I could cry- looks like my villa could a fraud

[mackay_j]

I sent an international check - tracked and to be signed for. But the villa owner is saying he didn't get it (he says he isn't even in florida at the moment ) - postal service is saying it was delivered and signed for by him.

Can't do anything to try and cancel the check until tomorrow but the us banks were open yesterday (it is a draft cheque so as cash)

I did all the checks on him and the villa that I could before going ahead- he definitely own this and many other rentals in polock county - all taxes and licenses are paid up to date for this and the other. He had many reviews on homeaway.

I feel sick right now - this was $5000 - (it wasn't even my money my MIL was paying it for all 14 of us)

 

[Elise79]

Sorry to hear that - I have no advice as I don't rent villas but hope it all works out

 

[2Tiggies]

Is it possible that someone signed for it and received it on his behalf and has not yet passed it to him so he hadn't received it at the time of his reply to you?

Is it standard practice to send a cash cheque rather than do transfers through a bank for these rentals? I have no experience or knowledge with rental villas. I hope it is all sorted in the morning.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Hopefully this will be a mix up and he will have the cheque. Sounds like you did everything you could to make śure he owned it so I really hope things work out for you

 

[queendisney]

oh dear. Can you ask him to check again, does he have somebody in Florida that does his business for him when he isnt' there? Tell him you will be reporting it as fraud if he really thinks its not been received by him.

Hopefully you will be able to stop that cheque tomorrow and all will be ok on the money front.

I hope it all sorts itself out and its been a big mistake on their part.

x

 

[mackay_j]

He says he has already asked the neighbours and they didn't sign for anything. We have now asked him if a neighbour can check the mailbox in case the postman signed it and just put it in the box. He said he would and would get back to us asap - that was yesterday at 3pm. As yet nothing. He is apparently in California at the moment -8hrs time difference- So I am waiting until 4pm to phone him. I was on the phone to different people all day yesterday trying to find out who signed for it. All these US calls will be costing us a fortune as on each on I got put on hold for up 40 mins.

I have been booking villas through homeaway for 10 years - this is the first problem I have had and typically this villa (due to sleeping 18) is more 5 times the price I would normally pay.

Re the cheque payment - that is how homeaway advise to try and prevent frauds - so there is at least a paper trail

 

[2Tiggies]

Re the cheque payment - that is how homeaway advise to try and prevent frauds - so there is at least a paper trail

That's why I asked. A paper trail will probably work in your favor. Is he away from home at the moment? Perhaps this has made it harder for him to check on the mail situation, hence the delayed response?

 

[mackay_j]

panic over - the mail has been in his mailbox since Thursday the postal service didn't bother to get anyone to sign for it - and the postman must have just signed the it in his name-

Although it was not his fault I will stick to what I have done in the past and book through a UK owner as sending bankers drafts internationally is not something I want to repeat again.

I will a least sleep to night now!

 

[wayneg]

Glad you got it sorted.
If you ever need to ring the US use one of the low cost numbers, I use Telediscount at 1p per min. http://www.telediscount.co.uk/index2.php
Others on MSE http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/usa/bt/easy

 

[2Tiggies]

Thank goodness! You got that wine in the cooler yet or have you downed it already?

 

[BlueGiraffe]

Phew, glad you got it sorted!

We booked through HomeAway (UK owner) this year and paid online via the HomeAway site. Surely even Americans can accept an online transfer?

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Great news, hope you are relaxing now

 

[duffdo]

Would Paypal be a viable option? I know they charge fees, but surely they would be comparable to an international check.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Glad you got it sorted out!

 

[scoobydooby]

Excellent news relieved for you

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Phew !! Thank goodness for that .......... I been thinking about you all afternoon and wanted to come on and get an update but our blinking internet went down about mid day and had only just come back

 

[crabbie1]

So pleased for you. I would have burst into tears with relief. Great news. You can relax now xx

 

[stba2006]

So glad It turned up

 

[disneyholic family]

glad it worked out!!

this is one of my fears related to renting a villa!

 

[mackay_j]

Thanks everyone- In got a full nights sleep last night after the previous two were spent awake and panicking.