It’s time to name & shame

[Floridatilly]

I don’t normally do anything like this and I do try to turn the other cheek however we have had a stressful 4 weeks regarding a villa we booked for 2020 & 2021
The villa management company was Citrus Grove Villas. We have used them many times before so thought we had a pretty safe & secure booking.
The villa owner has issues with the MC company and therefore left. So Citrus Grove Villas had both our deposits (over £1k) but no villa booked with them. They could not offer a villa at the same standard as the better ones had been booked up. So we have been chasing our deposits back daily with phone calls & emails.
The villa was advertised on VR360HOMES so we emailed them. They chased Iain (it just says Iain on VR360HOMES rather than citrus grove villas, he is the owner) and they took over chasing him. They advised us on Friday that they had given him until today to pay or further action would be taken.
Result! He has finally paid. It’s £85.55 short which I assume is down to the exchange rate.
This is not including the fees we incurred when paying via bank transfer.
But at least we have most of the money back. The whole business has left a nasty taste in my mouth and really put me off booking a villa (even though we love staying in villas and there are wonderful owners & MC out there)
The responses we have had back from Iain at citrus grove villas have been minimal and rude, he was in no rush what so ever pay us our money back. We are so disappointed by this company and would hate anyone else to experience this.
Sorry if this is not allowed on here but we certainly DO NOT recommend anyone to use Citrus Grove Villas (Iain kidney)

About 3 years ago we had a villa booked with them and only found out that the villa had been sold and no longer available to book when I tried to find it on VR360HOMES. We had to chase that up and he organised a different villa for us, this was only about 4 weeks before our departure so we had no choice. The villa was ok but nothing like the one we had originally booked and we would certainly never stay there again, it had worn out furniture and it was very dated. We did inform but he never replied. We though this was just unlucky but not anymore.

[Sunshinekid]

Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you got most of your money back. That must have been an incredibly stressful time.
I hope you get other accommodation sorted.

[ELLENUT]

Thanks for sharing. I always think its useful to hear of experiences like this - especially handy for people who are new to villa hire and not sure what sites/ companies to use. Im sure if they had speedily returned your deposit you would not be posting this so I see it as completely their own fault.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by Sunshinekid

Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you got most of your money back. That must have been an incredibly stressful time.
I hope you get other accommodation sorted.

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Thanks you. My husband is pretty relaxed about things and nothing usually bothers him but we have used this MC for years and felt like we were loyal customers yet the service we have received has been disgraceful.
It’s a lot of money for us, we save really hard for our holidays so we are so relieved to get it back x

[2point]

Thanks for sharing.

[lizzie145]

Bank transfers are not a sensible way to pay for a holiday as you have no or very little protection. You were lucky to get your money back

[ClaireNJ]

Glad it’s finally sorted at last for you, what a stressful time you’ve had, shouldn’t have taken a threat to make him pay though should it 😡

[Pussycat Doll]

Glad you got your money back (most of it anyway) hopefully you can now look forward to your hols. Please do trust us owners in the future, were a good bunch really.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by Pussycat Doll

Glad you got your money back (most of it anyway) hopefully you can now look forward to your hols. Please do trust us owners in the future, were a good bunch really.

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Agreed, most owners are a good bunch.
The situation just stressed us out x x

[Disney_time]

I agree that has been a very stressful situation, but please please please pay at least something towards such a big purchase using a credit card. I'm so sorry that you have been left out if pocket though after all that stress.