Typical to charge paypal/cc fees?

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

I can't say I'm a seasoned renter but have rented a handful of times, mostly off vrbo. I have never been charged the extra 3% because of using Paypal. Plus, the owner did not tell me upfront this would be added on until she sent me the Paypal link to pay. Just wondering if this is typical to pay for?

 

[lulu2121]

Yes, it is pretty normal. The owner should have told you upfront though.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

It's very normal. Usually that information would be in the terms & conditions on the owner's VRBO listing.

 

[SCmom3]

It's pretty normal but if I recall, it's technically not allowed by paypal to charge the fees to the buyer. They are officially the seller's responsibility and so should be factored into the regular price. Visa also does not allow CC fees to be charged to the buyer but that doesn't stop many places from doing it. I'd ignore it if the seller was upfront about the charges from the beginning.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

It's pretty normal but if I recall, it's technically not allowed by paypal to charge the fees to the buyer. They are officially the seller's responsibility and so should be factored into the regular price. Visa also does not allow CC fees to be charged to the buyer but that doesn't stop many places from doing it. I'd ignore it if the seller was upfront about the charges from the beginning.

It is allowed if the merchant discloses the fee to it's customers as a credit card usage fee.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

It is allowed if the merchant discloses the fee to it's customers as a credit card usage fee.

The fee was not disclosed. When I made the reservation I was told by her I had to pay a $300 refundable damage deposit via Paypal. When she sent the invoice she had tacked on $9 additional for the fees. No where on her vrbo listing does she mention the 3% in fees. And now to pay the remainder via Paypal there is another 3%.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

That doesn't seem too honest. I can see where that would turn a prospective customer off.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Out of curiousity, I did a search for "vrbo and paypal." I got this page from vrbo: http://www.vrbo.com/global/protect_yourself.htm

Is the fee disclosed in the rental agreement? I noticed several properties have the additional fee disclosed. Some have the same property on vrbo and homeaway, but the fee is only listed on one site. I would opt on the side of, "if it was written down, you have agreed to it." But if not, perhaps you may have to look around and prepare to walk away (and lose money).

 

[Brian Noble]

This isn't at all uncommon but it is a bit sketchy not to disclose it up front.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

Out of curiousity, I did a search for "vrbo and paypal." I got this page from vrbo: http://www.vrbo.com/global/protect_yourself.htm

Is the fee disclosed in the rental agreement? I noticed several properties have the additional fee disclosed. Some have the same property on vrbo and homeaway, but the fee is only listed on one site. I would opt on the side of, "if it was written down, you have agreed to it." But if not, perhaps you may have to look around and prepare to walk away (and lose money).

Luckily I haven't signed the rental agreement yet. She just sent it to me a few days ago even though I paid the deposit a month ago. There is nothing in the rental contract that says anything about fees, and in fact this is copied directly from the agreement: "1. Rental payments: The total rent for this lease shall be the sum of $1,420 (including tax, cleaning, pool/spa heat). This payment is due on August 18, 2014 in full with the signed agreement 60 days before check-in date. If signing date of this agreement is within 60 days of the check-in date above, the rental is due immediately. Cashier’s check, money order and traveler’s check are preferred, personal check is accepted under certain conditions. Owners reserve the right to cancel the holidays if payment has not been received in accordance with above statement. A notify email will send out to remind the renter".

Also, this is what she sent me initially: "The promotional price for the period (7 nights) is $1,195 plus 13% tax, the total is $1,350. This rate covers
everything such as state tax, cleaning, tips, etc. There is no other fee to
be charged since this offer is directly from the owner". "In order to reserve this villa, please pay $300 deposit. We can provide you
our e-mail for your payment. Full payment will be received 60 days before
check-in date". **The amount on the rental agreement and quote is different because we added pool heat.

I also looked at the listing on homeaway again and no mention of any fees. I don't know if this place is on vrbo though.

I am SO torn about this. I am not trying to make a big deal about the extra $ because really it's not that much. But it's the principal of it and not feeling like she is an honest landlord. She could keep our $300 deposit just because. She does have 10 reviews, all positive except one where they were complaining about the fridge. I don't know if I should just keep the rental but let her know how I feel? Or just pay the fees and be done with it? Or do I cut my loses and try to find something else?? UGH, I'm annoyed!

 

[Brian Noble]

I think this bit covers the landlord:

Cashier’s check, money order and traveler’s check are preferred, personal check is accepted under certain conditions.

They explicitly list a set of possible payment methods, none of which include PayPal. So, the fact that there is an undisclosed fee to use PayPal doesn't seem as unreasonable as it did on first blush.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

I think this bit covers the landlord:



They explicitly list a set of possible payment methods, none of which include PayPal. So, the fact that there is an undisclosed fee to use PayPal doesn't seem as unreasonable as it did on first blush.

I do agree with you on this. However, the ONLY way to pay the deposit was via paypal (I was emailed what they said was their "private" link) and the fee was tacked on. My bad but I assumed the rental would have to be paid through this link as well, but then again I guess I should've realized the fee would be on that part too. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that she didn't tell me upfront about the fees. IMO when I see "There is no other fee to be charged since this offer is directly from the owner" I thought there would be no other fees as stated.

 

[Brian Noble]

I suppose. My perspective: don't sweat the small stuff. This is small stuff.

 

[Lewisc]

The disclosure could have been better but you're only talking about $9. Alternate methods of payment, not requiring pay pal, would probably include a wire transfer or sending a bank check via next day air. Those options would probably cost more then $9. Definitely cost more then $9 if the owner wants the money sent overseas.