We’ve improved our search and have used the new functionality to create a list of properties available during October Half Term, based on a number of popular destinations both close to home and further afield. We’ll create a similar list soon for the popular Christmas and New Year ski destinations.
September 5, 2008
April 8, 2008
Warning: vacation rental scam, New York
We’ve had two new properties added to our site in the last couple of days : American Luxury and New York Away From Home. Demand was immediately strong, with multiple enquiries coming in within hours of the properties going live.
Because we work closely with our owners we were already in contact with them regarding inconsistencies with their property listing. Further communication raised alarm bells and we started to look into the possibility that we were being scammed.
I cannot prove anything definitively but have asked the respective ‘owners’ of the properties to contact us directly by phone, something they have avoided doing. Until that time we have disabled these properties.
What we found was that the properties in question were listed on multiple websites (this is as to be expected), with the same telephone number (which goes to an answermachine) but with different contact names.
The names used were the following:
- timothy smith
- rick freeman
- brian smith
- rick anderson
- brian timothy
- alex k jeffery
- brown jeffery
- brown anderson
The web addresses were the following, some of the links lead to dead end pages but they showed up in google results:
- www.usavacationhomes.biz/property/41.php
- www.world-vacation.com/viewadvert.asp?id=6347
- www.arkadia.com/usa/real-estate/for-rent/united-states/new-york/new-york/CA-T9747/
- www.locations-de-vacances-online.com/locations_details.php?recordID=100097
- www.gastgeber.net/17478.htm
- www.rentalsexpress.com/vacation_rental_property/unitedstates/newyork/newyorkcity/apartment7350.html
- www.holiday-home.com/2789_d.aspx
- www.vlbo.com/2637/
- www.properties-worldwide.com/r/US132860/rent-2~site~~c~p~sess~263473344.htm
- www.landorproperty.com/PropertySearchDetails.aspx?PropertyId=1264
- www.vacationrentalslisted.com/RentalPrintVersion-2117.aspx
- www.vacation-rentals-byowner.com/Manhattan-manhattan_luxury_homes—11710_.html
- www.worldcondos.com/viewdetails.php?id=449
- www.ourholidayrentalhomes.com/i-hrh-us-ny100-en.htm
- www.10000vacations.com/rentals/product_desc.php?id=712
- www.worldvacationrental.com/24291.html
- www.holiday-home.com/2818_e.aspx
- www.fastvacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals-new-york/rental-id-433.html
The above is not proof of a scam, I can see possible explanations, but as we’ve been unable to speak to the owners directly we’re left to make assumptions. Our gut feeling is that it is a scam – I’ll eat humble pie if we’re proven wrong. It’s worth noting that I think all of the above websites involve contacting the owner directly, do so at your own risk!
Meanwhile we have a lot of demand for New York, so we’d love to hear from any genuine property owners looking to let out their apartment.
February 19, 2008
February 11, 2008
Finding your ideal holiday got easier with Selfcateringhols
We’re always adding new properties to www.selfcateringhols.com and now list over 1,000 properties in 43 countries.
With so much choice it’s difficult to know where to start – that’s why we have improved our property search facility, where you can search on location, availability, price and a number of property facilities such as showing only those properties with a pool or which accept pets.
If that wasn’t enough we’ve also started compiling lists of possible search options for you. Some of our newer lists include:
- Liverpool Cultural Capital 2008
- Properties with an internet connection
- Villas with a pool
- Family holidays – properties that have everything for entertaining the younger members not content with just relaxing: a pool, dvd player, satellite TV and an Internet connection!
It’s never been easier to find your ideal holiday property, start planning your holiday today
Remember that if you have booked with us before you are eligible for a £25 cashback when booking again (or a £25 ‘thank you’ on any and every booking* made as a result of your recommendation). Click here for more information – make sure you are logged in to get your loyalty code.
*your loyaly code cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers
If that’s not enough, don’t forget that we answer all customer enquiries and won’t leave you hanging around – one more reason why 97.44% of previous customers have said they were satisfied with our service.
Don’t delay, view our properties online or contact us now to start planning your holiday.
January 21, 2008
Spam count
This morning I had 2337 emails in my spam folder, this is after the bulk auto-deleting of any emails sent to all non-registered SCH addresses, and not one false positive amongst them. This also doesn’t count the Spam emails that get through the filter and which arrive in my inbox. What a waste of my time.
November 28, 2007
Customer concerns: security
Should you advertise your property with yourself as the direct contact, or should you use an agency such as selfcateringhols.com?
This is a question that all owners should ask themselves.
There are benefits to both ways of advertising but not in ways that are immediately obvious – our Frequently Asked Questions may help to shed some light. Out of all of the Frequently Asked Questions that customers view, the following account for 30% of all hits:
- Is your site secure?
- Can I book from any day of the week?
- Are your availability calendars up to date and correct?
- Is Selfcateringhols Ltd a member of ABTA?
- How do I know Selfcateringhols.com isn’t a scam website?
Security
Our customers FAQ have been viewed over 20,000 times and of these more than 17% are about security.
Customers are clearly concerned about the process of booking a property which they have not seen, that they have no way of verifying if it even exists, and of managing the payment process.
Listing your property with Selfcateringhols answers these questions for the client, can you provide the same assurances directly? By being listed with selfcateringhols you can now have the best of both worlds:
By listing your property on www.selfcateringhols.com customers can:
- book with a UK registered company
- View our automatically updated customer satisfaction rating (currently 97.5%)
- View independently verified customer property reviews
- Book and pay online via a secure server
You can of course maximise your income by being the direct contact. By using our booking technology you can be the direct contact AND resolve some of the issues that customers may have in booking your property. By sending your clients to your FAB page they can book and pay online via a secure server while you remain the direct contact – no more problems of having to wait for/deal with cheques – and you receive 100% of the rental income.
Using your calendar
The number #2 and #3 most frequently asked questions relate to your calendar – is it up to date and do you accept flexible bookings? If you can keep your calendar up to date* and accept flexible bookings customers will be more likely to select your property than one which doesn’t.
* using your FAB page makes this easy, because any new booking you take would be automatically updated! If you guarantee availability we’ll also boost your property in the rankings, making it easier for customers to find your property first.
Question: Should you advertise your property with yourself as the direct contact, or should you use an agency such as selfcateringhols.com?
Answer: Use our technology and do both, start using your FAB page today.
browser usage
I’m looking at my stats for February this year compared to February last year. It’s interesting to see that Firefox is slowly whittling away at the Microsoft Internet Explorer monopoly – Last year IE accounted for 81.81% of all browsers used by visitors to Selfcateringhols. This year that has fallen to 77.97%, with the primary gainer being Firefox (up to16.71% from 13.23% last year).
I believe that Firefox initially appealed to the more Internet savvy population, so either the general user is becoming more Internet savvy, or Firefox is becoming more mainstream.
Of IE versions 6 & 7 dominate, up to 99.57% from 98.65% last year. There has been a progression from version 6 to 7, with 7 now accounting for the majority of IE users at 55.62%.
It’s also interesting to note the appearance of mobile/entertainment browsing, with the iphone, ipod, Wii and playstation all making an appearance in 2008 when they did not register in 2007.