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rusticinn

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Hi everyone,
I have a person from overseas (I am in Michigan) who is sending emails requesting rates for 2 guest rooms for 10 nights. My gut instinct is that this is some sort of a scam ultimately, but I emailed the rates and requested half the fee as a deposit via credit card just in case it was a real inquiry. I did not expect to hear back, but they did end up saying they want to reserve the rooms. However, they want to send a check. It still feels like a scam, but we do get overseas guests in our area - I just haven't had any myself since we opened in September.
I am insisting on a credit card for the deposit because we don't take checks - let alone overseas that I don't know how to verify. This potential guest is still saying they have to send a check and don't want to book online- I told them I'm sorry, but they need to find another place to stay.
My question is this - do real overseas guests normally book with credit cards and should I have additional policies for overseas?
I am set up with Reservation Key and use Square for processing credit cards. This is working well for us so far.
Thank you for any advice.
Annie
 
It's a scam. If they send a check how are you going to cash it if it's in their currency, and if it's it USDs what are they sending a check from abroad.
Next thing will be they are sending a check for the whole of your bill plus $x,000 and want to to wire the extra money on to their guide/translator/pimp.
Very few places in the UK accept checks nowadays, most shops wont.
Even if they offer a card payment I would be very wary.
 
It's a scam. If they send a check how are you going to cash it if it's in their currency, and if it's it USDs what are they sending a check from abroad.
Next thing will be they are sending a check for the whole of your bill plus $x,000 and want to to wire the extra money on to their guide/translator/pimp.
Very few places in the UK accept checks nowadays, most shops wont.
Even if they offer a card payment I would be very wary..
I had a similar scam happen with a vacation rental years ago (the overpayment check) which is why this one seems fishy to start with. We caught on early, but it is still on my mind with requests like this. It's good to know that checks aren't common over there either.
 
SCAM
don't reply
You have online reservations, they can reserve online ONLY. Always USE THIS when you have a gut instinct about someone.
This is a scam, 100%, do not engage.
If anything Rustic you overseas visitors WILL book online, that is what they do all the time.
 
You have everything in place for guests from anywhere to make a reservation. You don't need extra policies. What you can do is state forms of payment accepted and only put credit cards.
 
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN..
anniesguesthouse said:
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN.
This is not a common practice here. Because transfers can work in both directions giving your bank info could mean a bigger loss of funds.
 
It's a scam. If they send a check how are you going to cash it if it's in their currency, and if it's it USDs what are they sending a check from abroad.
Next thing will be they are sending a check for the whole of your bill plus $x,000 and want to to wire the extra money on to their guide/translator/pimp.
Very few places in the UK accept checks nowadays, most shops wont.
Even if they offer a card payment I would be very wary..
Most of my overseas guest use my reservation system to book. The odd one phones us with their number.
 
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN..
anniesguesthouse said:
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN.
This is not a common practice here. Because transfers can work in both directions giving your bank info could mean a bigger loss of funds.
.
Just having your IBAN would not allow someone to withdraw money from your account... unless your bank is a complete bunch of idiots.
 
Don't accept a cheque. Everyone cheque payment is a SCAM, especially foreign cheques which can take up to a year to fully clear and be irrevocable. I wouldn't answer them at all, but if you do want to answer them, tell them that they can send you the money via Western Union and just take the cash to them instead of the cheque :)
 
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN..
anniesguesthouse said:
Ask them to make a direct bank transfer, supply them with your IBAN.
This is not a common practice here. Because transfers can work in both directions giving your bank info could mean a bigger loss of funds.
.
Just having your IBAN would not allow someone to withdraw money from your account... unless your bank is a complete bunch of idiots.
.
Jon Sable said:
Just having your IBAN would not allow someone to withdraw money from your account... unless your bank is a complete bunch of idiots.
It doesn't appear we've adopted the use of IBAN here. Not sure my bank could even accept the payment as anything other than a bank transfer using my actual bank info.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am glad checks are not the standard, even in foreign countries. I did not know they could take up to a year to clear! I definitely will just state that we do not accept checks. Period.
 
As a UK operator who deals with international guests all the time - all have cards as VISA and MasterCard are completely international. we have 3 guests we take cheques from who have been staying with us for 10 years - that's it. We do occasionally take them as group deposits ie large booking and I want money up front and they are claiming it from the group etc but otherwise no
In the UK especially there is no longer any guarantee of funds of any kind so most won't take them unless they are very much ahead of time.
Plus you will have to pay exchange as well - wouldn't touch it with a barge pole!
 
Since I'm listed on VRBO, I've had several similar contacts, wanting many days, not wanting to pay the usual way, by credit card.
On the first few I continued corresponding with them for a while, in case they were real. Eventually they all ended up having Eastern European/Russian addresses, and they went away when I insisted on a credit card deposit. I don't even bother with them anymore. I'm sure they are pure scams.
 
Hi Annie, we have a lot of overseas guests here and they are all using their credit cards to make the reservation. They know how it works and, although credit card use is not as rampant over yonder as it is here in the US, they know this is how it works here.
I would be leery of taking a check also unless you have enough time between depositing and receiving the money and their arrival time.
 
When traveling in Germany a few years back, the innkeepers did not want to accept credit cards, saying the guests would cancel the transactio once they returned home. I think they ran them through a third party. If I received a statement saying I'd done business with Franc's Car Repair, and I hadn't, I think I'd be leary with cc's as well. Just a thought, but probably a scam.
 
You all can correct me on this one, but every person from overseas tells me they get the best exchange rate on their cc. Plus visiting other countries that charge VAT it is a one stop shop for getting that refunded to those of us out of the country.
 
I've stayed at hotels in Italy that claimed their credit card terminal was broken, wanting us to pay with cash. I think they want to save the CC processing fee.
When we told them we HAD to pay by CC, their terminal magically started working again.
 
I've stayed at hotels in Italy that claimed their credit card terminal was broken, wanting us to pay with cash. I think they want to save the CC processing fee.
When we told them we HAD to pay by CC, their terminal magically started working again..
dont' be daft they don't want to pay Tax lol
 
I've stayed at hotels in Italy that claimed their credit card terminal was broken, wanting us to pay with cash. I think they want to save the CC processing fee.
When we told them we HAD to pay by CC, their terminal magically started working again..
dont' be daft they don't want to pay Tax lol
.
Joey Camb said:
dont' be daft they don't want to pay Tax lol
Surly you're joking!
;-)
 
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