how to avoid being scammed when booking a private static caravan ??

artichoke

Hi all

I am slightly worried that i might have been scammed when booking a private van at a haven site....

has anyone got any tips on how to AVOID being scammed? and any known scammers tricks?

I am worried as i have paid and now had no further communication...and the website they linked to giving pictures of van etc says they are on holiday and have been since Feb?? and their facebook page has not been updated since FEB...

surely any genuine caravan owner would update their site in the run up to the peak holiday season??

aghghg
art

greenface

Is there a phone number or private email address you can contact , I can have a look and possibly tell you more if you PM me some more details. Really impossible to comment. Have you just paid a deposit or the full hog ? how much ? Is it on a site ? is the site there can you contact them to see if Mr XXX rents through them etc . good luck

PasturesNew

If it's in Cornwall, I'll go and bang on their caravan door for you

hatewashingmachines

Phone the caravan site direct and ask them to confirm the owners details or any other details you have. I have been scammed when I booked a private caravan luckily we paid by credit card and received our money back from the credit card company eventually.

sarebear_2

sent you a pm art

greenface

sarebear wrote: »

sent you a pm art

As i was the one that asked for a PM if it was sent to me.? not recieved it . Greenface.

artichoke

hi all

Sorry for not replying sooner - bank holiday and good weather has reduced my time on the computer (not that i am moaning really:j)

the caravan i booked i contacted through www.directholidayhomes.co.uk but i only have a hotmail address and a mobile number for the owner...

the owner sent a link to a private website with pictures of van etc but that website is now defunct...

The van is on a haven site "down south"...

at the moment i am hoping owner is away on holiday but the website says they have been away since feb.....which is just after i payed for my holiday!

agghgh..

i will chase this up in more detail after the bank holiday but am starting to feel more than worried...

I don't even have a surname for the owners - does the website www.directholidayhomes.co. uk keep more details on those who advertise with them? do they check they are genuine and do own vans etc?

thanks for replies i will read in detail tomorrow but i have been out nearly all weekend with the kids..thanks again


art

greenface

I doubt direct holidays do any check to see if there genuine . Its just a host for adverts. Contact the site as you have the plot number give them that and they prob wont give you owners details but will tell you what you know matches with what they know. (you could try "friends stayed there last year and would like to book it

---

give your dates and see if its free or booked !!)keep us intouch and good luck i would take Pasturesnew option also if their close

mum2one

sorry to say it does sound dubious, I would echo what the other poster said, and make out that your a new booker and what those dates and see what they say.

You could ring the site to see if Mr x owns that caravan, but unfortunately they won't be able to confirm or deny as its data protection act.

Have you just paid a depoist, or the full amount, - who did you pay the person direct with chq / cash or through the site by c/c.

we have had a couple of private owner vans, and touch wood have been very lucky, but the one owner we hired off, she had done a 2 week let to some people, and she hadn't had the full money, so drove up to the van, onl to find a sign saying mr + mrs xx go and collect your keys from here...... they'd subletted.

sometimes a bargain just isn't worth it, I hope it gets sorted. x

just gone through the disclaimer on the website and the company have covered themselves 110%, by leaving the money deals to yourselves and the owners, theyre not liable.

hatewashingmachines

As I said before, phone the site direct. Be honest with them & tell them that you think you have been scammed and give them all the info that you know. That's what we did and they were able to tell us that the details they had did not match anything of theirs. If you have the plot number they can contact the owner of that plot and check. They obviously can't give you details etc but they can confirm/ check etc. If you find out that you have been scammed then phone the police. Hope you paid by credit card. Good luck & keep us updated. What is the DirectHoliday web link to the van?

artichoke

HI all

well the seller has now been in touch and i now need to pay the remaining portion of the holiday price....

before i do this what info should i get of the owner to ensure there are no problems?

I payed the first half by bank transfer and i only have an email address not a full name or home address of the seller..

Should i ask to pay by cheque and then i at least know a name and address?

art