Payment For Rental Villa Question

[RedSox1974]

We have spent several months (and have had lots of fun) planning our Disney trip. We have decided to rent a pool home for our vacation. After looking at many, many (many, many) homes, we have decided on the one that is "just right" for us.
The owner has our dates available and we have negotiated a fair price.

BUT... (and there's always a but, isn't there?) the owner has indicated that they do not accept credit cards, and that payment must be by personal check or via PayPal (which I am aware of, but not familiar with).

Obviously, I would prefer the security and protection that comes with paying by credit card, especially on a purchase totalling over $1, 000.
$200 due at time of booking, balance due 10 weeks prior to check-in, $300 security deposit.

My question for the folks who have rented a home is: is this an unusual request by the owner? We really like the home, and want to put our trust in the belief that all will work out fine, but also ant to protect our own interests.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or personal stories are definately appreciated.
Thanks in advance. I love the Dis!!!

Dave-

 

[bvc314]

This may be common for smaller companies. I have always paid by credit card except for one time with a VRBO rental in Williamsburg, which had an AWFUL outcome. Make sure they have a rental agreement with cancellation policy etc.
I especially liked the last place I rented in Windsor Hills....I did not have to pay the final payment until the day I arrived. The owners wanted to make sure we were happy with everything. (which we were VERY happy!)
Good Luck!

 

[JANNYANS]

Most individual owners will not have the facility to accept cc due to the charges made by the issuing company.
If you like the home and the price and you have built up a rapport with the owners then go with your inner feeling and pay with the methods they ask .
I understand you wanting to protect your interest but there are the owners interest to take into consideration too .There must be trust on both sides and if you have a signed set of boking conditions and a paper trail of what you have paid you will be fine .There are hundreds of owners who operate this way and have been doing so for several years .
Things will be fine I am sure .

 

[isla bonita]

I am an owner and do not except credit cards. I also have no idea about pay pal and how to use it.

My management co does except cc and will allow my guests to use them. Thank goodness. I am still learning about all of this stuff. Slowly though.

I still can not put photos up on this forum. Just learned how to use the graphics. I am a sad case.

 

[Serene]

<<<if you have a signed set of boking conditions and a paper trail of what you have paid you will be fine>>>

I'm in a similar situation. I was told that credit cards could be used, which was important to me. I used my credit card to pay the $375 deposit several months ago. The rest has come due, and now the owner is stating that they can't take credit cards anymore, and wants me to send $1300 overseas by check.

I have absolutely NO paperwork, no anything, at this time except the owner's word. Would you still suggest I send the money? What paperwork would be normal to have once the deposit is paid? This owner just told me I'd be getting a packet of information for a "great vacation" once my check was received.

Thanks.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

For those of you thinking about using PayPal I wouldn't be too worried. PayPal offers some really great protection and the ability to dispute a charge if the conditions of sale are not met, just like a credit card.

I used paypal for a large internet purchase (not a rental) a while back and never received the merchandise. PayPal was great and refunded all of my money even when the seller was no where to be found.

A personal check would be a little more risky. You may want to ask the owner to supply you with something in writing. Rental agreements are the most common but a detailed email explaining the agreement should be fine as well.

I would also make sure you wrote on the check exactly what it's for and take a copy of the cashed check with you when you travel.

Good Luck
John

 

[tednvon]

Hi...chances are this is all above board and you will have no problems. I would insist however that I get my packet and a reciept for the deposit now. I am a former owner, and we always sent out an email summary of all the facts of the transaction with the deposit.

Paypal is acually a very good system and is huge on EBAY for most payments. However the person receiving the money pays a fee not unlike a credit card fee for using Paypal. Paypal does have some security measures but not like a credit card.

If you need some more reassurance, I would ask the owner for the names ( emails) of previous rentors for you to contact. They should be happy to do this as they will usually tell you they loved the home and you can trust the process...

What you need to remember is these are individual owners, not professional rental companies. There is no "standard" way of doing business like a Marriott of Holiday Inn. If you feel uncomfortable tell the owner...believe me, they need you more than you need them, and there are a 1000 other owners out there around Disney ready to rent to you and make sure you have all your information when you want it.

You can also negotiate anything you want! If you do not feel comfortable paying until a month or week before you go, tell them...they can say no and you can either do 3 months or go elsewhere. We always did 3 months, except for last minute specials, and had no problem because we kept in touch with the rentor and sent lots of stuff.
I think some owners forget that people renting homes off the internet can get very nervous and anxious, and no information or no response is scary after you have sent money...the folks on this board who still have homes understand how important communication is.

Good Luck....Ted










Good Luck...Ted

 

[bvc314]

<<<if you have a signed set of boking conditions and a paper trail of what you have paid you will be fine>>>

I'm in a similar situation. I was told that credit cards could be used, which was important to me. I used my credit card to pay the $375 deposit several months ago. The rest has come due, and now the owner is stating that they can't take credit cards anymore, and wants me to send $1300 overseas by check.

I have absolutely NO paperwork, no anything, at this time except the owner's word. Would you still suggest I send the money? What paperwork would be normal to have once the deposit is paid? This owner just told me I'd be getting a packet of information for a "great vacation" once my check was received.

Thanks.

