Another last minute cancellation/sob story

[Lone Warrior]

The renter should have booked a hotel instead. They allow cancellation up 1-day before hand. But she want to be to brag about "we're going on vacation and got a rental spa that is off the hook" with her relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers so I hope she get charged for the fee and any possible fee and cost incurred on the homeowner. Typically, I will agree that these rental property owners are greedy but they carter to mostly spoil children so it's only fair. I feel the same about time share management firms and idiots who buy them. If I have to hear another "we got a time share in Myrtle for the summer and one Lauderdale for the winter" I will hand them a time share get-out-of-jail card and say "it's not too late to accept mistake and move pass denial."

[Lone Warrior]

Ugh this is why sometimes I honestly don't book until the last minute. We've had friends back out of a trip because of work or sick kids. Having met MANY couples like that I realize it must suck because so many are losing money hand over fist on trips because they aren't planners. I wonder if they eat the cost or stick it to the VRBO?

I never understand the rationale of people booking vacations with friends. It's bad enough to do that with relatives unless, it is just sound weird and not vacation-like to do that with friends/co-workers. If the objective is to save cost, there are other ways to do that instead of turning vacations into migration or battle formation events.

[disneysteve]

Typically, I will agree that these rental property owners are greedy but they carter to mostly spoil children

I never understand the rationale of people booking vacations with friends. It's bad enough to do that with relatives unless, it is just sound weird and not vacation-like to do that with friends/co-workers.

Wow. Did you come here just to be judgemental and insult people?

Where did you get the idea that rental owners are greedy and cater to spoiled children? My family rents a vacation home every year, sometimes more than once a year. We do it because it is far nicer than a hotel with more space and greater amenities at a lower price. I don't think we're spoiled children at all. It saves us a bunch of money and gets us a much more enjoyable vacation. And all of the owners we've dealt with over the years have been wonderful, not greedy at all.

As for traveling with friends, just because you apparently don't have any friends you would be comfortable traveling with doesn't mean other people don't. I know many people who travel with the same friends year after year. It is a tradition for both of their families. They get along well and enjoy each other's company. It does usually save money, too, but that's rarely the point.

[hamchan]

And that's perfectly fine. You are aware of and understand the policies that you are agreeing to, and you respect them. If someone books a rental property with a 30-day cancellation policy, they need to respect that.

OT, but why the last minute biopsy? Aren't those typically scheduled in advance? I know several transplant patients and that's the general routine.

His creatinine levels were too high for two blood test in a row. When that happens they schedule the biopsy for the following day. He had just had a blood draw three hours earlier. They may be taking less chances with him than is typical too because it was an ABO incompatible donation.

[disneysteve]

hamchan, I hope everything turns out okay and his numbers get back in range.

[hamchan]

hamchan, I hope everything turns out okay and his numbers get back in range.

Oh they're fine now, and the biopsy came back fine too! He had a sinus infection at the time, which probably contributed to the off blood test results.

[Gailete]

Oh they're fine now, and the biopsy came back fine too! He had a sinus infection at the time, which probably contributed to the off blood test results.

Nothing like multiple medical problems to throw everything off kilter!

[TexasHusker]

Latest sob story - 7/24/17

A man calls yesterday, his reservation is on 8/8/17 for a week.

He says his wife "just went to the doctor and found out she's 8 months pregnant, can I get a refund?"

We said no of course, per our 30 day cancellation policy, so he then goes on a tirade and demands to speak to the homeowner.

Of course, we don't give that info. out, that is why homeowners contract with us to manage their property.

These cancellation stories are getting better all the time!

[disneysteve]

A man calls yesterday, his reservation is on 8/8/17 for a week.

He says his wife "just went to the doctor and found out she's 8 months pregnant, can I get a refund?"

I love it. They "just" found out that she's 8 months pregnant? Geez, at least come up with a better story than that.

[Gailete]

I love it. They "just" found out that she's 8 months pregnant? Geez, at least come up with a better story than that.

My in laws rented a little house on our property to a couple where the woman claimed to be pregnant for something like 12-14 months total! And a high-risk pregnancy at that! My MIL who had 4 kids knew better as did I, but somehow this woman thought she was fooling someone. But then her boyfriend gave my in laws a check on the same bank that I have my business account on, only the bank had changed hands almost 6 months before and three months into it we were all given new checks, etc. And this bozo passed one of the old checks that was completely worthless. Of course, my FIL had already let them move in before he went to the bank to try to cash their check. Out of the year and half to two years they were there they paid their rent about 6 times, maybe it was all the OB/GYN bills for her extended pregnancy that was eating up all their money!

Just because some folks are stupid, why do they think the rest of the world is stupid?

[hamchan]

I love it. They "just" found out that she's 8 months pregnant? Geez, at least come up with a better story than that.

I'm not saying this person wasn't lying, but it does happen! My sister in law found out she was pregnant and had the baby a little more than a month later. She has PCOS, has irregular periods, and is on the heavier side so she didn't know. They had tried getting pregnant for years, and finally just gave up. Even after a positive pregnancy test they thought she was only a few weeks along until her first ultrasound.

[TexasHusker]

It is certainly possible. What is funny is that people experience misfortune, and then automatically ask other people to pay the $$ for their misfortune.

That is precisely what insurance is for - the transfer of risk for a fee. Only you're supposed to buy it AHEAD OF THE MISFORTUNE. Except of course for Obamacare.

[Gailete]

I'm not saying this person wasn't lying, but it does happen! My sister in law found out she was pregnant and had the baby a little more than a month later. She has PCOS, has irregular periods, and is on the heavier side so she didn't know. They had tried getting pregnant for years, and finally just gave up. Even after a positive pregnancy test they thought she was only a few weeks along until her first ultrasound.

I worked with a male LPN who had a daughter that no-one, unless she suspected, went into labor and had a baby before the family including her dad that had some medical experience even knew she was pregnant! I've heard of things like that before but not from the lips of anyone I knew until then!

[Nutria]

Contracts don't mean anything these days. If people can find a way to work around them, or frustrate you to the point of dropping the entire matter, they will do so.

Because they see big fish try it -- and succeed -- all the time, and there are plenty of lawyers hungry for work who'll advise you where the loopholes are and that maybe you won't show up for arbitration and that they'll win by default.

[TexasHusker]

Here's the latest:

"I was just diagnosed with cancer and it's still within 28 days of our arrival. I can't believe how greedy your company is!"

My gosh this has been the summer of tragedy!

Should we have a sliding scale, ranging from no refund all the way to 100% refund, depending on the nature of the cause of cancellation?

We told these folks "we will refund your $$ if we re-rent the cabin for those dates." Still unhappy.

This idea that folks demand to transfer their misfortune onto other people is curious, if not alarming.

"Uhhmmm excuse me. We are experiencing a tragedy and because of this we are losing $500 on our reservation. Do you mind if we simply transfer our loss back to you, the homeowner?"