Need advise on problem renter asap!!

[InstImpres]

I had a rental agreement with someone for a week at BCV beginning April 4th. (I have rented easily and successfully 12+ times). I take a 50% deposit and require 50% 60 days in advance. The renter paid the deposit, about 2 weeks late and than paid the balance 3 weeks lates, despite 8 phone calls and e-mails from me before as reminders and for the 3 week late period. I just found out from my bank that the check bounced.

I am thinking of contacting them and cancelling half of their nights. Now I am obviously within my 30 day window and will have holding points.

Anyone ever had similiar experience or have a suggestion (besides that from now on certified funds only.) I guess it's true...one bad apple can spoil it for a whole bunch.

Thanks for letting me rant

 

[mikesmom]

I've not had problems with renters (only done it once myself) but I do own my own business and so occassionally have to deal with problem customers. If I were in your shoes, I'd give them ONE chance. I'd contact them, tell them the check bounced, give them 48 hours to get you a certified check or else you cancel the entire ressie. Then I'd stick with that scenario. I'd put the ressie back on the rent board, holding their deposit until I got the thing rented. If there was any loss from having to "fire sale" the points, I'd deduct it from the deposit before returning the balance. Harsh? Maybe so, but otherwise I think you just may have rented out points at half price. Besides, if you cancel half the nights those points will be in holding - a whole ressie may be easier to unload.

As with kids, they may think they can get away with this as you gave them so many reminders and chances about the deposit and the date to send the balance.

 

[cascadecupcake]

I think Mikesmom's advice is very good.

Had your renter booked directly from CRO and not sent in the deposit within 10 days the ressie would be cancelled. NO questions asked. They are late. Period. You had an agreement. Give them 48 hours and then cancel their reservation, refunding their deposit less any expenses (point value decrease, etc.) you incur due to their irresponsibility.

 

[AEN]

I agree with Mikesmom. I would add on an amount for the bounced check fee. Why should you have to pay that? Don't give them any days if they don't pay the remainder. The deposit is exactly that. If they don't fulfill the obligation, you shouldn't provide anything.

Good luck.

Keep us posted.

 

[KellyDVC]

Certified letter stating exactly what you will do if you do not here from them (return receipt). Wait to cancel anything until the very last minute.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I think mikesmom made a good suggestion.

I would send a certified return receipt letter as KellyDVC advises. Accept only certified check as payment or paypal. They should also reimburse you for the bounced check fee.

In the meantime list the entire current ressie on the rent/trade board to see if there may be any renters interested in the entire ressie as a BACK-UP in case you don't get the payment balance.

Assuming you don't get final payment, deduct all fees, expenses, price difference (if any) from the deposit amount. I would also wait until the points are re-rented before returning the entire deposit.

If you can find someome who will want the current ressie, it will be simple to call MS to have the name changed.

Good luck.

 

[Poorman]

I would call the renter and ask for the remainder of the contract. If they are not going to give it to you I would put the ressie up on this board,like others have said. I also would post that the ressie is going for the the other half of the deposit. You lose nothing and you can be sure you will have it rented in a matter of hours.
When I rent points I will not give anything back if it within the 30 day window,and this is stated in my contract. Many people are looking for those dates. Good luck. Rich

 

[Tommy]

Let's say you do only give them half the nights for the 50% payment for the points you used and they get mad and take it out on the room (things do happen). Now who is responsible for the damage to the room? I'm not sure that I would want them in the room at all at this point, based on their performance.

 

[mikesmom]

I agree with Tommy. I hadn't thought of that, but how can you trust them? They've already proved themselves unreliable!

 

[MELSMICE]

I think you have gotten some good advice here.

I would make a phone call & send an e-mail telling them a certified letter is one the way which will include instructions on what they need to do to keep their reservations. I would give them 48-72 hours & that's that. You have been more than patient.

If they don't come up with the balance & you are going to return their initial deposit (which I don't know if you will or even should) then deduct any fees/penalties that you have incurred.

Unfortunately, as you said, one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch. How sad. Although, I think it gives people who rent something to think about - that being that maybe they should only accept certified checks. If I remember correctly, when we rented we had to send our final payment with a certified check.

Good luck - keep us posted.

 

[RobDoc]

This points out the need for a firm understanding of what expectations you, as the member, have with the rental.

Many have a policy that the deposit in non-refundable after a certain point and that the reservation points "belong" to the renter once the balance has been paid.

Some would have noticed a red flag when the deposit was late and another when the balance due was late.

