PayPal??

windygal

So, I'm really confused. People say to use Pay Pal, and then others have had a hard time with it. Right now I have a Christmas week, and I hate to tie it up waiting for a check, and waiting for the check to clear, but frankly I was having a hard time figuring out how to use Pay Pal in the first place. It seemed that they wanted me to be an on-line merchant, and I didn't know if I could take credit cards. The people that I'm dealing with seem sort of strange. One is supposedly renting it but wants the contract in another name. I got another inquiry today. I wonder if it would be ethical to check on it.

windygal

It's me again. I am looking for advice, so any that I can get would be welcome. thanks.

windygal said:

So, I'm really confused. People say to use Pay Pal, and then others have had a hard time with it. Right now I have a Christmas week, and I hate to tie it up waiting for a check, and waiting for the check to clear, but frankly I was having a hard time figuring out how to use Pay Pal in the first place. It seemed that they wanted me to be an on-line merchant, and I didn't know if I could take credit cards. The people that I'm dealing with seem sort of strange. One is supposedly renting it but wants the contract in another name. I got another inquiry today. I wonder if it would be ethical to check on it.

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I would not rent to someone who seems strange - the person may be subletting your T or scamming you. Have you tallked to them on the phone or really nailed down why they want the Resv. in another name? Many of these "strange" renters are scam artists - trust your gut feeling.

With Paypal, you don't have to be an online merchant - any Paypal member can accept credit cards. Here and there a few people have had problems, but over all I think it's worked well for most people.

Many people suggest using PayPal to rent out a TS unit, but other people listed problems with PayPal. I did a chat with someone on PayPal, and he did say that if people use a credit card you are always at risk of them cancelling. I have a Christmas ski week that I am trying to rent. Some interested people seem sort of flaky, so I'm a bit worried. I don't want to take it off of the market very long at this late date, but every method of payment that I look into seems to have pitfalls. I also don't want someone being able to change their mind at the last minute.

I'm thinking that perhaps second day air, and then waiting for the check to cash may be my best bet. Unfortunately, I'm on the east coast and they are out west, so time will not be quick.

Also, I didn't find it that easy to set up a PayPal account not being a merchant. The Chat guy said that they would give me a "pay now" button, and I would paste it onto my site. I do have another site other than TUG where I am listed. I don't know if I've ever seen a "pay now" button on any timeshare listing before. How have other people used PayPal?

If you use the TUG search function (search this forum button) and search for Paypal you will find lots of info. about using Paypal.

By telling you that you can post a button on your website, the Rep. didn't mean a site like TUG or another rental site, he meant your own personal webpage, but, it is not necessary to have a Paypal button or a website. All you do is send the renter a Paypal "request for Payment" from the Paypal webpage and they receive all the instructions about how to set up an Acct. and make a payment in the email. It is very simple. When I send a request for Payment, I specify the rental terms in the memo box provided.

It is very easy to set up a Paypal Acct. - don't try to do it as a merchant - that complicates things. Do you have much experience with doing business on the internet - like ordering things and making payments? If you don't, that may be why you are having difficulty with Paypal.

DeniseM said:

Do you have much experience with doing business on the internet - like ordering things and making payments? If you don't, that may be why you are having difficulty with Paypal.

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Generally people use their credit cards to buy stuff from the internet - enter card type, expiration date, card number, boom, you're done. I don't think this "experience" has anything to do with setting up a PayPal account.

OP, just follow the instructions the paypal guy gives you for a personal account (not merchant), including checking with your bank to be sure it is set up correctly. It's very easy.

Keeping in mind that whether personal or business account they will debit back your bank account or CC if things go bad.

geekette said:

Generally people use their credit cards to buy stuff from the internet - enter card type, expiration date, card number, boom, you're done. I don't think this "experience" has anything to do with setting up a PayPal account.

OP, just follow the instructions the paypal guy gives you for a personal account (not merchant), including checking with your bank to be sure it is set up correctly. It's very easy.

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Based on the OP's comments, I suspect that she is not very experienced in setting up internet accounts. This is the 3rd post where she has stated that she is having problems setting up a Paypal Acct. - that's what I was trying to find out. Lack of internet experience in general, could make it difficult.


In your rental terms and in every email communication with the renter, be sure you state, "no cancellations, no refunds."

