Payment for Rental - Is this legit?

[Seaport104]

Hello Tuggers,

I received an inquiry and was sent a contract from supposedly a Koala agent regarding the NYE week. When I asked to be paid via e-check, I received the below reply that rang off some red flags for me:

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

Has anyone dealt with Koala recently and can confirm if they are paying owners via BREX or Stripe and no longer e-check?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Hello Tuggers,

I received an inquiry and was sent a contract from supposedly a Koala agent regarding the NYE week. When I asked to be paid via e-check, I received the below reply that rang off some red flags for me:

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

Has anyone dealt with Koala recently and can confirm if they are paying owners via BREX or Stripe and no longer e-check?

Thanks in advance!

@rickandcindy23 I believe has a contact with Koala and may be able to give a good answer to this question.

 

[davidvel]

Hello Tuggers,

I received an inquiry and was sent a contract from supposedly a Koala agent regarding the NYE week. When I asked to be paid via e-check, I received the below reply that rang off some red flags for me:

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

Has anyone dealt with Koala recently and can confirm if they are paying owners via BREX or Stripe and no longer e-check?

Thanks in advance!

"I heard from our controller...?"

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

"I heard from our controller...?"

Yeah, I agree that the grammar alone there is a major red flag.

Edit: Actually this has red flags all over it. They want to send you a link to enter your banking details? Yeah I’d run.

 

[davidvel]

Hello Tuggers,

I received an inquiry and was sent a contract from supposedly a Koala agent regarding the NYE week. When I asked to be paid via e-check, I received the below reply that rang off some red flags for me:

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

Has anyone dealt with Koala recently and can confirm if they are paying owners via BREX or Stripe and no longer e-check?

Thanks in advance!

Did you call Koala directly or message through your Koala account?

 

[rickandcindy23]

That is the account they pay me through, so it's fine. I just received a payment last week for a Peacock Suites rental.

 

[theo]

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

There is no universe in which I would provide bank account information and / or access to complete strangers. If they “want you to get paid right away”, how about promptly mailing you a certified / cashiers check from THEIR bank?

 

[dioxide45]

I was not aware that Koala would send you a contract. That seems strange. I thought you just listed your timeshare and they took care of everything. No separate contracts to be sent between parties. Seems fishy.

 

[RX8]

There is no universe in which I would provide bank account information and / or access to complete strangers. If they “want you to get paid right away”, how about promptly mailing you a certified / cashiers check from THEIR bank?

Not to fret, they said it is a secure link so all is good.

 

[dioxide45]

Also, when is your rental? Has it passed? Koala doesn't pay out until after the guest checks in. It sounds like you might be working with a broker who is trying to circumvent Koala rules and rent on the side?

 

[Seaport104]

I was not aware that Koala would send you a contract. That seems strange. I thought you just listed your timeshare and they took care of everything. No separate contracts to be sent between parties. Seems fishy.

I did not list with Koala so I do not have a koala account. this is a redweek ad that I was contacted on.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I did not list with Koala so I do not have a koala account. this is a redweek ad that I was contacted on.

Wait, so you were cold-contacted by someone alleging they represent Koala to rent a unit you listed on redweek? Boy that sounds fishy as hell.

 

[dioxide45]

I did not list with Koala so I do not have a koala account. this is a redweek ad that I was contacted on.

Then it seems even more suspicious. I know that Koala gets requests for rentals they try to fulfill, but I wasn't aware that they actively reach out to owners on other sites. I know Vacation Candy does this. Have you signed this contract? I would think Koala would ask you to setup an account with them before they would do business with you. You probably need to reach out to someone directly at Koala about this. Did the email you get come from a go-koala.com domain?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I think it could be legitimate because of the Stripe payment reference. @MikeKennedy

I personally would trust it, just as I would any other broker that wanted to pay me immediately, and that is what they offered to you.

 

[rickandcindy23]

This is why I tell absolutely everyone to list on Koala. It's FREE to list, you don't have to pay anything to list. Set the price to what you want to be paid and make sure your payout amount is what you want to receive.

Our daughter does work for Koala, so I am skating on thin ice here because I know the rule is that I shouldn't benefit in any way from posts I make on TUG about the company our daughter works for. I do not benefit, and I think we should all be grateful there is another company that offers such a service.

Koala is a great alternative to Redweek and provides the same protection as Redweek without charging as much as Redweek does for the service.

 

[SteveinHNL]

Hello Tuggers,

I received an inquiry and was sent a contract from supposedly a Koala agent regarding the NYE week. When I asked to be paid via e-check, I received the below reply that rang off some red flags for me:

"I heard from our controller that we no longer pay via e-check. Given that, we want to get you paid right away. We can send you a secure link from BREX to enter your banking details or a link to sign up for Stripe if you plan to host more of our customers."

Has anyone dealt with Koala recently and can confirm if they are paying owners via BREX or Stripe and no longer e-check?

Thanks in advance!

No way. This screams scam. Never enter your bank details in an email unless your are 1000% certain who you are dealing with. Even if their link sends you to a legit looking site, it is likely a spoof.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't believe this is a scam.

No way. This screams scam. Never enter your bank details in an email unless your are 1000% certain who you are dealing with. Even if their link sends you to a legit looking site, it is likely a spoof.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I don't believe this is a scam.

This person did not contract with Koala. They only listed their rental on RedWeek.

I did not list with Koala so I do not have a koala account. this is a redweek ad that I was contacted on.

I think it’s a scam.

 

[gpj555]

I recently listed with Koala. They use Stripe for pay outs. call Koala they answere the phone. Good Luck!

 

[Seaport104]

Hello All - Just an update. It is indeed Koala. Thanks for the replies!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Hello All - Just an update. It is indeed Koala. Thanks for the replies!

Thank you for updating us.

 

[chapjim]

I did not list with Koala so I do not have a koala account. this is a redweek ad that I was contacted on.

That would have been good information for your original post. It changes everything.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am surprised as well that the OP didn't say it was a RW ad.

I have been contacted by brokers for quite a few of my rentals on RW.

 

[Seaport104]

I am surprised as well that the OP didn't say it was a RW ad.

I have been contacted by brokers for quite a few of my rentals on RW.

Sorry, it was late and I thought when I indicated I received an inquiry that it was clear that I posted an ad that someone inquired about. I am used to working with brokers a the request to provide banking info and no e-check set up red flags for me.

 

[dioxide45]

I understand that Stripe requires banking info. Stripe is a legitimate payment processor for many businesses and organizations.