deposit, which was supposed to be refunded 30 days' after we vacated the property.
At the end, he refused to give us this money, and went on to say that there were stains on the carpet, and that he will use this money, to clean them. We had seen the stains on the carpet from day one, and had reported them to him, so he new all about it. We reported the case to the Attorney General's Office, but it got nowhere. They said it was a civil matter, and was referred to another agency, but we never heard from them again. We are in our late 70's. Thank You, for having a place like this for people that can no longer defend for themselves.
Date Added: Dec 31, 2009
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| 10. |
Questionable London Property Management
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After emailing a vacation rental inquiry for the Covent Garden apartment to the Connections Management Group, Thomas Moore Jr. sent a reply saying it was reserved and offered a "few comparable properties" for my consideration.
After reviewing the Maddox and Jermyn Street properties at www.londonconnection.com, I called Thomas Moore Sr. (who stated that he was the owner of the company) and he reserved the Maddox Street property for me.
The next morning, Thomas Moore Jr. sent me an email saying they had received an overnight booking for the Maddox Street property and they would not honor my reservation for the Maddox property. Here is a quote from his email, "I just spoke with my father and he made a mistake by telling you that he would assure you that the property would not book, when in fact it was showing available and did book." Thomas Sr. wrote in a separate email, "Oh my goodness, I am in the hot water!"
Next, Thomas Moore Jr. offered me the Cranley Place property -- a "bigger/nicer property...at a discounted price". I sent Thomas Jr. a reservation for Cranley Place. The following morning, Thomas sent me an email saying that he would not accept my reservation, "The problem is that no owner wants a reservation arriving on Christmas day and departing on New Year's Eve. I feel really bad about this situation, but Cranley Place will not accept your reservation."
I called Thomas Jr. to discuss the "situation". He told me that they only manage these properties (contrary to what Thomas Sr. told me, "We own the properties."). Thomas Jr. said that property owners had the last say and he would not risk losing a property management contract over my reservation. He felt I should be grateful because property owners could cancel my reservation at anytime!
Renters be cautious when dealing with Connections Management Group, London Connection, Thomas Moore Sr. & Jr.
Date Added: Oct 27, 2010
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