did anyone book a condo with VRBO/Homeaway?

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-- did anyone book a condo with VRBO/Homeaway?

Posted by hank_panky on Apr-11-2008 03:23:

did anyone book a condo with VRBO/Homeaway?

I did, and i got conned out of a place to stay for my WMC miami trip. I even signed up for the websites "rent with confidence" program, which doesn't cover breach of contract. well thats great, its basically useless.

Me and the gf got to the car rental place in miami and finally heard back from bitch who's condo we were going to use and said she was in a terrible car accident and couldn't get the keys to us and to just rent a hotel. we called the condo, and apparently she did this to at least 4 other people. so she has our $1200 and we had to pay over $1500 to stay in shitty hotels. The website wont do anything for us despite their "guarentee" which covers nothing, i guess i just signed up for a free slogan that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

so in short, i would advise anyone traveling and looking for a condo to steer clear of VRBO, Homeaway and all their affiliates. I'm sure most of the time you will be hooked up with a legitimate condo owner, but when any scam artist can pretend to rent you a condo that probably isn't theirs or might not even exist and you went through what i did, i wouldn't risk it.

If any of you know the other people who got scammed by this "Lily Gonzalaz" (apparently she used similar names) please contact me, as i am a feisty bastard, and wont just roll over and say "oh well" when someone fucks me like this.

thanks for your help.

ps, i still managed to have an awesome trip, although it could have been 10 times better...

Posted by ctt300 on Apr-11-2008 03:40:

Man, I would file criminal charges and get the FBI involved in this fraud..., especially if there are others who were ripped off.

Posted by drEamer on Apr-11-2008 03:44:

i think i might have talked to her....thank god i found a good guy to deal with

Posted by TranceNation1 on Apr-11-2008 03:54:

Re: did anyone book a condo with VRBO/Homeaway?

quote:
Originally posted by hank_panky
I did, and i got conned out of a place to stay for my WMC miami trip. I even signed up for the websites "rent with confidence" program, which doesn't cover breach of contract. well thats great, its basically useless.

Me and the gf got to the car rental place in miami and finally heard back from bitch who's condo we were going to use and said she was in a terrible car accident and couldn't get the keys to us and to just rent a hotel. we called the condo, and apparently she did this to at least 4 other people. so she has our $1200 and we had to pay over $1500 to stay in shitty hotels. The website wont do anything for us despite their "guarentee" which covers nothing, i guess i just signed up for a free slogan that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

so in short, i would advise anyone traveling and looking for a condo to steer clear of VRBO, Homeaway and all their affiliates. I'm sure most of the time you will be hooked up with a legitimate condo owner, but when any scam artist can pretend to rent you a condo that probably isn't theirs or might not even exist and you went through what i did, i wouldn't risk it.

If any of you know the other people who got scammed by this "Lily Gonzalaz" (apparently she used similar names) please contact me, as i am a feisty bastard, and wont just roll over and say "oh well" when someone fucks me like this.

thanks for your help.

ps, i still managed to have an awesome trip, although it could have been 10 times better...

Happen to 1 of my friends the dude got more money from any there person. He told my friend I cant rent u the place

Posted by Cool1g on Apr-11-2008 04:10:

did you pay via credit card? if so, do a chargeback. if cash, then yes you should file police report IMO.

i did rent a hotel/condo unit right next to Nikki Beach...got a $399 + tax nite room for $250 a nite. so i was pretty happy with VRBO.

Posted by PatMcGroin on Apr-11-2008 04:10:

that name sounds familiar. i think i saw something like this on "help me howard" on that bitch a few weeks ago... but who knows i may be wrong too. try googling her name... theres a possibility there may be an existing lawsuit against her that you may be able to join and maybe get some money back.

sorry to hear about that though. that really blows.

Posted by ArminD1981 on Apr-11-2008 05:49:

What a Bitch ! file a criminal report and do a chargeback on your credit card.

Posted by echoform on Apr-11-2008 07:37:

I went through VRBO and our place was as described, property manager was very helpful and great location.. It worked out because it was a good deal.. Sucks you got a skeemer..

Posted by stev�sto on Apr-11-2008 15:37:

hi! welcome to florida! a place for people escaping tax evasion, child support, and duis! we get more guido gangsters from new york moving down here, every week! ahh yes, good quality people here. we love tourists and appreciate your contribution to our economy!

miami is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but at the same time with one of the most evil, disgusting, disturbing dark sides a city can have. im convinced miami has more scam artists than any city in the US.

Posted by lilmau5 on Apr-12-2008 20:38:

dude that totally sucks! we rented thru the website and got a great deal thru Miami Habitat. but i'll be honest, i was pretty scared we were going to be ripped off too.

just a question: do you have a rental contract? rental contracts are enforcable between the US/Canada, so you should definitely file criminal charges. rent from management companies and make sure you fill out a rental contract!

let us know how it goes. good luck!

Posted by drEamer on Apr-12-2008 22:16:

or if u used paypal u can get the money back too..may take awhile but u will get it back

Posted by TommyfromLA on Apr-13-2008 04:15:

I booked with sunspot vacations it was great for next year we will def have a thread on condos... The hotels in south beach suckkkkkk

Posted by drEamer on Apr-13-2008 04:35:

and for the most part, the condo prices beat the hotels

Posted by hank_panky on Apr-25-2008 17:54:

so paypal didnt give us the money back, and now we are going through our credit cards fraud protection. i'm pretty sure i'll end up getting the money back, but i would love to sue for emotional distress or whatever you can get away with in the states.

i wouldnt mind being taken for the money through some internet scam or something when you are out just the money...but when you plan a vacation only to find out that you have no place to stay when you get there.. brutal.

good thing i had friends who let me stay with them the first night, and boy did i get hammed at mansion monday night. haha.

Posted by Salem on Apr-26-2008 00:49:

quote:
Originally posted by hank_panky
so paypal didnt give us the money back, and now we are going through our credit cards fraud protection. i'm pretty sure i'll end up getting the money back, but i would love to sue for emotional distress or whatever you can get away with in the states.

i wouldnt mind being taken for the money through some internet scam or something when you are out just the money...but when you plan a vacation only to find out that you have no place to stay when you get there.. brutal.

good thing i had friends who let me stay with them the first night, and boy did i get hammed at mansion monday night. haha.

well pauly, next year will go better for ya.

can't wait for wmc 09.