| Author |  Topic  |
rebekah.g
 United Kingdom
76 Posts
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Status: offline |  Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 17:08:26  
| Hi everyone. I hope no one has been unfortunate to suffer as we have had. With out the help of the management team over in florida we would be in a worse state. We have been back from florida now 6weeks and were told our security deposit would be returned two weeks later. Still not received it back after so many emails, calls letters and having to now threaten with legal action. You would think why do this. They know no further business would come their way. Sadly they dont seem to care. The management team has though been great and even though its not their problem they are wanting it sorted out as it could reflect on their good reputation. I wonder if anyone has ever had this problem before getting their money back. I would welcome anyone comments on this and advice.
thank you rebekah and kevin | | Report this post to a moderator |
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Big Mack
 United Kingdom
176 Posts
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 17:14:09
| Rebekah, thats terrible. Have they given you any reason for witholding it or are they simply ignoring you?
Good to hear that the managment company are willing too help though.
I am sure someone will be along with some sound advice.
Mack | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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rebekah.g
United Kingdom
76 Posts
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 18:23:21
| | There is no reason why they havent sent it. I mean the management team said the villa was left in a good condition. Apparently other people have had problems getting their money back themselves. Whether or not they received the money back in the end I am not sure. Needless to say its not the way to conduct business. Due to this its it making me hesitant booking another villa and having to pay the security deposit on the off chance it may just happen again. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Paula D-S
 United Kingdom
4517 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 19:07:43
| Hi Rebekah,
Firstly I hope you had a great holiday.
I'm sure I speak for the majority of villa owners when I say we refund security deposits as soon as we have had the OK from our MCs. Mine are normally sent within a week of the guests returning home.
Firstly I would email them, then I would telephone and if that got me nowhere I would send a request for the refund by special or recorded delivery.
Also check the terms and conditions of booking, ours states refunds within 21 days.
Please don't judge us all in the same boat as this owner. You must also know we HAVE to charge security deposits, it wouldn't make any sense if we didn't.
Good luck and I hope to hear from you soon.
Paula |
Paula
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2140.aspx |
Edited by - Paula D-S on 07 Oct 2005 19:08:43 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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huckleberry house
 United Kingdom
2980 Posts
Joined: 30 Jun 2003
Status: offline | |
Cruella DeVilla
 USA
10605 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 20:09:36
| Rebekah,
Around a month is the normal period for returning security deposists and this is normally found in the T&C. I send around the 2 week period once we have had the all clear from the MC and no excessive utility bills have been raised.
Hopefully you will get all this sorted out soon. |
CDV
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dawn
 United Kingdom
3230 Posts
Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 20:45:16
| Hi Rebekah,
So sorry to hear you have had this trouble with your security deposit return and hope it has not marred your holiday memories. I do hope you get it sorted out soon - I know how you were looking forward to your villa experience.
As Paula says, please do not think all owners are the same, as you rightly point out we all hope that our guests will return, so it is in our interests to ensure the whole experience is a positive one.
Good luck and hope this is resolved for you soon. Let us know how you get on.
Dawn |
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1781.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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E. Cosgrove
 United Kingdom
5850 Posts
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Status: offline | |
summerset
United Kingdom
30 Posts
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 22:32:40
| Hi Rebekah,
we refund the security deposit as soon as possible following the Man Co letting us know the state of the villa, usually within 2 weeks & we itemise any deductions
Unfortunately another case of a villa owner doing himself .. and others, no favours
Rob | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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rebekah.g
United Kingdom
76 Posts
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 08 Oct 2005 : 20:32:08
| Thank you everyone. We did have a lovely holiday but yes it some way it a put a dark cloud on our experiences. I only wish I had booked through one of these sites. I cant mention the company on this reply but if anyone would care to know please dm me as someone as already. The website though is no longer on the web currently being altered which I very much doubt. The mc have been brilliant and are eager for this to be sorted out as it reflects on them. They may be cancelling the contract it this isnt sorted. The couple own the villa on kildrummy drive in the sanctuary. beautiful villa shame about the owners...whom have never been to look at their villa in the 2 years they have owned the villa. I would never treat any guests this way. Im not bragging but I left the villa in a brilliant condition. It is the way I am. Too tired for my own good sometimes. The mc were very satisfied with the villa.
thank you once again for your responses
rebekah and kevin | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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ctgirlscout
 USA
4039 Posts
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Status: offline | |
DeeDee
![]() 4 Posts
Joined: 05 Oct 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 08 Oct 2005 : 23:24:29
|  So sorry to read about the problems getting your security deposit back.It does mar your stay (unfortunately) and makes you a little more leary when this kind of thing happens.
 Don't let it deter you from renting from private owners.Most of them are great! Trying really hard to please...
When I rent now I look for owners that either take a credit card swipe or just use the credit card number you give them to pay for the reservation for Security purposes.Which is fine.Because then you can dispute any charges that are made with the Credit Card Company.
Certainly a more secure way to go.
Hope everything works out for you.
Is it possible the owner is on vacation? Or away and did not even remember to send it back to you?