You have recieved some good advice here about handling things at this time, but all of this might have been covered before entering into the agreement originally, so there would be no misunderstanding now.

Sorry you have been left in the holding account. I'd just repost your availability on the Rent/Trade and see what happens.

Good Luck!

 

[InstImpres]

Thanks so much for all the advise. As several of you stated, yes I covered this in my agreement (and add a 4 sentence tag line to ech e-mail about nonrefundable, T7T on 4th day. etc.) to cover myself.

Yes, the red flag went up twice. I just feel bad taking away someone's Disney trip even when they ask for it.

I did get a lengthy phone call and apology and a semi-believable story. I should have a money order in hands Friday. I'll et you all know.

My only concern (and I'll call MS in the morning if no posted response) is that I hadn't thought of the room damage senario. I know our dues pay to "maintain" quality but wouldn't someone's (evena member) credit card be charged if mousekeeping found real damage??

Thanks again for the support

 

[ncligs]

InstImpress,
All the above posts were very good advice.....in case they don't work you can try the 2 options below as a last resort.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I do agree with mikesmom on this issue, but I do feel that as a renter of points, you need to change your tactics somewhat before you rent your points again. If a payment is due on the 15th of March, and you don't have it then--email a reminder. If you don't hear from them in 24 hours, send a 2nd email saying that points will be cancelled, and the deposit is automatically forfeited. Do the same for the deposit, but in that case, just cancel the ressie. If you do not hear from them within the next 24 hours, follow thru with your threat, and send an email stating that you have cancelled the points. People can and often do forget about the money, but after receiving a reminder they should be prompt in emailing you to explain. You should NEVER put your points in jeopardy for holding because, as you now know, they can only be rented at a much reduced rate, and ,again, you have a much higher chance of being ripped off the 2nd time, and the opportunity window is only 60 days max. You were way too nice to your renters, under the circumstances. By the way, consider Paypal--tell your renters that they have 24 hours to deposit the money into your PayPal account, and don't forget to add the fee that Paypal charges. Your money is in your account within 24 hours. It's a much shorter turn-around time than a certified check.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by ncligs

ncligs -

You always give me a great laugh with your smiles . Just wondering are you a master programmer or do you have some great download source?

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by InstImpres
My only concern (and I'll call MS in the morning if no posted response) is that I hadn't thought of the room damage senario. I know our dues pay to "maintain" quality but wouldn't someone's (evena member) credit card be charged if mousekeeping found real damage??

If the room is damaged, the member whose points were used is responsible for paying for any damage.

Another thing I learned about in January that I haven't heard anyone mention on this board is this: Your room charges don't always get put on your credit card while you are at WDW. We had a charge come in after we checked out, and MS's called us to ask for payment. The room had actually been on my BIL's charge card, but as the owners, we were responsible for the bill (not an issue, my bil paid the bill with no problems).

Knowing that I'm responsible for the damage and bill's of other people has really made me squeamish about renting points...

 

[InstImpres]

Thanks Cruelladeville


I did all those things (e-mails, calls, etc.), just couldn't bring myself to cancel. I'll get sucked in by nice people on the phone.

I use to require a $100 paypal deposit to even make ressie as a sign of good faith. This renter told me they aren't comfortable with electronic payments and I didn't want to put them in a funny position whose laughing at who now!!

 

[ncligs]

InstImpres,
Sent you a PM.

 

[kfields1]

So sorry you had a bad renter. Please know that there are many "good renters" (like me! ) who would never leave a DVC member hanging.

 

[vbfamily]

If what the above posters say is true about you being responsible for damages and somehow them being able to check out and you being resposible for the bill..I would pull the plug on the whole thing. JMHO

The renters have already showed they are unreliable. You have every right to put a stop to it and rent your points to someone else.

Personally, I doubt you'll see that money order Friday. Why couldn't they pay you over the phone with a credit card? Because they don't have any credit due to not being creditworthy or what credit cards they do have are maxed out(This is not a flame on people overextending themselves-I had to max out my cc's in college once to pay for books, etc.)

Where would they get the money to pay you by Friday? If they had any money shouldn't it be put in their overdrawn checking account? It just seems that if they really had the money it would be in the bank. They are probably getting calls from the bank if a check bounced.

It just seems like they have had more than enough chances to prove themselves and they haven't done it.

Sorry if this sounds blunt.

These are YOUR points. They broke any contract, written or oral, when their check bounced-IMHO-so you now have the right to take your points back and do with them what you please.

What you will probably get on Friday is a phone call from the renters cancelling. I hope I'm wrong.