advice please on booking a villa in spain

oilyragman

Can anyone help please i am looking to book a villa in Spain for next summer. We have seen a Web site with villas that are suitable but are reluctant to proceed as there is not abta logo the web site is (Mijas Villas Ltd) is there any way to check that the company is legit or does any one know of a good letting agent for the Mijas area

itsakidsworld

I would not use them and I hate to say that as times are tough for every business at the moment. However whilst they appear to be working hard on their image they have decided against registering with a company to offer a "bond" which protects your cash but have registered their company as LTD in the UK so protecting their own assets?

Although they may be lovely people working hard, you have no idea of the financial position they are in which offers you nothing but worry until next summer- do you really want that?

Have a look at places like holiday lettings or owners abroad and you will soon find plenty to choose from direct from the owners. There are thousands of properties empty in this region and owners are finding life tough. Why use an agency who will offer you the same as an owner but charge you more- and sometimes a fortune more, especially one who offers no guarantee your cash is safe?

I hate to pull anyone or anything down but sometimes you have to be realistic.

**curlywurly**

Beware of booking a villa through a website unless you use a credit card. A friend of mine was scammed. He used a well known website where owners advertise. He sent off a booking request, and subsequently entered email correspondence with what he thought was the owner. It turned out the true owner's email account had been hacked, and he lost EUR5000 (foolishly sent by bank transfer). Website deny any liability, and their terms and conditions are very clear - they are just a venue and take no responsibility for transactions subsequently entered into. I am not sure how you can stop this happening, because even if you speak to the owner you don't know who you are talking to. But if my friend had used a credit card, he may have had some protection.

TRRER

[QUOTE=_because_even_if_you_speak_to_the_owner_you_don't_know_who_you_are_talking_to._[/QUOTE]

if you were speaking to the owner, then surely you ought to know you are speaking to the owner

jjonesy

try villaplus

sarah.spain

there really should eb a better solution to booking in advance, eithe direct to owner or through an agent - some kind of holding account for the deposit would make sense, giving both parties peace of mind. i'd ask some agencies what guaranetee they can offer and as mentioned, payment by credit card would mean some protection if the worst was to happen, try searching on Kyero.com , they have an estate agents search (top right)

joerugby

My annual travel policy from Direct Line covers me against the failure of an end supplier in these circumstances