London Vacation rentals
Oct 1st, 2011, 01:20 PM
#1
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London Vacation rentals
As anyone run into fraudulent vacation rentals in London.
We are in the process of renting from VRBO and are concerned about the request for a money transfer.
I know that on this site you are dealing with owners rather than an agency, but we've rented from VRBO in the U.S. and have never had a problem.
Deborah
We are in the process of renting from VRBO and are concerned about the request for a money transfer.
I know that on this site you are dealing with owners rather than an agency, but we've rented from VRBO in the U.S. and have never had a problem.
Deborah
Oct 1st, 2011, 01:45 PM
#2
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yep many scammers on the boards go over to Asia
have a look at a VRBO scam where a poor lady lost
THOUSANDS. It is illegal for individuals to rent and
you to enter into a contract so police VRBO do not help.
Risk is ALL yours and can go badly quickly.
www.londontown.com from personal experience
GREAT deals on well located properties
Like Dolphin Apartments use them ALWAYS pay with CC
NEVER wire money too risky and insuremytrip.com to be safe
Caveat Emptor!
have a look at a VRBO scam where a poor lady lost
THOUSANDS. It is illegal for individuals to rent and
you to enter into a contract so police VRBO do not help.
Risk is ALL yours and can go badly quickly.
www.londontown.com from personal experience
GREAT deals on well located properties
Like Dolphin Apartments use them ALWAYS pay with CC
NEVER wire money too risky and insuremytrip.com to be safe
Caveat Emptor!
Oct 1st, 2011, 01:50 PM
#3
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Dolphin House Serviced Apartments hotel deals | LondonTown ...
ADDRESS Dolphin Square, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3LX - See map: RESERVATIONS Tel: 020 7420 4958 - (From USA call toll ...
http://www.londontown.com/hotels/inf...n_house/154737
My fav there...
ADDRESS Dolphin Square, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3LX - See map: RESERVATIONS Tel: 020 7420 4958 - (From USA call toll ...
http://www.londontown.com/hotels/inf...n_house/154737
My fav there...
Oct 1st, 2011, 02:00 PM
#4
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Does the VRBO listing have reviews? Is the apt listed on other rental websites - if so, are there reviews there? Is it reviewed on SlowTrav's website? Have you googled the owner's name or the owner's email to see if there are any red flags?
I've rented apts in Europe before and have done wire transfer to the owner's bank account.
HOwever, I would NOT send money to a Western Union account.
I've rented apts in Europe before and have done wire transfer to the owner's bank account.
HOwever, I would NOT send money to a Western Union account.
Oct 1st, 2011, 02:43 PM
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YK, There are several reviews on VRBO and they are positive. The rental is also on vacationrentalpeople.com and there are reviews on homewayconnect. The reviews on homeway seem to be the same as VRBO.
The owner is asking for a wire transfer to his account in London not a Western Union transfer. I think his bank is Barclays in Notting Hill (the rental is in Notting Hill)
We googled the name and found some info on the trip advisor forum about scams in general and a lack of quick responses from the manager for the house we're interested in, but nothing specific about any scams.
Any advice?
Deb&Bill 1
The owner is asking for a wire transfer to his account in London not a Western Union transfer. I think his bank is Barclays in Notting Hill (the rental is in Notting Hill)
We googled the name and found some info on the trip advisor forum about scams in general and a lack of quick responses from the manager for the house we're interested in, but nothing specific about any scams.
Any advice?
Deb&Bill 1
Oct 1st, 2011, 05:42 PM
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If you want to avoid the potential for risk then use a commercial agency - there are many reco'd here - then check it our carefully and pay only with a credit card.
Although most VRBO renters seem to be perfectly legitimate, there are always a few that aren;t.
Although most VRBO renters seem to be perfectly legitimate, there are always a few that aren;t.
Oct 1st, 2011, 07:28 PM
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I stayed in a Notting hill flat last year and wired the deposit to the owner. I wonder if it could possibly be the same one. I rented a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath flat. If you want to share the VRBO number, someone on the board might have had some experience with that particular rental.
Oct 1st, 2011, 10:32 PM
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I don't agree with quovadis and I think he/she is exaggerating to some degree. Perhaps there's lots of fraud in Asia, but I've rented in several European locations and have had no difficulty whatsoever. On each of these occasions, I've wire transferred money to the owners. At the end of my stay, they either return the deposit to me in person or wire it back to me. I think it's a gross overstatement to tell you to use some other site because of what may be going on in Asia. Frankly I don't even see the correlation.
If you do want to try other sites to see if the rentals have guest references, that's always a good idea but I would never tell you to strictly stay away from VRBO. Many posters here have used this site with success. Two other sites you could try would be Home away holiday rentals and ownersdirect.com. Just do your homework - which it sounds like you are doing!
Renting directly from an owner is very common and wire transferring the deposit to the bank is also very common and safe.
If you do want to try other sites to see if the rentals have guest references, that's always a good idea but I would never tell you to strictly stay away from VRBO. Many posters here have used this site with success. Two other sites you could try would be Home away holiday rentals and ownersdirect.com. Just do your homework - which it sounds like you are doing!
Renting directly from an owner is very common and wire transferring the deposit to the bank is also very common and safe.
