One island visitor’s yearly vacation was nearly derailed by a scammer.
Lisa Kaminski of Michigan told The Islander Feb. 14 that she and her husband lost about $6,600 in a scam after booking a five-week stay at a rental property listed by Miami Beach-based Houzlet Inc. through Texas-based VRBO.
VRBO is one of the premier online marketplaces for vacation rentals alongside Airbnb.
Houzlet listings have appeared on VRBO since the companies partnered in 2022.
However, Kaminski, the Better Business Bureau and numerous negative online reviews advise against booking rental properties listed by Houzlet.
According to the business bureau’s website, bbb.org, Houzlet “has a pattern of complaints concerning service issues. Consumers state their bookings were canceled by Houzlet and, in some cases, they received offers to re-book at higher-priced properties. Consumers indicate that they want their original booking fees refunded in full.”
BBB sent written notice Jan. 26 to Houzlet regarding the pattern of complaints but had no response through Feb. 23.
Kaminski said she and her husband had been visiting the island for 12 years and this year booked a Houzlet rental in Holmes Beach on vrbo.com.
Kaminski said they received a call in early January asking if they wanted to upgrade their stay at the Houzlet property but they declined.
By Jan. 25, three days before their final payment was due and only weeks before they were scheduled to depart for the island, they received a call from VRBO notifying them that the rental home they booked was not available.
They were told Houzlet sold the property but failed to update the VRBO listing.
While the Kaminskis scrambled and found another rental property with the help of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, they did not receive a refund for the original booking.
VRBO refunded its commission fee, about $400, but advised that the couple would need to contact Houzlet to recoup the $6,600 rental fee.
Kaminski said a Houzlet representative later called them to offer a refund but only in company gift cards that had to be used within 36 months.
At that point, the couple determined they were involved in a scam and stopped communications.
Kaminski reported the matter to Holmes Beach code compliance and police Feb. 14, as well as their credit card company, which opened an investigation into the rental payment.
That investigation was to take 45 days and the Kaminskis were left waiting as of March 2.
In the meantime, Kaminski said she wanted to warn others about the potential risks of booking a Houzlet listing, even if it is posted on VRBO.
“I just don’t want anybody else to go through this,” she said. “I’m mad. I want my money back and I want everybody to know about this company.”
Kaminski said she would consider litigation if necessary.
“We’ll pursue further with VRBO if this doesn’t pan out with the credit card company, which we’re hoping it will,” she said. “We won’t give up. We will keep pursuing it, whatever avenue.”
I would think the credit card company used to book and pay would refund your money and debit Houzlet because the service purchased was not provided.
And what’s with VRBO? They should ban this company from their and other sites under their control from listing.
Signed,
A frequent VRBO and Air bandb user.