| Vacation Rental Complaints |
| 51. |
VRBO 263202
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The listing on VRBO was neither current nor accurate. The price was $200.00 more than stated and a $150.00 cleaning fee was added. After many successful stays in VRBO properties this one was disappointing. We had to supply our own toilet paper, garbage bags and dishwasher detergent. The home was advertised as accomodating eight - which it did for sleeping but there were not eight chairs to use for dining, cutlery was always an issue. Supplies were at best minimal. especially in the kitchen - no placemats, the toaster was probably 30 years old and didn't work properly,no cheese grater, storage containers, limited serving bowls. There were no barbeque tongs or brushes to clean the barbeque, no recycle information or containers (though we found out from the neighbours that there was a comprehensive recycling program in the municipality, no access to the laundry from the house - had to enter the garage from outside. The couches had been covered with blankets (understandable as the furniture was a light colour and we had children) - but the blankets were pilled and we spent the entire week covered in beige lint. The house did have some nice features - it has been renovated, was open and spacious and the beds were relatively comfortable but it seems that the owners (or managers) cheaped out on the very things that make a stay pleasant. The guest pass to the Hilton pool/beach was the only perk that came with this bare bones, accomodation. The property manager actually used the phrase "bare bones" when I called to inquire about the toilet paper, etc. If that's the case this should be clearly stated on the listing as other VRBO rentals do provide those basics. It took a full month to get our damage deposit returned.
Date Added: Mar 15, 2010
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| 56. |
Scammers
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Beware of renting any vacation property from Ellen Bourque and Suzan Paula. We rented house for 6 wks, Feb 1 - Mar 14, 2010. When we arrived, no meet and greet as we were told, key under door mat. House smelled like sewer. My husband found that vent pipe was leaking and fixed it. Also, rugs in bedrooms were stained. I cleaned them. Our contract stated that there was phone service. No phone. Contacted Ellen & Suzan about our concerns, sent waiver for defects and told us after discussing with owner, we would receive $250 refund for no phone service. We had other concerns the longer we stayed, but did not want to be complainers. After talking with neighbors, we found out that there was a fire in the house a couple of weeks before we rented. They had an unlicensed electrician try to fix the panel, but we caught by the city and had to get a licensed electrician to do repairs. We had no heat or air conditioning while we waited for licensed electrican. They told us to except the repair to take 2-3 hrs. We left 9 am and returned at 5 pm. Had no service until 8:30 pm. On moving out on Mar 13, we cleaned and mopped floors. I had to buy cleaning supplies and new mop becaurse their's was disgusting and falling apart. My husband also had to fix the garbage disposal the first time we tried to use it, a piece of silverware was caught inside. Waited 2 weeks to email about refund and security deposit. No reply. After another week, received registered letter stating that no security deposit would be returned because of damaged they found. FALSE DAMAGES of course!!.. Claims we did not clean stove, oven or refrigerator. Baked brownies one time in oven and I had cleaned everything better than we had found it. Also, claimed we damaged blinds and had to snake toliet! They were supposed to fix sliding screen door and never did. We have no idea what the blinds they stated in letter or about the toliet!! BOGUS!!. They will not return phone calls or emails. I googled Ellen Bourque and found a list of the same complaints from other renters on other houses. They did the same to them. These two are real scammers and need to be stopped. I emailed Vacation Rental Direct and advised them they better start checking the agents they advertise. Of course no help from them. We are considering legal proceedings against them. DO NOT RENT FROM THEM!!!
Date Added: Apr 24, 2010
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| 57. |
overcharged after agreement
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I rented for 2 months for 1850.00 month, with 700.00 deposit,
suppose to be all included on bills.
before I even got there I was charged another 39.00 for tax's she was charged on raising renters tax. Then the propertie is not up to par, the windows will not shut tite, so all the heat or air go out the windows, washer has some bad lines with corosiun in them, ruined 2 mens silk shirts, and 3 of my tops and pants with spots on them. the landlady was a sharletan, with all her little prices. I recieved 405.00 back on my deposit, she was happy I took good care of her propertie, but kept my money. she also got 200.00 deposit because I had 2 small dogs. she kept that also. the beds were wore out, the refridgerator thermastate was broke so I lost a lot of food, the floors were worn out linolium, with big holes under the couch, the furniture is wore out, you sink to the floor on the couch's and the matress on the couch is bad, says it sleep 9. no way. I just felt she tried to rip us off.
