Cabin was booked, paid and communication with owner occurred weeks in advance and day before check to confirm address & door code.
Arrived at 3:45 and dressed for the formal event we are attending at 6pm. At 5:38 we walk out the door and there is another family in the driveway. They have confirmation from an alternate booking site and SAME DOOR CODE We depart for the wedding with an uneasy feeling, but our valuables are on us, so we go.
Around 10pm, we get back and check phone.
There is a VRBO email sent at 5:47 pm -the owner has cancelled our booking. The email shows a cancel date as THE DAY BEFORE?! As in the day I was communicating with her confirming address and door code? Backdated information?
I have multiple emails and a text message stating our reservation was cancelled and another stating the owner had accidentally refunded us 100%. Called owner. She was in a panic and stated it was a mistake. I stated it was late at night and I would deal with her situation in the next day, she agreed.
There is intermittent cell service and no guest accessible Wi-Fi at the cabin so I could not access anything at the cabin the following morning. I called my credit card and they stated no refund was showing. Informed owner via text that I was not re-paying and doubling the cost with nothing other than emails I can’t confirm as there’s no WIFI access and sketchy cell service. Now I’m concerned AND I"M SUPPOSED TO BE ON A VACATION!
The owner’s husband and VRBO call 8 more times before 11 am. I speak with the husband who states he is going have a cleaning crew come in relist and rebook the cabin. VRBO calls again stating they are relisting the cabin and unless I re-pay right now. I stated clearly that I was not going to log onto an app containing my financial information on an unsecure WIFI or open CELL in a “Please steal my identity” situation. I would have to find a secure network, see what’s occurred, and call them back. VRBO & the owner both call again and demanded we PAY AGAIN. This is now a DANGER level situation.
We went to the cabin, got our belongings, and left. These owners displayed disregard to renter safety and security. And for all we knew, this was a pay again scam.
Cabin was cute. But knowing they double book, don't change door codes and don't know how to manage the listings, you have been warned.