Just Curious.....

I am curious about my Paris apartment rental agreement.

I found an apartment through holiday-rentals.co.uk and was contacted by the owner. I spoke to him on the phone and gave him my credit card # (including the 3 digit security code) to pay for half of the rental fee.

I will pay the other half when I leave. No security deposit, no cleaning fee etc. Just half now, and half upon departure.

Is this a reputable agency? ...( holiday-rentals.co.uk )?? And does this sound like a straight up deal, or am I going to get to Paris only to find that I%26#39;ve been had????

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I have looked at their website - and they look like a big and serious company to me. I wouldn%26#39;t worry, though it does sound peculiar that the owner doesn%26#39;t demand any sort of deposit ?

Haven%26#39;t you received a written confirmation / e-mail/ letter on the rental agreement ?

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Well yes and no regarding the written conirmation/rental agreement. As I mentioned, the owner contacted me via email and we agreed that he would call me the next morning....which he did. After I gave him my credit card information he wrote me another email %26quot;confirming%26quot; our dates etc. Should I mention this place was rather pricey??? (2000 euros for 10 nights). Thanks!

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Listen now - I you give out your credit card details to a complete stranger and you agree to pay 2000 euros for something you do not completely trust - then I can only say that you should start to practice listening to your intuition and good/bad stomachfeeling.

Now you can only pray.

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Thanks GitteK,

actually I do trust the guy. It%26#39;s just that some other agency correspondence (from seemingly pushy agents) talked of the %26quot;terrors%26quot; of not renting with THEIR company.

So I got a little spooked.

Here%26#39;s the web site for the apartment. Would you please tell me what you think? holiday-rentals.co.uk/France/…p55369.htm

Merci!!!..

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It looks alright - though the decor is a bit too much %26quot;Versailles-look-alike-to-impress-the Americans%26quot; for my taste.

I personally have no use for a manservant coming in 3 times a week to change my sheets. Nor do I need 2 bathrooms. I would rather spend more money on my food and wine and other pleasures. Most important for me is that the place is CLEAN, located in a street reasonably quiet at night and that it is close to a metro AND a good bakery.

Mais enfin - chacun à son goût !

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Yes GitteK,

I could not agree more that this place is %26quot;over the top!!%26quot; But to tell you the truth, after days and days of being glued to my computer sending inquiry after inquiry trying to find a place to rent for my dates I was happy to take ANYTHING regardless of it%26#39;s sparcity or faux grandiosity! If nothing else, the decor will certainly be amusing and fun!!

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shayebaby62 - I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy your faux-chateau !! When are you going ?

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The following was noted on the website Shayebaby62 gave.

Notes to the rental rates

Standard lease - one week, priority will always be given to weekly rentals (or longer) Deposit - Euro 1,000 to be made at time of lease booking %26amp; will be refunded within 15 days following departure Forfeit of 50% of deposit if cancellation less than 30 days; forfeit of 100% of deposit if less than 15 days

So, don%26#39;t be surprised if he asks you for the deposit on arrival. If he hasn%26#39;t explained why he hasn%26#39;t asked you for it - as the above states it is to be paid at time of booking - I would ask him. 1000 Euros is not small change. It is also stated in as a requirement on the site, so, if I were you, I would ask him about it, rather than having to come up with 1000 euros upon arrival. Just my thoughts.

Other than that, the listing has been on the website since Nov. 2005. I%26#39;m sure if it was not legit, they would have had complaints.

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Thanks guys,

Yes I did notice the information posted about the deposit. So I had fully intended to have to pay one.

However, I asked him REPEATEDLY if there were any other charges/deposits etc. He said no over and over again.

His english was VERY good, so I do not think there was any misunderstanding.

And we are going in the middle of May (10 days)....can%26#39;t wait!!!

Any suggestions on how to get to Giverny???? I%26#39;ve wanted to go there my whole life!!!

Merci

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Search for Giverny (in the blank field at the top of the forum) - and I am sure there will pop up a lot of good advice on how to get there !