Off Topic: Vacation Rental

I was just curious if anyone has had any experience with renting a house in Florida for a vacation. I am just shocked at the lack of rights they give people these days. Every owner or agent that I have contacted to rent a house wants cash or check for payment and they want everything paid immediately to hold the place and most don’t give refunds, if you cancel. Some will take 50% down and expect the other 50% 30 days before you arrive.

If you cancel, all the agreements I’ve seen to date say they get to keep the whole rent. It’s utterly ridiculous. Some vary in their refunds if you cancel 90 days out, but most don’t give you anything back if you are closer in than 90 days. On a home rental, that means a cancellation can cost you upwards of a couple of thousand per week.

I am just stunned and I am curious what other people’s experience is… The customer is a lowly bug these days with no rights, it seems. You are to sign your life away on the dotted line and hope for equity. I just don’t like it!

I even check with major hotel chains and they are the same way.