I think we may be being taken for a ride

[boakl]

We rented a large home in Formosa Gardens for Thanksgiving week. There is a large group of us (15) going for an Unofficial Grand Gathering.

We rented and paid the deposit on this house around Christmas of 2007. We made our final payment last week. We still have not heard from the owner despite many emails to him asking for confimation that the money has arrived. We are due to leave out on Saturday and do not have the official address for the house, and we are getting worried.

The owner lives in GB, and I would like to avoid an international call, but if we haven't heard back by Thursday, I will call.

Do you think we are being taken? If so, what should we be doing to protect our money?

If we are being taken, my brother will never let me live this one down ...

Send vibes that we get an email tonight!

Noelle

 

[JANNYANS]

If I can be of help here in UK then let me know maybe I could call them for you or check on the ownership of the house .If you want to give me the details I'll do that with pleasure .

 

[Glampire31]

I would check into it and see that you were not taken by these people.... Maybe something happened and they forgot to get in touch with you... Sending good vibes that you will get an email or call tonight....

 

[sympatico]

Jannyans knows about these things, so I would give her the info and let her find out what she can if she's willing. Those from the UK have an underground railroad of information that we know nothing about.

 

[isla bonita]

These owners have an underground railroad of information that we know nothing about.

and sometimes that can a very good thing. LOL

 

[boakl]

Just got an email with address and the entry codes. Whew! That was a nail biter. I can face my family now.

Thanks for your offers of help, it really means a lot to know that someone will always watch your back in times of trouble.

I feel like we are officially ready to go now (other than the millions of other things I have to do before we leave...)

Noelle

 

[Glampire31]

Good luck and I hope you all have a safe fun trip..... I will always have everyone's back on the board... I am here to help and lend a helpful caring ear.

 

[JANNYANS]

I am so pleased you have what you need to go and have a great vacation.

 

[Freaky]

Only catching up with this thread this morning. So glad you got everything sorted out and it all seems to be above board

 

[sympatico]

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving week.
Formosa Gardens area is great.

 

[mareed]

I'm very glad the OP received the info and that everything worked out fine. To the OP who may rent again in the future and to others reading this thread, I have a recommendation based on renting from individuals many, many times (most of the trips at WDW in my sig).

Research the owner/property at the Property tax website for the county. For Osceola County with the Formosa Gardens area (Windsor Palms, Windsor Hills, Emerald Island, etc.) it's http://ira.property-appraiser.org/. We've rented in this area and I've always been able to find the owner I'm renting from, and thus confirm ownership and find the actual address even before it may have been provided from the owner. Some owners provide the address info at the time of the initial deposit and booking form, and others wait until the final payment is made.

While there's still an element of trust (that goes both ways - renter & owner), I feel much more confident having confirmed ownership. I also ask about the management company, and many times have been able to find the website for them and find the property I'm renting. In addition to helping to confirm that things are legit, this also makes me feel good that I'm getting a better price directly from the owner!

 

[psharrock]

Hi

Glad you got all the information you need to access the house. I can bet it was a bit nerve racking not having the information you need with less than a week to go.

Whereabouts on Formosa Gardens are you staying?

Paul

 

[James65]

So glad you got the info. Have a great trip.

Thanks for that website Mareed. I'm going to check out our Windsor Hills condo.

 

[TinkerBrie]

Thank goodness! Have fun! I was worried for you! Let us know how it works out!

 

[spiceycat]

Glad everything finally worked for you.

hope you have the best trip ever!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am also glad it all worked out for you. But I don't feel the lack of communication was very professional. How did they know you wouldn't be away this late in the game. We often have plans to go to WDW but leave early to stay and visit with relatives for a few days beforehand. I would never want to go through that kind of stress considering you initiated this process a year ago. Thumbs down to this particular owner for lack of communication and disclosure. I've heard various similar stories over the years on this board about vacation home owners. I'm sure the majority are very good and trustworthy---but it's the bad minority like this owner that would make me hesitant to ever rent or recommend a friend or relative to rent either. Planning for vacations can be stressful enough without lack of communication and lots of money spent on the table. Sorry...just my 2 cents.
Now that the nail-biting is over (which u never should have been put through), go and have a wonderful time with your family

 

[spiceycat]

no offense Maria - but thanks to Jan - this isn't a big problem. JANNYANS - has tracked down owners before.

as long as she posts to the Dis - would definitely rent a home if I needed one.

thanks JANNYANS for all the help you have given others over the years.

 

[isla bonita]

Sounds like it is all worked out.

Have a lovely holiday and let us know your thoughts on renting a home.

I know you will love the area and the homes in Formosa gardens look wonderful.

Have fun.

 

[MiaSRN62]

no offense Maria - but thanks to Jan - this isn't a big problem. JANNYANS - has tracked down owners before.

Honestly, no offense taken Pat. It's great Jan can help. But my question is this...why should she have to ? Why aren't some owners taking a more proactive stance with their renters and keeping up on communication and not putting people through stress ? What about the people that rent from some of these owners and don't have access to Jan or the DIS ? I, respectfully, have issues with it. If I rented or referred someone to, it would be through a trustworthy owner here on DIS. But then again, I have that advantage. A potential renter shouldn't have to have someone else track down the the owner if you can understand where I'm coming from. There shouldn't be the stress and uncertainty less than a week before a trip ? Like I said, often I go down to FL to visit relatives. The OP just heard from the owner yesterday ? What if she had already left ?

Regardless.....I'm sure there are many that disagree with my concerns......just glad it all worked out.......

 

[JANNYANS]

Pat -Thank you for the endorsement .I will do all I can for as long as I can to help people who may be having trouble as no one in the rental home business likes to have their reputations tarnished by those owners who are not so proactive as others.I do however also agree that it is a shame that I- and others here -have to offer our help now and again to try to ensure that peoples hard earned vacations go as smoothly as possible.