Private Caravan hire - Scammed we think :(

ashellis

We booked a private caravan through Static Caravans Uk, and all went well emailing the owners etc.

Paid in full including the £100 deposit.

We are supposed to go away tomorrow and come back next saturday.

Since last tuesday, we have emailed, phoned and left messages, text, emailed again........no reply.

The last email said that they would either drop the keys off themselves or get their friend who is on site to hand over etc.

I have emailed the website to see if they have any further details and if they have had any other complaints, no reply yet.

I have just phoned Valley Farm to see if they can help me, they said not alot they can do as it is a private hire etc, but I told them that on the booking form, someone was supposed to be in there this weekend, so they are doing me a favour and checking to see if anyone is in the caravan that we are supposidly renting.

I am fuming, we went away to a similar park but booked direct with Park holidays in the 6 weeks holiday, we thought that we could save a couple of pounds booking privately through a recommended site etc, how wrong can you be??

Anyone got any suggestions?? I will be going to see the police if we dont hear anything by tomorrow, as it is fraud....now have to break the news to my kids

I know there is still 24 hours to go, but most decent people would have responded by now wouldnt they??

cabbage

They might come good and have had problems with their internet connection

How did you pay? If you used a credit card you might be able to get your money back under S75 of the consumer credit act. If you paid via visa debit card you could try the visa chargeback service.

there might be other caravans available to rent if you still decide to go or perhaps change to a couple of days b&b?

miamoo

They could be away themselves, and not able to check mail/answer phone?
You said they told you they would hand over keys tomorrow, so personally I would go as they could be there at check in time. I know its a worry they wont turn up, especially with having the kids with you.

How much is still owing on the caravan, and where you paying that when you arrive?

ashellis

Hi Cabbage,

We have tried all their telephone numbers as well and left messages, and they havent replied to them either.

Silly hubby paid for it by doing a bank transfer direct from his account to theirs........he shouldve used paypal then we could at least claim back that way.....

Luckily we had not told the kids where we were off too, just that it was a surprise holiday.....yup thats the surprise...your not going anywhere lol !!! Just a boring half term from school !!!

We will have a look around and see if there is anything available for next week to do a short break....but I am just kicking myself..you do the checks on the website....google the website etc for any bad reviews...then take the plunge......and they were replying etc to all our questions before...now just the answerphones and no replies....bad smurfs

ashellis

Hi miamoo,

nothing is owing on the caravan, paid in full with the £100 deposit for breakages etc.....
have been through all the what if's.....but it is a bad show if they have honestly gone away and not even let us know where to collect the keys etc.

My dad said to go there and just see if anyone arrives, but the thought of driving that way with 2 kids, car loaded up, only to sit outside and wait...makes me so upset as to how the kids will react..

Am thinking i could just drive there and sit outside......but they should really let us know what time etc they would be there...

Am totally in a quandry.

dacouch

Is the owner still advertising the caravan (Or other caravans), if so it could be worth contacting them through a different email or telephone number pretending to be a new customer. This might get you through to the owner and perhaps some answers

MARBLES

I`m sorry I don`t have any useful advice but, just wanted to say,I really hope you get this sorted in time. Would be so horrible for all of you if this falls through.
Best of luck. Please let us know what the outcome is.

adviceforall

Do you know the caravan number you are supposed to be staying in? I ask cos on direct holiday homes there are more private owners from the park, and if you try ringing them they may well know if these people are genuine or not.
We are private owners, not at that park and I always carry a mobile for guests to reach me quickly.
A small chance that they could be at the van so no internet, or home phone?
Not sure if this idea will be any good but might be worth a try.

http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/sprop_ref_3220.html
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/sprop_ref_2932.html
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/sprop_ref_1318.html
(Not sure if any are the ones you booked with??)

Good luck

ashellis

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your advice above. I thought I would update you with what has been going on all day !!

I phoned the park the caravan was on, and after an hour the man came back to me and said that they did actually own a van on that site, but he could not help me further, but if I wanted to turn up tomorrow then he would try and help us out and give us a good deal.....!
1st class Park Holiday homes.....thank you.

Anyhows, I emailed the website again that they advertised on, and they have been trying to contact them as well, their landline number was dead, the mobile had no reply etc....same as what we had....

Then we finally get an email earlier tonight, from them saying they were at their daugthers and had no phone charger etc, but someone WILL meet us tomorrow at the caravan !!!!!!!!!!!!!! WEYHEY !!!!!!!

Talk about stress out and panic......so I have just rushed around like a looney trying to pack lol !!

I honestly hope that the person turns up tomorrow, and I feel a little bad now about involving the park and the website etc, but to not hear anything from them honestly put the money and holiday in doubt.

Hopefully they will think twice about getting in touch with people sooner than 24 hours before the holiday. The person who we are meeting works on the site and so it would be easy for them to send an email telling us that before they went away, saves us the stress...

So happy, cold, wet holiday here we come !!!

Am trying to de-stress now.......lets hope they have remembered to fill the gas bottles up as we are sure gonna need them this week !!!

Thank you all again, and I will definately be keeping the links you have given adviceforall, just incase we fancy putting ourselves all through this again lol !!
x

miamoo

I hope it works out for you, will be thinking of you tomorrow x
Let us know how you get on.

miamoo

I must of posted at the same time as you, glad it seems sorted!
Im sure they will be there to meet you, have a good holiday x