Beware of renters! (long)

[disneymomto5]

I've gotten permission to post this as long as no names are exchanged. First let me say that I blame myself for this incidence and simply wanted to let everyone else know of my stupidity and warn others of potential mistakes.

I had 4 points that were about to expire and were not going to be used. Just for fun, I thought I'd check out the rent/trade board and see if anyone needed a few points, which I did. She wanted to me to transfer and I had no problem doing that. A price was reached and she said she'd pay with money order. I actually prefer paypal, but I have rented a few points in the past and been paid with money orders so truthfully didn't feel suspicious. She had been around awhile and since it wasn't alot of money, I felt "safe".

Well, I sent my information, transferred the points and she claimed the money order was in the mail. This was on Sept 1. On Sept 19, I emailed her asking when the money order had been sent and she "claimed" she would send another. I told her that if I happened to receive 2 I would send one back to her (it's not my nature to take advantage of anyone). Come Oct 1, still no money order of any kind. Now one money order might get lost but 2....? Anyway, she failed to respond to any further communication from me, perhaps she didn't believe me either, who knows?

The morale of this story, be careful when you rent out your points. Even though it wasn't alot of points or money it still stings when you've been taken advantage of. Hopefully my sad tale will help someone else out.

 

[WaltEeyoreWorld]

I'm sorry this happened to you. At least it was only for 4 points. We have done a bit of renting our points in the past and we always require the money first and if renting against a reservation, we require a signed contract before we book the reservations. Best to be safe I guess.

BTW, I think it would be a great to have a thread listing the names of rental offenders so others do not rent to them in the future.

 

[5forDiz]

Just want to be clear ...you say you transferred your points; so that'd be a dvc member then .....wow imho that would make me feel all the worse.

FWIW I'd have probably felt as you did too & say a money order would be okay being it was a member & a couple of points.

Perhaps she's in the midst of a family emergency & will follow through with you soon. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[LVSWL]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I agree with the above poster that when a member has a problem with a renter like this, there should be a place where others can find out about it so they can avoid this very thing.

 

[disneymomto5]

Yeah, she is a member with 2 seperate accounts. Oh well, I still check the mail everyday with a hopeful heart...I'm ever the optimist.

 

[msabol01]

wow that's aweful in both value and principle. Is this person a Disboard member too? If she ends up never paying I would petition to have them banned from these boards....they certainly don't belong in either community (Dis and DVC).

 

[5forDiz]

I'm not an expert on money orders ... but I know those issued by USPS can be traced ( I'd guess mo's issued by other sources can be as well )

Hope this all comes to a happy ending

 

[Rileygirl]

Wow

Thats awful.

I hope everything turns out for you!

 

[jcodespoti]

I would agree about posting names. However, you only getting one side to the story (no offense to the O.P.). Imagine if your name popped up her just out of spite?


Joe in CT

 

[janni518]

I'm sure the OP is telling the truth (sorry that happened to you) but I totally disagree with posting people's names.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The worst part for the OP has to be that this really isn't that much money and she was being a nice person to help another member out. What a creep to take advantage of someone doing a favor. At least this person (not the OP) can't do this to another member because they are limited to one transfer a year.

Sorry you got suckered out of your points, disneymomto5.

 

[colonialtinker]

That is terrible I agree Deb & Bill
OP Good luck

 

[Laneychris]

All I can say is what goes around comes around.

 

[KandiB47]

I am surprised that someone who owns DVC would bother not paying for 4 points. I thought we were all upstanding people here I wouldn't risk my Disboard account for less than $50

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Wow! Hope it was a serious misunderstanding and as another pp said- either a family emergency or something that has taken the member away from home for some time to where she hasn't noticed that you hadn't still received funds... - Really! Over 4 points... just doesn't seem worth the risk of their reputation as members or as someone else pointed out- IF they ARE a member of these boards as well-
On the other hand, if there is a member who is not upright in their contracts I wouldn't want to be victimized-
You mentioned that you were told it would be okay to post if no names were mentioned... Who said that? DVC or Dis? If it is Dis I hope once this is actually figured out and laid to rest that they don't allow that person to use the boards as a source for renting, transfer & such- & if DVC, well what could be done so any of us are not subject to the same thing??
I really hope it all turns out okay!

 

[disneynutz]

I am surprised that someone who owns DVC would bother not paying for 4 points. I thought we were all upstanding people here I wouldn't risk my Disboard account for less than $50

How are they risking their DIS account. DIS doesn't have anything to do with the transaction, just like the DVC doesn't. That's the problem with these transactions, you can't tell who you're dealing with.

 

[Kiderak]

I say post the names for stuff like this, that way there won't be another victim in the future.

Also wondering who said you can't post names.

 

[buzz5985]

Call the OIG - Office of the Inspector General of the USPS- Toll-Free Hotline
1-888-USPS-OIG (1-888-877-7644)

They inspect financial fraud. Have all your emails etc?? Just offering to mail money and not is fraud.

 

[disneymomto5]

They are disboards members and before I even debated posting, I contacted the Webmaster who told me it would be ok to post the warning, just not mention any names. I really would hesitate to post names anyway, I guess I'm ever hopeful that it will still show up. It's a lesson learned for me, like I said it wasn't that much money, she was a dis member and dvc member, I felt pretty safe.

 

[robandkelly13]

It's surprising someone would do this over only 4 points. I'm glad it wasn't a huge loss. Thanks for posting so we can all be careful!