La Vita Bella Surfside, SC - Rip off and dishonest! Beware of property owner!! Surfside Beach South Carolina

Plagiarism - that is why.

 

To make this quick - I met this individual once & spoke with her a couple of times - it was a mutal exchange of information regarding our vaca homes.  I have made friends with many.

 

I began receiving inquiries asking for the pink house (ours), not the green one (hers). Knowing her home, I reviewed it on Homeaway.com - her discription was my ad copy verbatim. I called her directly & left VM requesting she change her listing as it was confusing potential renters. She did not respond. I then emailed via the mutal website (stating "while I am flattered, it is not condusive to either one of our homes"), no repsonse. 

 

After 2 weeks without resolution or response I called the web host & inquired what recourse I had. They advised they would research & advise.

 

A few days later Homeaway Technical support called & stated they could 'see' the date when & where she had copied & pasted my ad (but failed to changed house names) and they considered it plagiarsm. 

 

* Homeaway.com REMOVED her listings from their website for plagiarism. 

 

To my surprise, Miss Chris Karpinski, published author of 'How To Rent Your Vacation Home' & noted professional in the vacation home rental industry called & reqested an interview.  We discussed how she was able to verify my ad was plagiarised & considered internet fraud.  Our conversations included the sneaky dog slobs (original complaint). We shared a few good laughs about the very few problems & the many rewards to renting our vacation homes. (We have met wonderful people from all over the globe!!)

 

In closing, we have had only one complaint in 7 years renting our home (the sneaky dog slobs) - please visit our website at Homeaway.com #315736  - - you will find many positive & complimentary reviews - more than any other home in the area.  Plus the humorus podcast!

 

Please feel free to contact me anytime regarding any of this information -- or to rent or beautiful beach house!!!   
    And thank you for reading ALL information --

I am another owner in the same area of Surfside Beach who has had a negative experience with this owner.  She used me to gather information on listing her vacation home for rent after finding my home booked most weeks and I freely told her my experience and offerred suggestions to assist her.  She kept prodding me for information for a few years until her listing was fine tuned and she was getting great results.  Then, when I decided to format my online listings in a similar manner to hers, she reported me to the online listing company and even created a podcast with many untrue statements about me.  She said she did not know me (false), she said she contacted me to ask me to change my format (false), she said I had used her pictures (false), she said I had copied her text exactly, even using her house name (false), and that I had to user her format because I had no imagination of my own (false, false, false).  Keep in mind that she had contacted me originally to find out how I was so successful with my bookings.  I was doing just fine before her contacting me and am still doing just fine.  I fail to see how this benefits her to trash talk me but people never cease to surprise me!! 

We have been renting our vacation home to respectable families for over 3 years with only compliments - except this one. Why? Because they lied, left the place a disgrace - and were caught.

Mike initially reserved our beach home for humans only. When he received the rental contract, he called my office noting the 'No Pets' clause. He stated he forgot to tell me about the family's small, well behaved dog he must bring or forfeit the rental. He still owed rent, and his date was very close. I agreed to a $500 deposit, $250 refundable by mail after departure. 2 days prior to arrival Mike called again reporting he would not be taking the family pet & I could mail the entire pet deposit to him. I stated I would continue with the original agreement.

Much to his surprise, we arrived at our home just as his family was leaving [later than agreed]. Together with our cleaning crew we witnessed a total mess --- long black dog hair EVERYWHERE. Even IN a queen bed; the bed sack and pillows were disposed of & replaced, comforter dry cleaned. There was dog food all over - even under beds! Yes, the dog left a mess - but the humans were WORSE. They left garbage, dirty dishes, beds soiled, furniture stained. What slobs!

The Groundskeeper cited dog waste all over the yards, and confirmed seeing the dog. The pool lady complained of all the dog hair IN the pool & stated their small child told her "Daddy said don't tell you about our doggy"! She confirmed it was a large black dog, perhaps a Rottwieler. The neighbor joked that we were renting to horses! The elderly neighbor couple said the dog barked and was intimidating.

When Mike called asking for his ENTIRE deposit - I challenged him to court, and I would be seeking additional damages for cleaning, replacing, labor, etc. I mentioned the cleaning crew took digital pictures. I never heard from the coward again - instead he spent his employers time defending his lack of morals and lousy ethics online.

Please note, by his own admission in this report he clearly states "This has happened to (us) before in North Carolina" --- perhaps it is his own practices that merit consideration.

In closing, we have had MANY happy, pleased and satisfied vacationers stay at our home - with and without pets. All have acted like adults, treating us fairly, and our beach home with respect. We welcome them back [many are repeat guests] However - these people were sneaky slobs!

We have been renting our vacation home to respectable families for over 3 years with only compliments - except this one. Why? Because they lied, left the place a disgrace - and were caught.

Mike initially reserved our beach home for humans only. When he received the rental contract, he called my office noting the 'No Pets' clause. He stated he forgot to tell me about the family's small, well behaved dog he must bring or forfeit the rental. He still owed rent, and his date was very close. I agreed to a $500 deposit, $250 refundable by mail after departure. 2 days prior to arrival Mike called again reporting he would not be taking the family pet & I could mail the entire pet deposit to him. I stated I would continue with the original agreement.

Much to his surprise, we arrived at our home just as his family was leaving [later than agreed]. Together with our cleaning crew we witnessed a total mess --- long black dog hair EVERYWHERE. Even IN a queen bed; the bed sack and pillows were disposed of & replaced, comforter dry cleaned. There was dog food all over - even under beds! Yes, the dog left a mess - but the humans were WORSE. They left garbage, dirty dishes, beds soiled, furniture stained. What slobs!

