Experience with usaparis.com apartment rentals?
 

Has anyone had experience renting an apartment. particularly in Paris, with a company called www. usaparis.com based in Florida?
Cindy

It looks as though this agency represents individual owners. I clicked on some of the links (for instance, policies) and nothing came up. I couldn't find any review of the agency here, except for one that looked like an advertisement. Have you spoken with them?

You could check to see if the apartment you're interested in is on VRBO. There may be reviews there.

The apartment is listed on VRBO but with no reviews. I have been looking hard for something and this is just right so I have made a deposit this morning. However I saw some wierd mixed reviews on Trip Advisor so was trying to find out more about them. Yes I talked with them, very helpful and courteous but now I am worried of course! Maybe someone else here knows more and will post...

There have been hundreds of posts/threads about flats and agencies in Paris and have never heard of this one. Doesn't mean they aren't legit -- but I'd guess they are either new/small/and/or under the radar. I personally wouldn't book from a site that isn't at least minimally known on sites like Fodors.

Have you checked homelidays? Similar to vrbo.

Usaparis, connected with imarketers and homeintown ltd are part of a fraudulent circle. Not only was the property which I rented at a cost of close to $500 a night in paris not as it was advertised (it’s supposed to be a 2 bedroom but the stairs to the upstairs “room” was in the first room – and the open shower was in the first room as well so there is no privacy at all, be it sleeping or showering). But that is not the point of this note. The point is that they are a fraud – and they do it by keeping your security deposit. I had to send a check in for the amount of $500, which was to be refunded to me after the stay. I didn’t read the fine print, which was my fault, but it takes them 30 days to refund the check. I waited over 30 days and there was no refund so I told them I would write poor reviews about them online and they pointed me to the terms and conditions – which were on the their website – saying that I would breach the agreement if I complained. They then said it’s ok for them to keep my security deposit bc I complained about not getting it back and called them too many times. The only reason I called was bc I didn’t get it back after 30 days. Their response was, “We are busy.” They couldn’t even give me an estimate as to when I should expect my refund. Just based on these terms alone, I should have known it was a fraud – no company keeps your security deposit for 30 days after the check out date and no company forces you to accept terms such as “no complaints” – I would stay away from this company no matter how great the deal appears to be or how much of a discount they offer. There are so many other companies out there.

I also noticed that they use other names on tripadvisor to “credit” themselves – the same “angry” tone is used multiple times.

I would not recommend these people. Everything was fine until I tried to get my security deposit back. I emailed them at day 28 asking about the status. They responded that it was a 30 day turnaround. When I emailed them a few days later, they said it was a 30 business day turnaround. Now that I am threatening that I will give reviews on line, they are telling me that their might be damage to the apartment. This is 41 days after I checked out. They also threated me and told me it was illegal to writer slanderous reviews. I don't expect to get my money back as hiring an attorney will cost more than the $500. I should also note that the "quiet" apartment was so loud as it was over a nighclub and all the kids in paris hung out in the street on weekends.

I too had an unfortunate experience with usaparis. They clearly have no intention of ever returning the $500 security deposit we paid for a rental that ended on Sept. 27, 2011. I am writing this on Dec. 19, more than 75 days after we left the apartment, and more than 45 days beyond the 30 day period within which the deposit was to have been returned. It shouldn't have been necessary to send a written demand, but I did. As expected, it was ignored. If this is happening on a widespread basis, as appears to be the case, a lot of money is being unlawfully retained. Do not do business with these people!

Three people who sign up recently, just to complain about this company...

Not a good sign for the company, even if it's one disgruntled customer.

There are numerous threads over on the Tripadvisor Paris forum regarding complaints about USAParis. I believe someone is planning some type of legal action/class action. Can't recall which thread, but have a look through these.

http://tinyurl.com/cf7n3tf

I rented a Paris apartment from UsaParis for use in the fall of 2011. Their contract requires a $500 security deposit that was to be accounted for and refunded within 30 days of leaving the apartment. It is now more than 5 months later and I have never received any accounting of any apartment damages nor any money. I am a senior citizen and left the apartment in perfect condition. Their contract also has a binding arbitration provision and they get to pick the arbitartor in Miami. I am in California. They refuse to arbitrate!