We have found a VRBO property that we are interested in in Lauterbrunnen. There are not many options available in this area for June so we are keen to book quickly; however, the rental agreement says "Please pay directly to our bank account" (and then account numbers are provided). We have to pay 50% up front and the rest in cash upon arrival. I am not concerned about paying 50% up front (as this is standard) however have never before been asked to pay directly to a bank account. The apartment has many good reviews but I am wondering if this is a safe way to transact the payment?
Thank you for your help.
Posted by
Orinda, California, United States
307 posts
You would just be wiring money from your bank into their account. Since this is a small business in a small town and they want you to pay cash upon arrival, I would do the wire. Too bad they don't do paypal.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
This is normal. The number you have been given is probably an IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and starts with 'CH' for Switzerland. With this number you can send money from any other bank in the world. If you have an account from a bank in a country which uses the IBAN system you can do this from your normal e-banking relatively cheaply. I have discovered from reading posts on this forum that sending money from a US account to an IBAN account is not so easy, as the USA is not part of IBAN.
Paypal is not often used by businesses in Europe because e-banking using an IBAN is so simple and cheap.
Posted by
2 posts
This is one of the reasons that I prefer to use www.interhome.co. Credit card payments directly on site. They have some great properties around the world also. I've used them for years.
Posted by
OP
57 posts
Thank you for the replies. They are very helpful. We will be checking with our bank today about wiring the money. It seems like a very 'old school' way to do business even if it is a small remote town. They have the property listed on VRBO and aribnb and I just assumed they would set up payment services through these companies....though maybe that costs a lot more for them?
Anyway, thank you for the vote of confidence.
Posted by
Tennessee USA
30 posts
My friend rents out her beach condo through VRBO here in the US. VRBO recently contacted her saying someone had hacked into her account and contacted the people who had sent her inquiries to rent. They pretended to be her and told the people to send the money directly to them. I'm not saying that's what this is, but you might want to inquire a little more before you do it just to be safe.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
Actually bank-to-bank is very commonly done in most of Europe. Germans we know told us years ago that their banks weren't issuing checks anymore. One thing that has come up is how expensive it is for North Americans to wire money. Some people suggest telling this to the landlord and trying to work something else out, or there is an on-line wire transfer company that has been suggested in the past, XE I think. Does anyone else remember the name?