Paypal can be expensive as they take a chunk out when they send you the payment. However, I lost a Craig's List rental last week when they wanted to use paypal and I suggested sending a personal check instead even though I have a paypal account. The internet breeds some strange transactions - people want what they want instantly. I slowed down the process by a few days and required effort - write a check, address an envelope and post it in the mailbox and may have lost a sale. I rewrote her saying she could use paypal if she wanted to but she has not responded. So I encourage you to get a paypal account up and running. If the renter does not use paypal they can always mail you a check but a lot of people just want to hit that button and be done with it. Funtime

funtime said:

Paypal can be expensive as they take a chunk out when they send you the payment.

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I pay 3.2% - the convenience is worth every penny.

Windygal

Thanks for all of the advice. You are right. I have never done this. I don't even have a PayPal buyers account (my husband does).

I keep trying to figure out how they could scam me. Even if they are going to rent it to someone else for more, that doesn't hurt me. And I would certainly have time before Christmas to tell the timeshare not to accept these people.

Mostly, I worry that by paying by credit card they will find a way to back out, if they change their minds ( bad snow--whatever)

It's just that one of the first questions was about what kind of payment, and the person's name is one thing when she talks to me, but her email address is another name. I asked her why it was, but she never responded, and then she wanted me to put the contract in a third name. The contract does have the amount, however, so if that person saw the contract, they would see the amount. I appreciate the advice.

WindyGal, your feeling that someone seems 'flaky' does deserve some caution. However, another thing that may be going on is there are several rental businesses who have their own websites advertising rentals. Sometimes, when they don't have the inventory people want, they will search the web for posted rentals and contact owners directly to fulfill client needs.

If the owner agrees to let this 3rd party handle this, they will likely have to give a cut of their rental amount to the 3rd party who will, of course, haggle you down in price. Then, the 3rd party will have you put the reservation in the name of the person actually occupying the unit.

I have done this once and with no problems, and it usually happens close to check-in date (1-2 mos. out), when people make last-minute decisions and are scrambling.

e-bay or mail

so tell the person wanting to rent your week you perfer a cashier's or counter check from the bank, if they back out you have your money, and the check can't be cancelled,and you can't be scammed unless they find a way to forge the check and if you want it quick tell them to over nite the check to you.

kalua said:

so tell the person wanting to rent your week you perfer a cashier's or counter check from the bank, if they back out you have your money, and the check can't be cancelled,and you can't be scammed unless they find a way to forge the check and if you want it quick tell them to over nite the check to you.

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The problem is that these scammers now have phony cashiers checks, too, so you need to allow ample time (a couple of weeks minimum) to verify that the check is legit.

And of course, never, ever reimburse an overpayment made by check - that is a clear indication that it is a scam.

windygal said:

Thanks for all of the advice. You are right. I have never done this. I don't even have a PayPal buyers account (my husband does).

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You can just use your husband's Paypal Acct., if he doesn't mind.

I don't trust paypal as far as I can throw them. I was using them to manage some of my ebay transactions a few years back and they randomly decided to "freeze my account for suspicious activities". I didn't have access to my account for 6 months.. and when I finally did.. the $2400 I had on the books when they froze it had magically disappeared. Basically... paypal ripped me off for $2400. I'll stick to using my CC. My bank never pulled crap like that on me.

DeniseM said:

I pay 3.2% - the convenience is worth every penny.

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I agree totally. I have several weeks I rent out and love Paypal. With Paypal you know you've got your money and it's instant. Also, no scammer will pay you with Paypal. I've been contacted by people who seem to be scammers and when I tell them they have to pay by Paypal they move on. When I buy stuff on the internet (including renting a TS), I insist on paying with a credit card so I can get my money back if the seller isn't legit and usually end up paying via Paypal and I would suggest that anyone renting a TS do the same. Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had a problem with Paypal.

DeniseM said:

The problem is that these scammers now have phony cashiers checks, too, so you need to allow ample time (a couple of weeks minimum) to verify that the check is legit.

And of course, never, ever reimburse an overpayment made by check - that is a clear indication that it is a scam.

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it can take 6 weeks or more for the scam check to be found out. If someone wants to send you a cashiers check from out of the country..

IT A SCAM..

remember:
if it looks flaky
smells flaky
and feel flaky.. IT FLAKY.. don't do the deal or make them send you a US Post Office money order for the exact amount of item or rent..

that how you give a flak ,,the slip..

now go out there and have some fun...