Date Added: Apr 30, 2010
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| 58. |
Uncomfortable, unpleasant vacation mobile home
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From 1200 miles away, I relied on Peggy Gray's description of a non-smoking, all re-done "cottage" rental. I failed to check references and it didn't occur to me that her refusal to take credit cards could be a warning. We found the property overgrown with knee-deep weeds and very, very old. The outside is damaged and rusty. The inside has some recent, bargain furnishings and curtains. The place smells, to us, of cats and cigarettes, though she assured me it was a non-smoker. We're senior citizens, and smoke free is paramount to health. The linens on the "queen size" bed were dubious and the bed was very, very lumpy and springs were sprung. When we lay on bed, our heads dipped far below level of our feet. Peggy was cold and unconcerned. Offered, angrily, to buy a bed. I asked when and she said she had no idea. She had an excuse for everything, said other people found the place acceptable and refused to discuss a refund of any sort. We were in her property for ten minutes, touched nothing, and ended up without a vacation. This lady seems totally unconcerned with customer's needs. She published a flurry of email at BBB from her realtor and some other renter, saying it proves her place is nice. I advise extreme caution. EXTREME CAUTION. There are lots of rentals to choose from. I should have been more careful.
Date Added: May 12, 2010
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| 59. |
Best Beach Rental
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I would like to tell everyone of my neagative experience with the Floridian company - Best Beach Rental (www.bestbeachrental.com), and its owner Mr. Adrian Corbuleanu (phone number 305-788-2364).
I booked a vacation online for January 2nd, 2009 through January 10th, 2009. I paid $1,800$ through my credit card for a two floored two bedroom and two bathroom apartment on 5445 Collins Ave. Miami, FL. Due to sickness in the family, this vacation was cancelled. However, the cancellation policy of Best Beach Rental was that there are no refunds; however the vacation could be rebooked within one year. This was confirmed with Adrian Corbuleanu.
When we had already planned our previously cancelled vacation, I contacted Adrian to give him the new date which was from August 4th, 2009, through August 12th, 2009. Adrian promised me that during these dates there would be an available two-floored, two bedroom and two bathroom apartment. Through our telephone conversation, Adrian assured me that the keys from this apartment would be waiting to be picked up from the security desk of the front building.
When we had arrived to our destination, there were no keys waiting for us at the front desk. I phoned Adrian; he told me he would arrive there in fifteen minutes. When he had arrived, he had informed us that he did not have a two bedroom apartment, and he would make up for it by giving us two separate apartments since we had a party of seven (four adults, three children). He assured us that these two apartments will be as beautiful and comfortable as the original apartment. Right after assuring us this, he left.
When he had arrived into our apartments, they were unfit for a rat to live in. We were promised a fully equipped kitchen, and a washer and dryer. The only thing in the kitchen was one rusty microwave, there wasn’t even a stove. There was no silverware, and there were no dishes cups or anything of the sort. There was also a leak from the roof. This was nothing compared to what I had seen on the bestbeachrental.com’s site and paid $1,800 for.
I instantly called Adrian and informed him that this wasn’t what I had paid for and I kindly asked him to find us the apartment he had promised us. His response was that he had nothing else and he hanged up. After this, I had tried to contact him several times and he had not picked up his phone at all. We were left in a situation where four adults and three children (4, 5, 7 and 8 years-old) did not have a place to stay. We were forced to find another apartment to live in, even though this one had been paid in full. We did not spend a single minute (other than our initial inspection) in these two apartments – this could be confirmed by the folks in the lobby.
Luckily, the security officer (who is actually a Miami police officer, working there off-hours) at the front desk helped us find a new apartment, which we ended up paying for with $1,800.
Our numerous calls to Mr. Adrian Corbuleanu remain unanswered – he either picks up a phone and immediately hangs up or never returns the messages.
Would you please intervene and help us resolve this injustice as I feel I should not end up paying $1,800 for an apartment in which my party did not stay in. In addition, in my opinion, I feel that you will be doing a great help to the state of Florida by eliminating the state from a “realtor” whose idea of making money is to take advantage of tourists.
Date Added: May 12, 2010
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