Hello.
I thought I'd post here what just happened after a week skiing in the Alps. Opinions are very welcome.
Our group of 12 rented two apartments in a French resort in the Alps where we spent one week skiing. We are all grown-ups with ages between 40-50 and have been going to this particular resort every year for the last 8. We left the apartment last Saturday and just received this email from the rental agency:
Hello Mr Anton,
We had problems in the kitchen of the 295 you had rented.
Just to be aware that the owner of the accommodation just put 100k€ in the renovation of the flat.
For the first year of the renting, you had made not really nice stuff in the kitchen…
Owners arrived after you and was not happy at all about the painting, wood floor (very expensive one) and cupboards of the kitchen.
We will try to fix the floor and the painting ourself but they want to change the wood of the 2 cupboards (a lot of grease spots…).
So we keep 400€ on your deposit today to pay the wood & the carpenter. We will send you the bill in time if you want.
From our side we work a lot to keep the apartment on the renting market but at the moment the owner don’t want to rent it anymore…so, thank you very much…
And please next year do not hesit to ask to another agency for an accommodation.
It is our first problem of the season (hope the last one), but at the end it is not really respectfull.
You even not indicate me that when you gave me back the keys…
Have a nice week.
Best regards,
Benjamin
The agency immediately charged 400 € to my credit card (used to pay for the rent, no deposit was requested).
This was my reply:
Hello Benjamin.
I was not aware of any problems when we returned the keys. We treated all the furniture and equipment with the same care as we do at home and we did not damage anything as far as I know.
This is the 8th straight year for us renting in Avoriaz and it is the first time we have had any complaints, so I would appreciate if you could send me pictures of the damage that support the owners claim so we can verify ourselves.
Thanks.
We (our group) are debating whether to just contest the credit card charge or wait for info/pics/whatever. I think they are being too rude, although it may be because English is not their mother tongue (nor mine btw).
What would you do?