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Re: Using Redweek? (by Beck):

jayjay wrote:

peterp151 wrote:

So yes, at times the owners cancel reservations or misrepresent view or other features. And at times renters attempt to pay with invalid checks and credit cards. Rental contacts are not the best way to ensure safety, they only provide a warm fuzzy. Careful thought about the other party's communication, ability to verify the reservation, and the use of either a credit card or rental escrow will help to assure a valid reservation for your lodging.

The best scam artists are very articulate and charming ..... that's how they get away with their crimes (just look at all the upfront fee resale scammers out there), so going by how a person sounds over the phone or in an email is NOT valid security.

And, although escrow is the most reliable way to go, most people (owners and renters) don't want to spend $200 extra dollars ($100 each) for that service.

So what do YOU do when "at times renters attempt to pay with invalid checks and credit cards" to protect yourself .... what are your terms and conditions without a written and signed contract by both parties ..... how do you articulate those terms and conditions to your renters ?????

I don't understand your question maybe because I think it's pretty obvious what should be done and not done when there's payment failure - you don't rent the unit to them. As for the clever scammers, the most important thing to remember is do not believe what they say but compare what they say to what the most likely truth is, and to what the safest method should be to conclude the transaction. Always ask yourself how to validate what they say. If they fail validation, they're either scammers or borderline customers, both high risk not worthy of doing a deal with. Although I must admit I've done well with borderline customers, but I never rent to them when reservations are less than a month in advance.