VRBO bait and switch - WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not cancel! This is on them. I have vbro’s booked almost 2 years in advance. It is the only way to get some of the properties. For instance, we booked one for $50k for a week for this Thanksgiving. If they tried to change it now, you better bet lawyers would be involved. And yes, the current rate is higher, but that is how booking in advance works.

What are you renting, Buckingham Palace?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YATAH if you don’t cancel your booking.

??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not cancel! This is on them. I have vbro’s booked almost 2 years in advance. It is the only way to get some of the properties. For instance, we booked one for $50k for a week for this Thanksgiving. If they tried to change it now, you better bet lawyers would be involved. And yes, the current rate is higher, but that is how booking in advance works.

What are you renting, Buckingham Palace?

Large beachfront properties for extended family groups over holidays. It takes a lot of planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No fraud, you got the winter rate in the summer, but I assume you knew that?

THIS.

LOL, what? When I book, I take the rate at face value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No fraud, you got the winter rate in the summer, but I assume you knew that?

NP: You are wrong PP. Why would OP/Guest know this? It's not the guest's responsibility to keep up with rates for rentals, it's the owner's/property manager's responsibility. What a strange way of thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VBRO's terms and conditions are slanted towards the owner. They can cancel up to 30 days prior with no penalty. They can cancel inside of that window and pay a penalty to VBRO (worth it if you can rent for more than the original booking plus the penalty). I'd sue the owner for breach in local small claims court. Either default them and let the judgment collect interest before seeking to enforce it or force them to fly here to defend the case.

I should't need to point this out, but you start out correct and say the terms are in the owner's favor. And then - screw that - sue them. What?
If OP agreed to those terms, small claims court will still follow that.

[Anonymous]

If VRBO is like airbnb, the host gets penalized for cancelling. Their mistake, they take the hit.

If VRBO is like airbnb, they may help OP re-book for a similar price OR offer discounted rates. I know when a host airbnb cancels, the customer service reps can offer a discount coupon to use at any other place in the same area. Worth a try.

[Anonymous]

I would cancel or the host will call VRBO to cancel for you

[Anonymous]

This has happened to me before (booked graduation weekend in a college town before host had a chance to change pricing) - it is what it is. I waited for the host to cancel but assumed that they would — it’s well within their right to do so!

You have plenty of time to find a new place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No fraud, you got the winter rate in the summer, but I assume you knew that?

NP: You are wrong PP. Why would OP/Guest know this? It's not the guest's responsibility to keep up with rates for rentals, it's the owner's/property manager's responsibility. What a strange way of thinking.

It’s way early to update summer 2024 rates. You obviously don’t own a rental property and I would bet anything OP knew that the rate was way too low and that it was not the summer rate.

BTW, you can easily see this by looking at the rates for this past summer and winter.

Also OP agreed to VRBO policy when she booked and the owner has every right to cancel.

OP has plenty of time, 9 months to find another property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No fraud, you got the winter rate in the summer, but I assume you knew that?

NP: You are wrong PP. Why would OP/Guest know this? It's not the guest's responsibility to keep up with rates for rentals, it's the owner's/property manager's responsibility. What a strange way of thinking.

It’s way early to update summer 2024 rates. You obviously don’t own a rental property and I would bet anything OP knew that the rate was way too low and that it was not the summer rate.

BTW, you can easily see this by looking at the rates for this past summer and winter.

Also OP agreed to VRBO policy when she booked and the owner has every right to cancel.

OP has plenty of time, 9 months to find another property.

So, PP "obviously doesn't own a rental" property - why wouldn't you think the same of OP? I book early all the time and had no idea owners can't change rates ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

If you don’t know the rates for the property at that time, don’t list it for that time yet.

[Anonymous]

I would tell them no, I reserved the place at this price and I will be honoring my agreement and expect you to honor it as well. Do not cancel and if anyone cancels let them cancel. Make sure to take a screen shot and heavily document the agreement/price in case they try to bill your card more.

[Anonymous]

I had this exact same problem on Airbnb. But first they lied and said they weren't planning on renting then and it was all Airbnb's fault, could I please cancel. So I said they should cancel as it's their mistake. They wouldn't. Then they admitted that they would rent to me, but only at a much high rate.

I contacted Airbnb and they said that I should keep the listing and plan to use it. But the owner said they wouldn't honor it - plus they had my money; and it was an entirely Mexican operation, so not like I could easily sue them. I have two small kids. I wasn't going to risk them canceling at the last minute or not letting me use the property. So I canceled. And I'm still irritated!

I did it far enough in advance at least that I was able to find a mostly acceptable alternative. More money, worse dates, but we'll still go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not cancel! This is on them. I have vbro’s booked almost 2 years in advance. It is the only way to get some of the properties. For instance, we booked one for $50k for a week for this Thanksgiving. If they tried to change it now, you better bet lawyers would be involved. And yes, the current rate is higher, but that is how booking in advance works.

Do you mean $5000 or $50,000?