everything went wrong - it took the 3 of us 30 minutes to gain access, the receptionists were extraordinarily unwelcoming and unfriendly during all the technological problems; It was far from inexpensive for Cape Town; the facial recognition in the lift didn’t work; there were 3 tea bags and no milk; the swimming pool (which was why I booked it) was non- operational on Friday mornings (and we hadn’t been told); the electronic device didn’t work to get in from the car park and the woman at reception said she’d sort it and didn’t; the directions to navigate all these complicated entry and exit requirements were difficult; and, worst of all, the domestic who was scheduled to take the keys off us at 10am didn’t arrive as scheduled and that was making me late for a work appointment.
Having got the luggage downstairs, the host wanted me to make myself later by going upstairs to return the keys to the flat. I said I’d leave them in reception instead, which was perfectly reasonable in the circumstances but didn’t meet with her approval.
I handed the keys in to the black receptionist in front of a witness and took a photo of doing that. I then realised that I needed them for the car park and rushed back and got them again. I then handed them in to the white make receptionist, again with a witness and for sure on CCTV.
The owner says I should have left the keys in the flat and is holding me responsible for the fact that the keys have apparently now disappeared, as she wanted me to make myself even later by going upstairs again and putting them in her flat. She must have a second pair or wouldn’t have said that I should have left them in the flat. She claims that the next set of people coming to stay couldn’t access the flat although obviously the domestic must have keys as I was told to leave mine in the flat.
She then phoned me persistently although I’d told her I’d left the keys at reception.
After all that, she’s claiming £94 from me to replace her keys and electronic fob.
I think this is a complete scam.
It’s been a nightmare.