Oct 2nd, 2011, 12:16 AM
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What I do not like about VRBO reviews is the owners can delete unfavorable ones!
I would try for a rental agency that would be responsible for any problems. Personally I like Nell Gwynn House on SloaneAve in Chelsea righ off the King's Road.
I would try for a rental agency that would be responsible for any problems. Personally I like Nell Gwynn House on SloaneAve in Chelsea righ off the King's Road.
Oct 2nd, 2011, 05:55 AM
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Hi Deborah,
(I'm cutting and pasting my reply on another vacation rental question...)
I don't know your circumstances -- if you have a long stay in London or not, a large group -- but my experience renting an apt. in London wasn't as nice, clean or convenient as staying in hotels. Something to consider -- the cleanliness of the flat may not be up to your standards (towels, bedding laundered well), and all the extra costs -- early "check in," leaving your bags past "check out" if you have a later flight, the apt. cleaning cost (which was in the fine print -- but was expensive and put the rate closer to hotel rates), the possibility of extra keys for the others. And the insecurity (my entire group felt) of wiring our money to a Caribbean bank account to an apartment owner we didn't know.
Also, having to deal with the collection of the keys and the return was inconvenient. With a hotel you have 24 hr access to a clerk.
In my case, we booked one flat, and then the owners switched us to another flat they owned because there was an issue with the water heater. We didn't know this until the day we were to check in. The flat was comparable in size but in a very different location - farther out. So something like that could happen.
Also, we then had to wait 30 days for the security deposit to be returned. I'm not even sure it was or was delivered on-time-- my travel companion had taken care of the finances. So, in my opinion, rentals can detract greatly from the pleasure of a vacation.
Others have had great experiences -- but be sure to check reviews (tripadvisor, google) for your flat for past experiences, and know your own tolerance for the uncertainty.
I still had a good time with my friends, but I just prefer the ease, comfort and security of a well-managed hotel.
I'm sure you'll find what you need! Have a great time in London!
(I'm cutting and pasting my reply on another vacation rental question...)
I don't know your circumstances -- if you have a long stay in London or not, a large group -- but my experience renting an apt. in London wasn't as nice, clean or convenient as staying in hotels. Something to consider -- the cleanliness of the flat may not be up to your standards (towels, bedding laundered well), and all the extra costs -- early "check in," leaving your bags past "check out" if you have a later flight, the apt. cleaning cost (which was in the fine print -- but was expensive and put the rate closer to hotel rates), the possibility of extra keys for the others. And the insecurity (my entire group felt) of wiring our money to a Caribbean bank account to an apartment owner we didn't know.
Also, having to deal with the collection of the keys and the return was inconvenient. With a hotel you have 24 hr access to a clerk.
In my case, we booked one flat, and then the owners switched us to another flat they owned because there was an issue with the water heater. We didn't know this until the day we were to check in. The flat was comparable in size but in a very different location - farther out. So something like that could happen.
Also, we then had to wait 30 days for the security deposit to be returned. I'm not even sure it was or was delivered on-time-- my travel companion had taken care of the finances. So, in my opinion, rentals can detract greatly from the pleasure of a vacation.
Others have had great experiences -- but be sure to check reviews (tripadvisor, google) for your flat for past experiences, and know your own tolerance for the uncertainty.
I still had a good time with my friends, but I just prefer the ease, comfort and security of a well-managed hotel.
I'm sure you'll find what you need! Have a great time in London!
Oct 2nd, 2011, 06:00 AM
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Oh, and we did rent through VRBO, and these particular owners DID own a Notting Hill flat, along with several others. Might be a good idea to google the other flats and the owner names.
I do believe owners can contest reviews on VRBO and have them removed -- which makes me wary of them.
I do believe owners can contest reviews on VRBO and have them removed -- which makes me wary of them.
Oct 2nd, 2011, 06:04 AM
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chgo gal, a friend and I were just discussing this even though we have both had nothing but good experiences with apts. I've only rented in Paris from Vacation in Paris and I have NO complaints , you heve the keys so no meeting up, no security deposit and your key deposit is retuened within a day of them getting the keys back. but I relaly do like hotels better since there are only 2 of us. If i can find a comparable rate at a hotel I think I would go for it.
Oct 2nd, 2011, 06:06 PM
#13
I've rented flats in London more than 25 times and never had a bad experience. Through vrbo, Homelidays, commercial agencies, and directly w/ individual owners. But then, I did live in the UK for several years so maybe I just have a better 'radar' to spot red flags and 'issues'.
I know lots of folks have posted here asking for info/vetting about specific properties, and very often they are places I wouldn't touch w/ a barge pole. Either location, or misrepresentation, or just general "stuff". I don't splurge at all - have never spent as much as £1000, frequently 1/2 that.
Sometimes a bad experience is just bad luck (and could just as easily happen at a hotel) - but sometimes it is because someone jumped at a place that looked too good to be true -- and it was . . .
I know lots of folks have posted here asking for info/vetting about specific properties, and very often they are places I wouldn't touch w/ a barge pole. Either location, or misrepresentation, or just general "stuff". I don't splurge at all - have never spent as much as £1000, frequently 1/2 that.
Sometimes a bad experience is just bad luck (and could just as easily happen at a hotel) - but sometimes it is because someone jumped at a place that looked too good to be true -- and it was . . .
