In the middle of the summer vacation period, many vacationers rent accommodation via the internet and each year a certain number of them are scammed by scammers who sell them a property that does not exist, that is already rented or that doesn't match the description at all. The problem is that in addition they have mysteriously disappeared, with the money already paid. A situation that we all dread, which spoils our holidays and yet could sometimes be avoided. A few tips to stop being fooled:
We think we've come across a great offer with everything we're looking for, cheap and well located, in reality it should ring a bell. We can then make a state of the market, comparing the other properties for rent to realize if it smells like a scam or not.
Once we have contacted the owner of an accommodation that we like, we can make sure that it exists, in particular by searching on Google Maps, but also by asking more questions such as the distance to go to the beach to see if the person we are in contact with really knows what they are offering us. We can also ask for more photos to see if it is consistent. Last solution:contact the tourist office, the town hall or possibly the neighbors of our future vacation rental to ensure that the property exists and that it complies with what we were told.
If the person asks us for money by transfer to an account abroad, beware. Ditto if it goes through a cash mandate and all companies sending money abroad such as Western Union. We avoid! The ideal remains the bank transfer to a French account, Paypal or a check by post. The whole thing is that we can keep track that we have indeed made a payment.
Asking for a deposit is normal to also ensure the seriousness of the tenant, but the law limits the amount to 30% of the rent. If you are asked for more, make another choice.
It allows you to officially agree with the owner when you choose the private-to-private option on the duration of the rental, the conditions, the amount of the rent but also to have all the information on the owner, such as his coordinates, the address of the place, the complete description of the accommodation before you commit. This is also what will allow you to prove that you have paid for the accommodation in the event of a dispute.
Platforms like Airbnb, Abritel etc. allow us to pay securely, to turn to them in the event of a problem and above all to consult the opinions of other users, which is a guarantee of reliability. Unfortunately fake professionals also exist, so before booking accommodation online we check that the site is not a scam, since when it exists, if there are no spelling mistakes, customer service etc. . We do our little research to check its reliability.
You can find accommodation on a platform and decide to arrange with the owner to pay outside, to save on the commission of companies, we avoid! You can also get scammed from an ad on Airbnb. We pay outside and afterwards it is impossible to turn against the American platform if there is a problem. The advantage of the site is that it collects the money during payment but only pays it to the owner once you have entered the accommodation, which leaves time to contact them in the event of a problem.
In short, before jumping on a superb villa with a swimming pool near the beach for the holidays, we show a little more caution and we pay attention to all these little clues that can save our holidays!
