Were the Vink Family victims?
We are aware that there is an increasing trend for holiday makers to book private homes. We are wary that websites such as the AA's Bookabach and TradeMe's Holidayhouses generate a lot of noise on the web. We will do a post on our thoughts on this phenomenon later.
An article in the Sunday Star Times today reported an Auckland family's experience of booking a holiday home in the Coromandel from another popular holiday home rental website, Bachcare. As this story was in the Sunday papers, obviously the experience wasn't a good one.
The Vink family booked and paid for a holiday home online for $300.00 per night to accommodate a maximum of 8 people. It was reported that on at least two occasions, the Vink family exceeded the maximum number of persons with one night having up to 12 people staying. The family also erected a tent that was also contrary to the terms and conditions of the rental agreement.
After several warnings, the family ended up being evicted, charged $1,000 for breaching the terms and conditions of the rental and forfeited their $300 bond.
Was this Auckland family a victim of a harsh regime or were they selectively naive with a false sense of entitlement?
For us the quote from the family's father speaks volumes:
"I would have thought that at $300 per night you are entitled to reasonable use of a property and it would extend to un-anticipated friends or relatives dropping in and sleeping on the floor for a night or two. That's all part of a summer holiday at the bach, is it not?"We looked at Bachcare's website and we must say that the rental agreement was clear to us.
OK, maybe Bachcare could have cut this family loose and met them halfway with some of the penalty charges, however reading between the lines this Auckland family's attitude would dictate that they deserved what they got.
Source: Click HERE
