| The wonderful thing about paying with most | | | | - You do not have to expose your credit card. |
| credit cards is that you have a recourse in case | | | | - You can dispute your charges if you feel you |
| something goes horribly wrong. You can simply | | | | have been scammed. |
| pick up the phone, call the card company and | | | | PayPal works in many parts of the world and you |
| dispute your charges. The onus is now on the | | | | should try to see if you can work with managers |
| merchant to prove that the charge was indeed | | | | and owners who accept PayPal. There is a subtle |
| legitimate. I say "most" because you need to read | | | | difference between using credit cards and PayPal. |
| your agreement with your credit card company | | | | In cases where the merchant has signed the |
| carefully because in many cases, they only cover | | | | basic PayPal merchant account (which is a large |
| transactions in the United States. | | | | majority), your credit card information is never |
| So, what are your options when booking Vacation | | | | exposed to the PayPal merchant. In cases where |
| Rentals? | | | | the PayPal merchant can see your credit card, |
| Most professional management companies accept | | | | they typically have to pay PayPal a monthly fee |
| credit cards. So, whenever possible, book with | | | | and they are much more likely to be legitimate. |
| professional management companies because you | | | | In addition, with PayPal you can fund your account |
| are less likely to be scammed. | | | | directly from your checking account if you do not |
| Many owners today accept credit cards. | | | | have a credit card. Bottom line, there are a |
| However, many tell you that you have to pay a | | | | number of viable options with PayPal. |
| card fee of 3-4%. As a consumer, I do not like it | | | | How about Xoom? |
| very much, but sometimes you do not have a | | | | Xoom could be an alternative to PayPal. However, |
| choice. | | | | we were less enthusiastic after we Googled |
| Several other owners ask you to wire the | | | | "Xoom scam" and found a number of posts that |
| money. This is one of the worst alternatives. The | | | | were disturbing. You need to make your own |
| reason is that you have absolutely no recourse if | | | | decision on Xoom after reading these posts. |
| things go south in a hurry. There is no way for | | | | In conclusion, we think that you need to do a |
| you to recover your money easily. So, my | | | | significant amount of due diligence before you |
| suggestion to you is that unless you are very | | | | decide to work with Vacation Rental owners. It is |
| sure of what you are doing, do not wire money | | | | just not worth it risking your entire vacation (and |
| to an unknown third party. It is just too | | | | money) to save a few dollars. Book your vacation |
| dangerous. | | | | with professional management companies. Use |
| How about PayPal? | | | | PayPal or credit cards and do not wire money to |
| We think that PayPal is an excellent way to do | | | | unknown parties. |
| business. There are several reasons for this. | | | | |