A Canadian couple can’t get a refund for a vacation rental after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of a visit to The Villages.
Bob and Carolyn Dawson of Burton, New Brunswick had planned to spend April in a rental in the Carrabelle Villas in the Village of Collier. It would have been the couple’s eighth visit to Florida’ Friendliest Hometown. However, their plans were canceled when the border was shut down between the United States and Canada due to fears of the spread of the Coronavirus.
“While we realize this is not the fault of the property owner it is also not the fault of us and we cannot understand why we cannot receive a refund,” Dawson said.
His experience mirrors that of Michigan resident Bob Patton and his wife who have been unable to get a refund for their $3,200 April rental in The Villages.
“We also offered to leave our money with the owner to apply to the rental and commitment for April 2021 but so far no or response from the owner. We have emailed the owner twice since our first request for a refund or some sort of an arrangement but it appears now that she will not even acknowledge our attempt to contact her,” Dawson said.
The Canadians, like the Michigan couple, can’t even get their “damage deposits” returned for the properties they never entered.
“We are not crying sour grapes here but we definitely believe that we are not being dealt with in an honest and trustworthy way,” Dawson said.
Rick Lamb said his mother had planned to spend April in a rental in the Village of Santo Domingo. Because of COVID-19, she had to cancel.
“These are unprecedented times and I know my mother would have rather come down to The Villages, which she has been doing for the last 12 years,” he said.
He said the decision not to refund his mother’s rent money is fueled by greed.
“I really believe people need to step up and do the right thing and refund these rents that apparently many of these greedy Villagers do not want to return,” he said. “The attorney general of Florida should be looking into these instances because greed has no place for times like these. Grow up people!”