I, too, had only the word of the homeowner in Williamsburg. I had sent a $750.00 deposit. He then moved into the home and said he would be going on vacation the week I was to lease. I no longer felt comfortable with the situation, so I requested a refund 6 MONTHS prior to my dates. There was no contract and no cancellation policy other than his word that he would refund my deposit.
I never got the money back. Expensive lesson. Get a contract.

 

[JANNYANS]

Serene

I would ask for a signed paper to say you have paid the deposit or what ever monies you have paid over.
Every owner /man co has to have a copy of a booking form of some sort to say who is in the home so you should have a copy of that and I would hope a terms and conditions form .I would not rent my home without either as both the guest and the owner needs to be clear on what grounds the home is being rented and the cancellation /refund process needs to be clear also.

 

[QT Pooh]

It is not an unusual request, and I have done it four times by check and once by credit card. I have never had any problem either way. If you are concerned, sign up with paypal (www.paypal.com). You will have to link a bank account that the money will come out of, but it will give you a receipt once you have paid (both the initial deposit and the balance). It's also better for the owner because your funds have to be there in order for the payment to process...with a personal check, that's not always the case.

It's important to have a rental agreement. Everyone I have worked with has sent me the rental agreement (either by e-mail or snail mail) prior to me paying anything. You can also ask the owner for references of people that have previously rented.

I certainly understand why the owner does not accept credit cards. There's generally a 2 1/2% transaction fee depending on the credit card accepted. By not allowing this, the owner can keep the rental costs down for everyone even though it takes out some of the convenience.

 

[sympatico]

I've used Paypal for purchases on e bay. I registered one of my lower limit credit cards with them and that is used now whenever I make a purchase. With paypal the owner never sees your credit card. Paypal charges your credit card and then pays them the amount. Works for me.

 

[kilee]

I have rented villas in Orlando as well as rental properties (for vacation) in other area's. Many don't take credit cards. I think it's a combination of the fee's associated w/ accepting credit cards. For a small side business it won't be cost effective to offer this as an option.

 

[Brian Noble]

Not unusual at all.

When renting from an owner directly, there is some risk you are assuming, and some trust required. In exchange, you are getting a really good price.

I've paid by check several times. Often, UK owners have US banks that can handle the checks for them, but not always.

 

[RedSox1974]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and for your tips. They are most appreciated. I am definately feeling better about going ahead with the rental... in fact we mailed our down payment today!!
Dave-

 

[Serene]

I wish I could say the same, but....

I contacted the owner and said we didn't feel comfortable sending a check overseas when the original deposit was able to be paid by credit card, which was part of why we chose that home. He asked me to wait about three weeks and then I could use my credit card. I wrote back saying that this was getting dangerously close to our arrival (within a month or so), and that waiting left us feeling very insecure as we would have a really tough time obtaining new accomodations if for some reason credit card billing still wasn't available at that time.

I also wrote and asked for a deposit receipt and a booking form, and asked whether or not the change in management would mean we'd have to drive around getting a key (which originally was assured that we would not). The owner has not responded at all to either of these emails/questions, and it's been over the course of 6 days.

I'm already feeling completely uncomfortable with this whole transaction, but I'm wondering if my credit card company can retrieve my deposit back? Also, I'm wondering that since nothing has been signed between us, if I just email and say I'm cancelling, do I have any further responsiblities with this owner?

I really feel the need to find new accomodations quickly, so I can't afford to keep asking questions and getting no answers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I need to know what my liabilities are here.

 

[JANNYANS]

Serene
Has this owner got a website and if so does it say anything on there about a cancellation policy or terms of booking -even in general terms that you could refer to in any further correspondence ?

As far as the cc company goes do they not act for you in transacations of under/over a certain figure in which case ask them what would happen if you cancelled due to the lack of repsonse from the owner .
Of course there may be a good reason the owner can't answer you such as being on vacation but that doesn't help you much really as any owner worth their salt would have let you know what was going on -I always inform my guests if I am going away and that I will be out of touch for x number of days .

I hope you can get this sorted and if you think I can be of help just ask .

 

[QT Pooh]

I also wrote and asked for a deposit receipt and a booking form, and asked whether or not the change in management would mean we'd have to drive around getting a key (which originally was assured that we would not). The owner has not responded at all to either of these emails/questions, and it's been over the course of 6 days.

I'm sorry this is happening to you. It must be extremely frustrating. This is an important reminder for a lot of people...Even if you have done prior business with the person you're renting from, don't ever, ever, ever send money prior to getting a rental agreement. That agreement is your contract that spells out the entire terms and conditions of your rental.

 

[lovesmurfs]

We've rented ours through a rental website -- sent a money order to UK for the deposit and the payment (which bothered me more than sending a check). In emailing back and forth, the owner has been clear in expectations (and very quick in replying), etc. but I never thought about getting a rental agreement. It's a great point (live and learn.....)

Here's prayin' it will be fine for you.....

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm another one who just can't bring myself to rent anywhere that won't take a credit card (and I've rented several houses). Sometimes I've had to pay the extra fees that were associated with using the card (fees the owner was charged), but it was worth it to me. Without that extra protection, I would worry myself to death even though I know that most tranactions are probably fine.