Comments on: Self Catering Damages Deposits http://www.edinburgh-flats.com/blog/80/self-catering-flats/self-catering-damages-deposits/ Self-catering properties for owners, managers and visitors Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:13:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lenore & Janet http://www.edinburgh-flats.com/blog/80/self-catering-flats/self-catering-damages-deposits/comment-page-1/#comment-1653 Lenore & Janet Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:10:17 +0000 http://www.self-catering-online.com/blog/?p=80#comment-1653 We do appreciate getting a customer's perspective, but would like to point out that the landlady of this property has had many bookings from us, and this is the first ever concern that has been bought to our attention. We do appreciate getting a customer’s perspective, but would like to point out that the landlady of this property has had many bookings from us, and this is the first ever concern that has been bought to our attention.

]]> By: Kate http://www.edinburgh-flats.com/blog/80/self-catering-flats/self-catering-damages-deposits/comment-page-1/#comment-1647 Kate Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:11:23 +0000 http://www.self-catering-online.com/blog/?p=80#comment-1647 We have recently stayed in one of the apartments, found through this website, and would like to offer a customers perspective- firstly, the land lady did not provide us with any receipt for the damage deposit- which if you consider yourself to be running a business, this should be a given. When asked for a receipt, she became very defensive. Secondly, if you are taking a damage deposit, one would expect to be signing some sort of agreement and have an inventory checked off by the land loard and the tenant/customer- this also never happened. Lastly, when a bedside lamp was accidentally knocked over and broken, we readily informed the land lady, and offered to replace the broken bedside lamp. She did not reply to us until 2 days later (the morning of our departure). She informed us that she had a spare replacement lamp, and for us not to worry about buying a new one. It was only when she returned the damages deposit 2 weeks later via paypal, that she informed us of the deduction from for the cost of replacing not 1, but 2 lamps, plus light bulbs. She maintained that the secomd bedside lamp had also been cracked and therefore needed to be replaced. I happened to have taken a photo of that lamp when we were trying to buy a new one to replace the broken lamp, and have proof that the second lamp was never damaged during our stay. Dissapointingly the landlady has been very unprofessional throughout this process. This experience has made us re-question ever using a website like this one again. Don't always assume that the customers are the ones out to do the wrong thing, landlords are equally responsible We have recently stayed in one of the apartments, found through this website, and would like to offer a customers perspective-

firstly, the land lady did not provide us with any receipt for the damage deposit- which if you consider yourself to be running a business, this should be a given. When asked for a receipt, she became very defensive.

Secondly, if you are taking a damage deposit, one would expect to be signing some sort of agreement and have an inventory checked off by the land loard and the tenant/customer- this also never happened.

Lastly, when a bedside lamp was accidentally knocked over and broken, we readily informed the land lady, and offered to replace the broken bedside lamp. She did not reply to us until 2 days later (the morning of our departure). She informed us that she had a spare replacement lamp, and for us not to worry about buying a new one. It was only when she returned the damages deposit 2 weeks later via paypal, that she informed us of the deduction from for the cost of replacing not 1, but 2 lamps, plus light bulbs. She maintained that the secomd bedside lamp had also been cracked and therefore needed to be replaced. I happened to have taken a photo of that lamp when we were trying to buy a new one to replace the broken lamp, and have proof that the second lamp was never damaged during our stay.
Dissapointingly the landlady has been very unprofessional throughout this process. This experience has made us re-question ever using a website like this one again.

Don’t always assume that the customers are the ones out to do the wrong thing, landlords are equally responsible

]]> By: Susan McNaughton http://www.edinburgh-flats.com/blog/80/self-catering-flats/self-catering-damages-deposits/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Susan McNaughton Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:26:04 +0000 http://www.self-catering-online.com/blog/?p=80#comment-277 Bookings for Craigwell Cottage are completed by means of on-line payment. A damage deposit is taken 6 weeks before the let starts, or on booking for last minute deals. Deposits are returned by means of a refund to the card on which payment has been made, within 7 days of departure. Definitely no cash deposits, and rarely deposits by cheque these days either. In 10 years of letting in Edinburgh, we've had two people who have decided not to book because of the deposit requirement, but our view is that if they don't meet our conditions for let, then it's best not to do business with them. Returning the deposit is mainly a reason to be in touch with the guests after their stay and to ask for a review, and encourage them to return again. Bookings for Craigwell Cottage are completed by means of on-line payment. A damage deposit is taken 6 weeks before the let starts, or on booking for last minute deals. Deposits are returned by means of a refund to the card on which payment has been made, within 7 days of departure. Definitely no cash deposits, and rarely deposits by cheque these days either.
In 10 years of letting in Edinburgh, we’ve had two people who have decided not to book because of the deposit requirement, but our view is that if they don’t meet our conditions for let, then it’s best not to do business with them.
Returning the deposit is mainly a reason to be in touch with the guests after their stay and to ask for a
review, and encourage them to return again.

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