Company Only accepting cheque or bank transfer payment for uk accommodation-is this ok?

laneycakes

Im trying to book a break for my family next year in the uk. Found the perfect accommodation at the right price but the company dealing with the bookings on the owners behalf only accepts cheques or bank transfers as payment and that worries me a bit. I know chargeback and section 75 would be unlikely to cover us if we could use cards as it’s effectively through an agent but my gut is saying i need to check it out before handing money over in this way. 

The company is small, only handling 10-20 properties but there are tripadvisor reviews of the company and the individual properties going back a few years.
the accommodation is also listed on airbnb, and the host is the same person I’ve been dealing with-however if I book through Airbnb the price is over £200 more.
is there any comeback at all if we pay by cheque? I know there isn’t by bank transfer. Any other ways I can check the validity of the company? Really want this accommodation but I feel uneasy. Thanks. 

martindow

Cheque or bank transfer will give you no protection.  Can you contact them to offer to pay a deposit so there would be less at risk for you?

laneycakes

martindow said:

Cheque or bank transfer will give you no protection.  Can you contact them to offer to pay a deposit so there would be less at risk for you?

Sorry I wasn’t clear. This is initially for the deposit, then the balance in spring next year 

TELLIT01

I booked accommodation with a company which only manages 9 properties but still paid by credit card.  I'd be a bit concerned about not being able to pay by card.

MalMonroe

When you say this, particularly the sections in bold -

"the company dealing with the bookings on the owners behalf only accepts cheques or bank transfers as payment and that worries me a bit. I know chargeback and section 75 would be unlikely to cover us if we could use cards as it’s effectively through an agent but my gut is saying i need to check it out before handing money over in this way."

 - you answer your own question.

Your instinct is telling you not to trust this whole deal. To be honest, I agree with your instinct. 

You could also ask yourself, "when is a deal not a deal?" 
Answer - when you don't trust it.