The Groundskeeper cited dog waste all over the yards, and confirmed seeing the dog. The pool lady complained of all the dog hair IN the pool & stated their small child told her "Daddy said don't tell you about our doggy"! She confirmed it was a large black dog, perhaps a Rottwieler. The neighbor joked that we were renting to horses! The elderly neighbor couple said the dog barked and was intimidating.

When Mike called asking for his ENTIRE deposit - I challenged him to court, and I would be seeking additional damages for cleaning, replacing, labor, etc. I mentioned the cleaning crew took digital pictures. I never heard from the coward again - instead he spent his employers time defending his lack of morals and lousy ethics online.

Please note, by his own admission in this report he clearly states "This has happened to (us) before in North Carolina" --- perhaps it is his own practices that merit consideration.

In closing, we have had MANY happy, pleased and satisfied vacationers stay at our home - with and without pets. All have acted like adults, treating us fairly, and our beach home with respect. We welcome them back [many are repeat guests] However - these people were sneaky slobs!

We have been renting our vacation home to respectable families for over 3 years with only compliments - except this one. Why? Because they lied, left the place a disgrace - and were caught.

Mike initially reserved our beach home for humans only. When he received the rental contract, he called my office noting the 'No Pets' clause. He stated he forgot to tell me about the family's small, well behaved dog he must bring or forfeit the rental. He still owed rent, and his date was very close. I agreed to a $500 deposit, $250 refundable by mail after departure. 2 days prior to arrival Mike called again reporting he would not be taking the family pet & I could mail the entire pet deposit to him. I stated I would continue with the original agreement.

Much to his surprise, we arrived at our home just as his family was leaving [later than agreed]. Together with our cleaning crew we witnessed a total mess --- long black dog hair EVERYWHERE. Even IN a queen bed; the bed sack and pillows were disposed of & replaced, comforter dry cleaned. There was dog food all over - even under beds! Yes, the dog left a mess - but the humans were WORSE. They left garbage, dirty dishes, beds soiled, furniture stained. What slobs!

The Groundskeeper cited dog waste all over the yards, and confirmed seeing the dog. The pool lady complained of all the dog hair IN the pool & stated their small child told her "Daddy said don't tell you about our doggy"! She confirmed it was a large black dog, perhaps a Rottwieler. The neighbor joked that we were renting to horses! The elderly neighbor couple said the dog barked and was intimidating.

When Mike called asking for his ENTIRE deposit - I challenged him to court, and I would be seeking additional damages for cleaning, replacing, labor, etc. I mentioned the cleaning crew took digital pictures. I never heard from the coward again - instead he spent his employers time defending his lack of morals and lousy ethics online.

Please note, by his own admission in this report he clearly states "This has happened to (us) before in North Carolina" --- perhaps it is his own practices that merit consideration.

In closing, we have had MANY happy, pleased and satisfied vacationers stay at our home - with and without pets. All have acted like adults, treating us fairly, and our beach home with respect. We welcome them back [many are repeat guests] However - these people were sneaky slobs!

We have been renting our vacation home to respectable families for over 3 years with only compliments - except this one. Why? Because they lied, left the place a disgrace - and were caught.

Mike initially reserved our beach home for humans only. When he received the rental contract, he called my office noting the 'No Pets' clause. He stated he forgot to tell me about the family's small, well behaved dog he must bring or forfeit the rental. He still owed rent, and his date was very close. I agreed to a $500 deposit, $250 refundable by mail after departure. 2 days prior to arrival Mike called again reporting he would not be taking the family pet & I could mail the entire pet deposit to him. I stated I would continue with the original agreement.

Much to his surprise, we arrived at our home just as his family was leaving [later than agreed]. Together with our cleaning crew we witnessed a total mess --- long black dog hair EVERYWHERE. Even IN a queen bed; the bed sack and pillows were disposed of & replaced, comforter dry cleaned. There was dog food all over - even under beds! Yes, the dog left a mess - but the humans were WORSE. They left garbage, dirty dishes, beds soiled, furniture stained. What slobs!

The Groundskeeper cited dog waste all over the yards, and confirmed seeing the dog. The pool lady complained of all the dog hair IN the pool & stated their small child told her "Daddy said don't tell you about our doggy"! She confirmed it was a large black dog, perhaps a Rottwieler. The neighbor joked that we were renting to horses! The elderly neighbor couple said the dog barked and was intimidating.

When Mike called asking for his ENTIRE deposit - I challenged him to court, and I would be seeking additional damages for cleaning, replacing, labor, etc. I mentioned the cleaning crew took digital pictures. I never heard from the coward again - instead he spent his employers time defending his lack of morals and lousy ethics online.

Please note, by his own admission in this report he clearly states "This has happened to (us) before in North Carolina" --- perhaps it is his own practices that merit consideration.

In closing, we have had MANY happy, pleased and satisfied vacationers stay at our home - with and without pets. All have acted like adults, treating us fairly, and our beach home with respect. We welcome them back [many are repeat guests] However - these people were sneaky slobs!

Mike:

I know that you were on vacation and trusting the owner of the rental was not the most important issue at the time, however, if the owner was a resident of that area, I never would have left without paying her a face to face visit regarding the doggie deposit, you would have been able to apply more pressure on her in the release of your funds.

Your only other recourse would be to file suit in SC court and then have her produce her witness(s) and have them describe your dog.

Then you'd ask, would it be worth the time and trouble? I'd make another vacation trip surrounding the court date, perhaps a golf junket with some of your reletives / witnesses, then hit her up for court costs, and travel expenses, that'd stop her from playing this game in the future.