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First time TS renter. Is this legit?

tr52

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Hi,

I'm interested in renting a timeshare at Casa Dorada at Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas. I found a place on vrbo and received an email and call from what I think is the TS owner. How can I make sure everything is legit (I've looked at the sticky post on this topic already)?

He's emailed me a form from GBS international that says "I <name> allow <name> to use my timeshare for the week of <date>". What else can I do? Can I make the reservation with him and then call the resort and confirm that he's moved it to my name? Should I ask to deal with GBS directly?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Passepartout

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Can't speak to your rental specifically, but have rented through vrbo several times with good results. If you are happy with the price and any other arrangements between you and the renter, I'd say go for it. You might ask how you can be sure the rental is in your name before the money changes hands, but at some point someone has to trust someone.

Jim
 

ronparise

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I usually have a reservation confirmed in writing, already made in my name so I can show that to my renter. On the strength of that I ask for a small deposit, then I add their name to the reservation.....When they get theeir written confirmation I ask for final payment.

If for some reason that wont work, what I do to put my renters at ease is to arrange a conference call...me the renter and the resort or their reservations desk. I ask my renter to have their paypal account up as do I.... We make the arrangements with the resort, the renter pays me, and the reservation is confirmed

The point is I bend over backwards to put my renter at ease, before I ask for any money...if it smells bad to you move on, this is not the right deal

There is a lot of trust that has to happen in these deals...My motto (like Ronald Reagan) is Trust then Verify, its what I do and its what I advise my customers
 

DeniseM

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(I've looked at the sticky post on this topic already)?

So - have you tried any of the recommendations in the sticky? :shrug:
 

tr52

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So - have you tried any of the recommendations in the sticky? :shrug:


The sticky says you only do #3 and #5.

> 3. Ask the owner to email or Fax you a copy of their original reservation confirmation.

The owner says he owns "all weeks", so I'm not sure he'll have a reservation #.

>4. Ask the owner to set it up with the resort so you can call and confirm the reservation.
>5. Ask if you can pay a $100 deposit, get the confirmation in your name, and then pay the Bal.

I'm going to ask the owner to do #4 & #5 ( I guess the "resort" in this case is GBS?) If I can't get that to work, I'll probably just walk. I don't really want to be worrying about this during the vacation.
 

funtime

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Another thing I do is call the resort - after reciept of money usually - and have them change out the reservation and then ask the reservationist to send me an email which I then forward to the guest. Funtime
 

sjuhawk_jd

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The sticky says you only do #3 and #5.

> 3. Ask the owner to email or Fax you a copy of their original reservation confirmation.

The owner says he owns "all weeks", so I'm not sure he'll have a reservation #.

>4. Ask the owner to set it up with the resort so you can call and confirm the reservation.
>5. Ask if you can pay a $100 deposit, get the confirmation in your name, and then pay the Bal.

I'm going to ask the owner to do #4 & #5 ( I guess the "resort" in this case is GBS?) If I can't get that to work, I'll probably just walk. I don't really want to be worrying about this during the vacation.

Do number 5 and use your credit card (via paypal). I own at this resort and it appears to be all legit. This is what I suggest to all potential rentees that they do as a shorter version of things that are mentioned in TUG sticky:

(1) Speak with the owner/renter via phone (do not just rely on email).
(2) Pay a small deposit via paypal (credit card) and then get reservation in your name, which you should be able to call to confirm.
(3) Ask for references of past clients (if applicable). Check those references via email and then pay the balance. This should be your peace of mind that the reservation will still be there when you go to check in. All other paperwork only shows that the renter (owner) has the reservation, but there is no grantee that it is not being canceled after the full payment or rented to more than 1 party.
 

DeniseM

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The sticky says you only do #3 and #5.

Actually it says: "I do only #3 and #5 when I rent. If the person is not a TUG member, I would do one more step."

BUT - I have a lot of experience and a higher comfort level with renting - an inexperienced renter might be more comfortable with a more thorough investigation, so I provided several ways that you can verify a Resv. and increase your comfort level.

Private rentals are not for everyone - it takes trust on both sides, and some knowledge about the process.

Note the people pay a lot of money for a VRBO account and it's not the kind of website that attracts scammers. Scammers usually won't pay for advertising, because they are not willing to provide a credit card number or anything else that can ID them. If this person was scamming people, VRBO would shut them down. I have had contact with VRBO, and they are very responsive to problems with listings on their website.
 
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