 Poster: A snowHead
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We advertise on owners direct so have read this with interest. Useful to know about the scam - it is worrying. We have also booked properties through owners direct but I will also confirm with a phone call in the future.
I will also anticipate a possible increase in phone calls over emails for guest enquiries.
I always reply to every enquiry even if we are full AND it is clearly stated on our availibilty. As an owner, I find it frustrating when I reply promptly to an enquiry but never hear from the person again. A ' thanks but no thanks' would be nice if they are not interested.
We only started self renting our apartment this year and glad to say that we are now more than 50% booked for next ski season.
We do have availability the week of 8 - 15 Feb and from 15 March onwards if anyone is looking..........
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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dumb question here......how can you secure your bank account details ? ie name , account number ets that you give to people so they can pay you direct rather than use paypal if they dont have paypal....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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ozibird, your bank details are visible on cheques and other stuff, so I don't think it is a problem to give someone your details so they can pay you. They would need an awful lot of other information to take any money from your account. You could set up a separate account for payments if you are concerned, and withdraw the money immediately to another account.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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thanks so much...thinking I'll try the Owners Direct...it has been so good to read these posts....so many helpful answers....we thought Hoe Away was too costly and have gone with Trip advisor...who do NOT have a phone number and when something goes wrong there is no one to call OR email...I got around it by emailing their web page support...our very first guest and the TA confirmation had not come to our email account and the guest showed up ...I was in another country...lucky they had my phone number and I was able to sort it in 2 hours and they had a great stay...but I was not happy and shattered how easily things go wrong...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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They would need an awful lot of other information to take any money from your account
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Afraid not. E.g. this.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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sah, he also provided them with the means to obtain his address. You do not need a home address to make a bank transfer.
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thanks...I dont like the bit "The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again."....so what would you suggest...just offering a paypal option ? some people dont use paypal...thought it is 'customer service' to offer several payment methods....but cc and cheque wont be included
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ozibird, where is your account based? I just use Paypal but will accept transfers into my French account from French residents.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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thank you for the confidence in Paypal...interesting that you note only from French residents for the French account...is that for security reasons?
I just saw that Owners Direct IS Home Away.. 
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ozibird, no not for security reasons, mainly ones of convenience and charges/ I've also accepted transfers from other Euro countries like Belgium and Holland.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bumping this back up to the top as a reminder to take care when booking accommodation this winter. Owner's Direct properties are continuing to be scammed by fraudsters and bookings intercepted by others. As an owner, I have received several emails recently with links that could have allowed someone to hack into my email and holiday rental advertising accounts.
Owners and guests have lost bookings and money. However, most owners will be genuine and most bookings will be safe. Just be careful before handing over your hard earned cash.
100% upfront payments are unusual unless the booking is last minute, so query it.
Contact the owner by other means than the OD enquiry form if possible
Google the owner and property for evidence that it exists elsewhere online.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Good advice from Hellsbells.
We had a dodgey enquiry last week - it had no dates and no phone number. When I googled the email address, the 'lay my Hat' forum came up and quite a few people advertising on owners direct had received the same scam email.
We are always happy to speak to guests on the telephone about our apartment and my telephone numbers are on our advert.
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Im on Home Away and I reckon at the moment, as much as 80% of my enquiries are false/wrong /scammers etc.
From wanting to rent strange dates, no contact details, no numbers of guests, to a simple, love your place cant wait to book it.
I always start off by asking a question back after confirming whether its available or not. That's usually the last I hear from them
I also ALWAYS try and ring the number (if given) to confirm it exists.
I also google the name to establish if they exist. Most times they don't.
Finally before accepting the booking I ask for proof of an address so again I can look the property up on Google maps.. I know it isn't guaranteed, but I ALWAYS establish a long line of communication before I finally hand out personal details. I had to explain this to someone recently and they sent me a link to their web site. they were farmers from Sweden.
When I`ve used home away or booking.com, the biggest fear I`ve always felt is does the place exist, or as nice as the photographs. Talking to the owner gives an idea of the place
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You know it makes sense.
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The big sites are pushing more and more towards an automated system with instant booking . While card payment offers the guests some protection , it is easy for the owner to be defrauded with stolen cards. Scams are working both ways at the moment, which isn't often published by the press. Owners have been labelled thieves by some of the papers over the summer.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thankyou Thankyou....
Flangesax...super advice and we are going to implement it.....we cannot be certain of the guest types with B.com in terms of getting secure payments and the key deposit has bothered me....I will cancel B.com
sorry to those who have not understood my writing....perhaps I was so harassed at the time....my account with with B.com is the flat fee one....
here is an example of my on an email from my onsite host ....."We have had a good season, but guests are getting so much more demanding, I have managed to down scale to a manageable size believing life would be easier, but it seems as People leave their common sense at home whilst holidaying and phones are easier to use than thoughts or Actions!!
No peoblem for guests to call me at midnight about tv, or wifi Connections
anyhow I am fortunate to have reliable staff, just getting so many last Minute bookings particularly for Arabs who do not have the concept of self Catering and don t bring their servants with them resulting often in much harder cleaning for us
The weather is glorious here, so I am sure your guests will have a wonderful time,"
So it is tricky to always be upbeat with her......I do have payment and arrival information in German, French and English....I like Arabic people and my current guest is from Saudi that I booked myself....I worked in the ME for 8 years and it annoys me that my onsite host needs to air her opinions as she knows I lived in the ME......its not so easy to change onsite hosts, even though my neighbor has done so......
again THANKYOU for giving me info and support to make key decisions.....
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