It all started with the fact that the company blocked 150 euro as a deposit for lodgings on my account (arbnb.com 26.10). But these were the company’s rules.
At 11 am on October 28, we got to the apartments we booked in Valencia. Nobody was waiting for us and the place was locked up, so we began to call Jaime using the provided by her contacts. Unfortunately, non of the contact phone numbers was active and we couldn’t get through to her. After 3!hours of anxious waiting we finally received a message saying that the manager will be there in ten minutes. She did not even bother to apologize for making us wait for such a long time!
After showing us the premises and filling in all the necessary papers, Andrea demanded a deposit for an apartment in the amount of 150€ in cash! All my attempts to explain that the deposit is already blocked by her company on my account failed. She commented that without deposit in amount of 150€ in cash our booking was called off and we had nowhere to live for three days. We had no choice but to agree with these drastic demands! Andrea assured us that as soon as we check out our cash deposit will be returned in full amount. Then we discussed the check-out time (5.30 a.m.) and draw her attention that it was very important to meet at the mentioned time as we had to catch a bus (7.00 a.m.).
We were given the keys and settled in after 4!hours.
In the evening we found out that the TV did not work, there was no wi-fi, there was no iron in the apartment, so cold it was! Moreover, there were problems with water as well: it was either ice cold or hellishly hot!
On October 30, we wrote Andrea for confirmation of our meeting at 5.30 the day after. Unfortunately, in 30 minutes Andrea called back and said that she was not in Valencia and there was no one who could check the premises and give our deposit money back! We were in shock, because it was our return-trip money (and Andrea was very well aware of that!). When we asked her what we were supposed to do, we got sms: "Call Jaime». Jamie was not available ...
Three days later, Jaime asked the number of my bank account to transfer the deposit money back. I gave her all the required information. Unfortunately, on November, 7 (check-out 31.10) I was transferred only 130€! (deposit 150€)
Summary:
1. We waited for 4!hours to check in and lost a whole day of our vacation.
2. Increased amount of deposit in EUR 300
3. EUR 20 was not paid back.
4. Extra expenses in amount of $ 98 for phone calls and messages to Jamie and Andrea.
5. Humiliation (we had to BEG hostesses to return our own money).
6. Spoilt impressions, moods and trip back home without money.