Booking with Private Owners - use the Telephone to Confirm

[pollensa]

This advice refers to any properties booked privately via our site at Rent Villas Apartments in Puerto Pollensa (Port de Pollenca), Majorca (Mallorca) or any other or even via printed advertisements. The majority of rental websites relay enquiries direct to an advertiser's email account. Unfortunately we are starting to hear stories of internet scams whereby the advertiser's email account has been hacked, email enquires redirected to a fraudster who responds on their behalf, asking for payment to a bank account etc.

To be sure that you are dealing with the advertiser

- check the name of the respondent & see if it matches the contact name given;
- does the price & currency match the rates on the advert?
- when a booking is confirmed, is the calendar updated to show it as booked

and above all TELEPHONE the advertiser using the number on the advert (not the email!) to confirm a booking and when making payment arrangements.

Just a few extra steps to be sure!

[Disorderly]

That's really good advice. We sent a query to a villa owner who advertised on Owners Direct and Holidaylettings and the owner phoned us back. We've had some telephone discussions, they are clearly legit (and really helpful) and payment is by cheque sent to UK home address.

So I'm totally confident, but would have avoided all the potential risks you so rightly highlight.

So that's 2015 sorted......haven't done the 2014 fortnight yet - that's in three weeks. Can't wait!

[JMD40]

Also pay with credit card as often as possible as your money is safe this way.

[tangofan]

Yes I agree with JMD40. You only need to pay £100 of the transaction with the credit card to have the protection. This is worth knowing in case the person/company who owns the property charges a percentage fee for using a credit card. Just pay £100 for the protection then the rest by a cheaper method