benitakaren

My husband and I are traveling to Paris a week from this Friday with two friends. I reserved a two bedroom apartment with two baths from Paris Perfect. I was contacted today and told that the elevator will be out of service for the time we are renting. We are in our 70's and climbing six flights of stairs several times a day is going to be impossible. They told me they don't have any other apartments. They are calling me back tomorrow and maybe they will be able to find something for me. In the meantime I am panic stricken. Obviously, no sleep for me tonight. I am not expecting anyone to solve this for me, but just needed to vent. Thanks for reading.

stevewith

The internet is a great place to complain about a company that has broken a contract with you, especially a company involved in the tourist trade that depends on word of mouth. Tends to get them focused. Besides, other travelers need to hear about these things, so don't apologize for posting.

An elevator for people in their 70s is not an "amenity". It is a medical necessity where there are six flights of stairs, and obviously you would not have rented the apartment at all if it hadn't been represented to you as accessible. If you have trip insurance, I would also contact them.

Paris Perfect has an obligation to locate for you accessible lodgings in Paris, whatever the cost to them. That was the contract they signed. So you absolutely should expect someone to solve this problem for you -- namely, Paris Perfect. And they should solve it at no cost to you, not come back to you and tell you they located another apartment and it will cost you more money.

If they don't solve it for you at equivalent cost, and if you have trip insurance, I would contact your insurer. And please don't hesitate to post, not only to vent, but because maybe somebody else knows of another place.

And please get some sleep. Can't help anything if you don't sleep.

lrock5

We plan to use Parler Paris when we go again in February. I believe they have some 2 bedroom properties. Good luck and sorry for your trouble. Hopefully you will have a great trip once this is settled.

Sassafrass

Crummy! They have to fix this for you. DH & I can manage a couple of flights, but 6, with luggage? No way! Sleep tonight. Tomorrow, you will get it taken care of.

StCirq

Paris Perfect is probably the best, most reliable apartment rental agency in Paris. Before we go talking about breaking contracts, I doubt you signed a contract that absolutely guaranteed a working elevator (the buildings those apartments in are old, and no one can foresee a problem like this occurring - I've owned a rental property in France for 20+ years, and stuff happens). That said, of course if you can't climb that many stairs, you can't, and that's that, and you have every right to be upset and expect a resolution.

I am quite sure that Madelyn and Philippe are agonizing over this and will do everything in their power to find another place for you to stay. And despite new and strident poster stevewith's suggestion that they might ask you to pay more for whatever accommodation they find for you, trust me, they would never do that. This will be settled and to your satisfaction. Madelyn will be up early with her expert crew to get you situated nicely. By the time you wake up (and DO go to sleep!), it will probably be resolved.

lrock5

St. Cirq there you are. Font mean to hack this thread, but did you get my email?

StCirq

When did you send it, lrock? I've been off the charts nutso with my SO's 95-year-old mother for the past two weeks and have probably overlooked a few things...or saw them and then forgot about them. Send again?

lrock5

Will do

Pepper_von_snoot

Melen, have you given Señorita Cosa two Klonopins with a Cabernet chaser?

That should do the trick.

Blissful twighlight aka coma.


Thin

StCirq

Thin, luv,

I think a Cabernet chaser is the perfect contra-indicated chaser. Or a shot of vodka or two...


Night night...

greg

There is always an omnibus escape clause for this type of event. The Paris Perfect terms section states <i>We reserve the right to cancel or amend a booking.</i> They seem to be very accommodating in trying to solve this type of issue in renters favor, but I suspect there is a limit to what they can do. A take away from this story for other readers is a need to have a plan B for critical items. Last time this type of event happened to me was in Siena when the room at the lower level was rendered unusable by water damage. The manager offered an alternate apartment on top floor. The catch was that there were three flights of stairs to get there. Fortunately I could still do this. This would have been a deal killer if I was traveling with someone in their late 70's.

rfbk50

My daughter rented fom Paris Perfect and then could not fly home because of the volcano in Iceland a few years ago. They were very accommodating and helpful with extending her stay. I am sure they will help you. Let us know how it works out.

grandmere

Greg, how would a traveler have a Plan B for something like this? Rent 2 apartments?

millie2112

I fail to see where they have broken their contract. I think that something like an elevator would be out of their control - especially if it has mechanically broken down.

I think it was very good of them to contact you and let you know. It would have been far worse if you arrived and found out.

benitakaren

Received an e-mail at 2 a.m. from Paris Perfect about my apartment rental that we have for the end of our trip. They offered me an additional apartment for two people. I never asked for that. I am sure it was just a mistake, but I am already at my limit and can't take much more.

I am not upset at PP, I understand elevator issues happen and really don't want to come careening down an elevator shaft. They were nice to let me know about the situation. They did offer me 15% back for every day I walked the stairs. Actually, we could not walk those stairs even if the apartment was free. I just need a place to stay in eight days. Thanks again for listening

jamikins

I dont understand what you mean by 'They offered me an additional apartment for two people. I never asked for that.' Do you mean that they found you a new apartment? What do you expect them to do?

I hope it works out...must be frustrating

benitakaren

Jamikins, I have two reservations. First one, elevator problem. Second reservation is ok. PP must have looked at an e-mail I sent them last year looking for additional room with the second reservation and responded to that request. At least, that is what I think is going on.

TuppyMe

Paris Perfect is far from perfect. We rented a few years' ago.....television didn't work....the "wonderful" Caroline could not assist.....the entire week we were not able to use same.....we were shocked to have the cleaner entering our apartment one hour before our time to vacate.......we didn't have time to answer his perfunctory knock....
Our next...and the next....and the next visit.....not to Paris Perfect!!

stevewith

You rented this apartment for eight days?

Most elevators can be fixed or painted in a day and be back in service. What is taking a week? If they are telling you the elevator will be out of service for only part of the stay, they shouldn't be offering you 15 percent to walk the stairs some days. They should be putting you up in a hotel or other apartment that is accessible for those days. Advance notice doesn't excuse this situation.

The typical thing with agencies like Paris Perfect is that they actually don't have complete control over their properties. They are not the owners. They are brokers. If the owners suddenly decide they want the use of their own apartment in May, then the holiday renters are given a song'and'dance about "plumbing" work. How often does that excuse fly on the internet? So you change the story.

Even if this is legit, look at it this way: If you had arrived in Paris with the elevator working, and while you were staying there, the elevator stopped working and you were unable to climb the stairs for reasons of health, Paris Perfect is obliged to relocate you rather than offer you 15 percent off the daily rental to risk your health and climb the stairs.

It doesn't look like Paris Perfect is a small renter. They have a huge business renting stuff all over Europe. They shouldn't be putting the onus on you to find lodgings for the days the elevator won't be working. They should be doing this.

stevewith

Something else to be wary of when it comes to Paris:

Even when landlords own the apartments they rent, it can be against the law. If neighbors complain or the law starts investigating, suddenly apartments become unavailable, and it doesn't matter if you were promised in writing that you could stay in that apartment. The contract really wasn't legal to begin with.

I get it that a lot of people are total personal friends with the people who run this agency, but if they are sending out contracts and demanding money upfront from people to secure rentals, it is not "nice" of them to live up to their agreements. They have an obligation to do so. I'm not being "strident". I'm just not making excuses for fellow landlords or personal friends. This is a business deal.

I disagree with the advice that everybody should have double "back-up" reservations for lodgings when they rent an apartment. What they should have is a legit contract and travel insurance.