New Web Site Posts Tales Of Vacation Rental Disasters

Complaint site gives disgruntled vacation home renters chance to take gripes to the web.

Redford, MI (PRWEB) April 4, 2005 -- Still having nightmares about your last vacation home rental experience? Yearning to warn other unsuspecting vacationers -- or simply get a few things off your chest?

Instead of grumbling to your family and friends, make your complaints count. Share your horror story with the world on VacationRentalTalk.com, a new online forum for disgruntled vacation home renters.

In addition to hosting a message board, the website contains useful information and links for vacation renters. "Our mission is to help people, not to stick it to the companies," says James Wilson, a business consultant and owner of the Redford, MI company. VacationRentalTalk.com simply puts some leverage back into the hands of the consumer."

Wilson was struck by the website idea after reading an article on avoiding vacation rental disasters that urged consumers to ask rental agencies for references and to look for online reviews. "Rental agencies should view complaints as gifts", he says. "If customers don't report problems with their products and services, how can they ever get fixed?"

We would all be better off if more people complained about bad service, Wilson says. "I think it's important that consumers have a place to express their opinion in an environment where they are taken seriously."

Here are some suggestions to limit disappointment and find the best rental for your family:

- Rent through one of the small U.S. based boutique agencies that list only those accommodations that their staff has seen.

- Use a credit card if you can-even if the agency asks for a three-to-five percent premium. The chargeback provision can be a lifesaver.

- Document any problems, take pictures where appropriate, move out, and find alternative accommodations.

- Buy trip-cancellation insurance in case something happens and you have to scrub your trip.

For more information, visit www.VacationRentalTalk.com

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