vacation condo rental issue (Fort Myers, Marco Island: rentals, insurance, credit card)

[12gartner]

HI, I rented a condo through VRBO.com for a 1 bdrm in Marco Island. I am posting on this site because of all the problems I endured on this trip. I saved for a year for this trip and took my 8 year old daughter here. I had major problems getting the keys, as the drop box was not at the place where it was described. It was night and not lighted, as stated, and had to call emergency management maintenance. When we finally arrived to condo, there was no hot water. I contacted owner and had to wait and cancel 2 days of plans to wait for plumber, meanwhile, went almost 3 days with NO hot water. Then, the 2nd to last day of our trip, found cockroaches all over kitchen. I did take pictures and found the spray under the sink, labeled, "cockroaches", but spray bottle was broke. I had to run out and buy and aerosol bottle of hairspray so I could attached to cockroach spray and spray. Needless to say, the last 2 days, after all that, we made a reservation at the Hilton near Fort Meyers and stayed there, at all expense to me. The owner waited days, passed the designated time period to refund my deposit, and then added new fees and did not give me entire deposit back. I need advice on how I should proceed?

[SandyJet]

Originally Posted by 12gartner

HI, I rented a condo through VRBO.com for a 1 bdrm in Marco Island. I am posting on this site because of all the problems I endured on this trip. I saved for a year for this trip and took my 8 year old daughter here. I had major problems getting the keys, as the drop box was not at the place where it was described. It was night and not lighted, as stated, and had to call emergency management maintenance. When we finally arrived to condo, there was no hot water. I contacted owner and had to wait and cancel 2 days of plans to wait for plumber, meanwhile, went almost 3 days with NO hot water. Then, the 2nd to last day of our trip, found cockroaches all over kitchen. I did take pictures and found the spray under the sink, labeled, "cockroaches", but spray bottle was broke. I had to run out and buy and aerosol bottle of hairspray so I could attached to cockroach spray and spray. Needless to say, the last 2 days, after all that, we made a reservation at the Hilton near Fort Meyers and stayed there, at all expense to me. The owner waited days, passed the designated time period to refund my deposit, and then added new fees and did not give me entire deposit back. I need advice on how I should proceed?

You are only talking about deposit here, did you actually pay to use condo or was that refunded.

[AustinTraveler]

How do I file a property complaint?

[SandyJet]

I would just say pay me back ASAP or I will start posting negative reviews everywhere.

[hiker45]

Originally Posted by 12gartner

I need advice on how I should proceed?

Maybe you should proceed to stay away from VRBO rentals.

We rented a condo on Fort Myers Beach thru a realtor. Yes, there were problems, but the realty company took care of them promptly.

[r_k]

First, give the owner a chance to make things right, it could be partly miscommunication, esp. if some 3rd party is maintaining the place. Failing that, file complaints with as many places as you can - vrbo.com, Florida consumer protection dept, Better Business Bureau, online reviews etc. This latter won't get your money or time back, but may help others.

[Hotfeet]

If you paid anything by credit card, file a dispute with your credit card company. Do this in writing; or if you do it by phone, be sure to get some kind of written confirmation that they received notice of your dispute.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Hotfeet

If you paid anything by credit card, file a dispute with your credit card company. Do this in writing; or if you do it by phone, be sure to get some kind of written confirmation that they received notice of your dispute.

In addition did you contact VRBO? Did you take the insurance they offer?

[SandyJet]

Originally Posted by 12gartner

HI, I rented a condo through VRBO.com for a 1 bdrm in Marco Island. I am posting on this site because of all the problems I endured on this trip. I saved for a year for this trip and took my 8 year old daughter here. I had major problems getting the keys, as the drop box was not at the place where it was described. It was night and not lighted, as stated, and had to call emergency management maintenance. When we finally arrived to condo, there was no hot water. I contacted owner and had to wait and cancel 2 days of plans to wait for plumber, meanwhile, went almost 3 days with NO hot water. Then, the 2nd to last day of our trip, found cockroaches all over kitchen. I did take pictures and found the spray under the sink, labeled, "cockroaches", but spray bottle was broke. I had to run out and buy and aerosol bottle of hairspray so I could attached to cockroach spray and spray. Needless to say, the last 2 days, after all that, we made a reservation at the Hilton near Fort Meyers and stayed there, at all expense to me. The owner waited days, passed the designated time period to refund my deposit, and then added new fees and did not give me entire deposit back. I need advice on how I should proceed?

when you rent a condo on VRBO where owner is out of state these things happen.

Owner most likely did not know hot water heater was not working and roaches came after you were there.

Also VRBO is not a hotel. You would have been much better at the Marriott or Hilton in Marco Island in first place and really got a good price or just did a shorter stay.