http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/burned-a-london-vacation-rental-scam/?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Ftravel%2Findex.jsonp Just another article on how easy it can be to get into trouble. Of course, many people use money transfers and/or pay in advance the entire amount required with no problems. But because there have been some recent posts inquiring about these types of things...I thought I'd pass this along. BTW, if you don't read the Daily European Headlines on the Homepage of this website, you should. Lecture over ;-)
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17400 posts
Try this one: http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/burned-a-london-vacation-rental-scam/ Great article. I think the first red flag was Craigslist. wiring money, in and of itself, is not a red flag and need not put one off of a RELIABLE apartment. Sometimes that is the only paument even an honest and reliable property owner will accept. The trick is confirming that reliability. (also they should require only a deposit, not full payment in advance of arrival.)
Posted by
Charleston, SC, USA
62 posts
Hmm, scary! Has anyone rented through Homelidays before? I am in the process of renting an apartment studio on Rue Fondary in the 15th arr (Paris). Everything seems legit. There are 17 reviews on Homelidays, and they are all very good. Most of them are in French or Italian, so I've put them through online translators to get the gist of the review. I wonder if someone would take the time to forge 17 different reviews? Probably. The owner actually has two different rental apartments listed on her personal website. She's confirmed our reservation and I've filled out her contract and sent it to her, but I haven't paid the 10% deposit yet through paypal, she has yet to email me the details. I've found one really shady review about this apartment on TripAdvisor. She thinks she was a victim of fraud, but I think the person believed they had a contract, but in fact didn't. They said that the owner never asked for a contract or a deposit or anything, and then didn't answer when they showed up in Paris. She didn't even pay any money at all, so how can it be fraudulent? It doesn't make any sense for a criminal to just for funsies tell you there is an apartment available and not get any money out of you. I've read that if you don't fill out a contract or make a deposit or get solid written confirmation then you don't have a reservation. At any rate, there was another blurb on TripAdvisor by a lady who was asking for advice on this same apartment. I've e-mailed her to see if she did rent it or not, if there were any complications, etc.
Posted by
Phoenix, AZ, USA
1035 posts
"I've found one really shady review about this apartment on TripAdvisor. She thinks she was a victim of fraud....." That alone would be enough of a red flag for me. There are so many options for Paris, you don't need to roll the dice. Check out the apartments reviews at slowtravel.com. Really good resource, although some of the places people stay are pricey -- but not all by any means.
Posted by
Charleston, SC, USA
62 posts
Edit: I did a search for her name and address listed on the contract, and this is what I came up with
http://www.societe.com/societe/balateu-nathalie-505096503.html I had a free online translator translate the website, and it looks like a listing for her business. What do you think? This is the link to the apartment listing: http://www.homelidays.co.uk/paris-15/studio-31772en1.htm If you are a seasoned traveler with lots of experience, please offer any advice you may have! This is our first trip to Europe and I want to avoid a nightmare! This is address of the apartment: 83 rue Fondary 75015 Paris. Also, I could send you a copy of the contract if you think that might help you evaluate if it's a fraud or not. My deposit is only 42 euros. I'd think it if were a fraud, she would be trying to get more money out of me upfront. Again, though, I like to be paranoid sometimes if it helps out in the long run!
Posted by
Dreaming of my next trip to Europe
273 posts
Vacation in Paris is an extremely reliable rental agency and they do require the entire amount be paid in advance. They usually send you the keys to the apt. before you leave the states. Craigslist is not reliable for many things.
Posted by
California Central Coast
97 posts
One thing I look for in dealing directly with the owner is how long they have had an ad on the site. In the case of the studio you're looking at, the ad has been on Homelidays for nearly seven years. I would think that over that period of time somebody would have complained directly to Homelidays that the ad is a fraud and it would have been removed to protect the reputation of Homelidays as a legitimate site. However, at the end of the day there is a certain leap of faith required when dealing directly with the property owner. Neil