Good Luck to you,
Debbie |
Dee | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Paula D-S
United Kingdom
4517 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2005
Status: offline | |
LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11770 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 16 Oct 2005 : 19:42:31
| we had to pay when we arrived at the villa we stayed in, not what we were used to, and we were only asked for a credit card imprint and nothing out of it, and when we handed the keys in we were told there and then no money would be taken out 
so sorry to hear of your problems hope it gets sorted soon |
Liesa | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Ray&Sarah
 United Kingdom
10599 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Status: offline | |
chrisflowers
 United Kingdom
1757 Posts
Joined: 16 May 2004
Status: offline | |
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
 United Kingdom
17434 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 20:07:36
| That maybe so but it still would not stop the owner pursuing you for damages in the Small Claims Court if you had damaged their villa and cost them money to put the damage right.
Like anything else, renting a villa requires a bit of give and take on both sides - yes you are leaving a security deposit with an owner but in turn they are trusting you to look after their house worth $300,000+. There is trust on both sides and rightly so.
99.99% of guests treat the homes as if they were their own but unfortunately there are a very small minority that do not and the owner has to have some security that guests who abuse homes can be expected to put their damage right. It's not as if this minority of bad guests are not aware of the reason for the security deposit so they have no excuse.
Guests have a responsibility to look after the villa they stay in or face up to their actions. Suggesting to people ways of trying to avoid this responsibility is not what I would expect from a guest.
I understand you had an issue with the owner you rented and the security deposit which I could not comment on as I am not in receipt of the full facts, but please do not leave others with the impression that keeping a security deposit is a frequent thing or advise them how to try and avoid paying for any damage made to the villa.
quote:
Originally posted by DeeDee
When I rent now I look for owners that either take a credit card swipe or just use the credit card number you give them to pay for the reservation for Security purposes.Which is fine.Because then you can dispute any charges that are made with the Credit Card Company.
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John & Sarah Rooke
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-3.aspx
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-388.aspx
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.villasflorida.com
www.onlinefloridavillas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.flightsflorida.com
www.floridahire.com | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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ellie
 United Kingdom
5903 Posts
Joined: 31 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 20:35:04
| You are so right, John. Renting a villa is quite unique because both the villa owner and the guest must have trust in each other. We all try to make our guests' vacations the very best ever, and we have been very lucky to have had delightful guests who have taken great care of our home - but, sadly, not everyone has been so lucky.
However, I am sure that nobody would expect the villa owner to pick up the tab if guests caused damage to the property during their stay.
Our home is thoroughly checked both before and after our guests arrive. This not only ensures that our home is perfect for our guests arrival but should any damage have occurred then it is obvious when it was done.
I am horrified that someone should actually choose a villa on the basis of the security deposit being taken by credit card, and then enter into a contract with a villa owner to use their beautiful home with the idea that this way they could dispute any charges. |
Ellie
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/576.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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benfilo
 United Kingdom
1002 Posts
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 17 Oct 2005 : 23:03:39
| | What this owner has done is wrong and has to be very rare. Owners rely on personal reccomendations as well as repeat bookings, so I don't think anyone should worry about leaving a security deposit however it is paid. |
benfilo
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Edited by - benfilo on 17 Oct 2005 23:05:06 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Macka
 United Kingdom
1349 Posts
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 08:54:27
| Folks I don't think Deedee was suggesting that she is trying to avoid a legitimate charge.
I believe that she inferred that there are a few methods of owners dealing with security deposits. such as Cash deposits Credit card imprints in advance etc. Deedee prefers to have the owner take a credit card imprint or card number, rather than taking cash in advance, so do I. If you are on a budget, 200 pounds is a lot of money to pay out on top of your holiday cost. I see absolutely nothing wrong with your decision as to which villa to choose being partly based on deposit method, even though I wouldn't myself, it's a matter of choice. If you cause damage then the owner can take the cost from the card, what's the problem? If the renter disagrees with the charge, and we've seen examples of this on the site, then the renter has the security of being able to take the issue up with the credit card company. where's the problem here?
This year, rather than pay a security deposit, the villa hire company insist I take out their damage waiver insurance. It's not expensive and although I thought it rather cheeky at the time, after thinking about it, it's not a bad idea as it gives peace of mind to the owner, renter and MC.
I don't believe anyone looks after rented homes better than me and Beverley, they are usually cleaner when we leave, however accidents do happen, and no-one here objects to paying for damage, but it's rather unfair to criticise an individual for choosing an option that is offered by some owners.
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Cruella DeVilla
USA
10605 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 09:10:14
| quote:
Originally posted by Macka
If you cause damage then the owner can take the cost from the card, what's the problem? If the renter disagrees with the charge, and we've seen examples of this on the site, then the renter has the security of being able to take the issue up with the credit card company. where's the problem here?
Possibly Macka some unscrupulous guests might just challenge for the hell of it. Most of this type of guests deny the damage when it is evident that they have caused it. So they damage the property and get the deposit back, it then causes mega problems for the owner trying to get it back through the Small claims Court. |
CDV
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