VRBO review: VRBO rental

This letter I wrote to the CEO of VRBO states almost everything:

September 11, 2023

VRBO CEO Brian Sharpels

1011 West 5th Street, Ste. 300

Austin, TX 78703

Mr. Sharpels,

I rented a small apartment in Medellín, Colombia from VRBO through your premier host, Barry Brachfeld. He promised to help me arrange airport transportation. That's when he called me an [censored] for using all capital letters in one desperate email when he did not respond to messages. He left horrible disparaging emails on VRBO's website to me of which I copied some of them but then he tried to delete them. Unfortunately for him, VRBO's representatives told me that they indeed read the messages since he could delete them from me but not from them. They told me that what he wrote was terribly unacceptable. After the comment for using all caps, he also stated, "You told vrbo you didn’t stay here ? But how did we get your passport? What ever medication your on. Maybe just take half ?". He also suggest that I should never us VRBO because I was the type of traveler that needed to stay at a hotel. (VRBO Premier Host?)

Since Barry B eventually told me to take an Uber from the airport, that is precisely what I did. And I arrived to an apartment that was shut, no one there, and I waited outside for almost 25 minutes. It was getting dark and I was in a foreign country. I've traveled extensively (using VRBO with excellent results) and have never been in such a situation. In addition, Barry B apparently gave my number to some driver who was supposed to pick me up at the airport. I was standing outside of the rental already arrived when I got a text from the driver saying that he was at the airport with a sign with my name on it. I told him Barry B told me to uber myself. He then threatened me by saying that I owe him the money for the cab ride because he went to the airport. He stated that he knew where I was staying and that he was coming to collect HIS money.

I called VRBO, because in addition to all of this drama, a young man came over to me on the street and began talking with me. He said his name was "Frank" and that he had the key to the unit. He let me in and then demanded $200 USD as a deposit for the key and the unit. I told him that this was NOT the procedure I've ever used in the past. He would not give me a key unless I paid in cash. I did and made him sign a piece of paper acknowledging receipt of my $200.00 USD. In addition, he took pictures of my credit card. So now with VRBO, I related all of this ridiculous information to the representative that was still on the phone. I told her that I did not feel comfortable staying in this apartment (in addition, it was musty and disgusting looking) since I was being extorted for money. She totally concurred and sympathized with me. She told me that she would find a hotel for me for the night. I waited patiently for over 20 minutes and then got disconnected. I took matters into my own hands, left that nasty rental and booked a different hotel by myself. I did not want any of this to ruin my trip (which it was doing already) so I told myself I would resolve this with VRBO when I returned to the United States.

It's been almost a month repeatedly contacting VRBO to get all of my money back. The representatives of VRBO could not have been nice but they have been totally ineffective in getting my refund. In fact, I am on hold today, September 11, 2023 at 1:06pm . . . . this call is over 26 minutes and over 20 of it is me on "hold". I will not give this up. I will be rightfully receiving my money. Frankly, I should be given a credit for all of the work I have put into this situation; hours and hours. I was in Berlin in March this year and my VRBO was outstanding and the reviewer gave me perfect ratings. I see already that Barry B also rated my stay and gave me one star in every category. Unfortunately, I was not in his place for more than one hour. I will continue to monitor VRBO and its premier host Barry B from Medellin, Colombia.

I love to travel but it will be a long time before I can trust VRBO again. I will be awaiting your reply.

Victor Budzyn III

[protected]@comcast.net

P.S. I was on the phone Monday, September 11, 2023 from 12:41 PM until 2:01 PM trying yet again to get this resolved. I have spoken to over 10 different agents at VRBO and the last was Alicia, a supervisor who had me on hold repeatedly and then came back and told me there was nothing she could do. Again, Mr. Sharpels, I will be awaiting your reply.