Disappointing
Review Submitted: October 11, 2008
Date of Stay: September 2008
Unfortunately we arrived a few days before "Hannah". After closely following the weather for 3 days we decided to leave a day early as the storm (borderline hurricane) was due to hit and we were concerned about making our flight back home the next day. The condo owner offered us a free night in the future but as for negotiation on the last night, the owner said she would get back to us. When we left the condo we tried to do some touring on the way out. All tourist sights were closed with signs on the doors indicating closure was due to the storm. As we drove through Charleston, we were detoured around flooded streets. Schools were also cancelled. We attempted to contact the owner twice after returning home and have never received the courtesy of a reply.
Owner's Response: New England planned a vacation at my villa from Sept. 3 until Sept. 6, but they left Sept. 5. I always require that a rental contract be read and signed prior to arrival. What NE's review fails to state is that they were demanding that their early departure entitled them to a rental reimbursement even though the contract they signed only provides for rental reimbursements when a mandatory evacuation is ordered by local authorities due to a weather emergency. No mandatory evacuation was ever ordered, and with good reason. It was reported prior to NE's departure that the hurricane would not be hitting the area, although we would be getting possibly heavy rain, i.e., a fairly typical storm event here which might lead the average renter to simply curl up with a book for a few hours.
Although some entities chose to take extra precautions, what NE saw downtown were not streets flooded because of the onset of a “borderline hurricane.” Charleston has the unfortunate combination of being at sea level with an antiquated sewer system. As a result, it floods downtown frequently when it rains at high tide because the sewers back up, with no big storm required. NE was downtown on Fri., Sept. 5 in the rain around high tide and saw the usual back up. When the tide receded so would have the waters. In the end, not only did Hurricane Hannah not hit us, but the rain was of no real significance. And Sat., Sept. 6th -- when NE was supposed to have checked out of my villa yet could have remained on the island for the rest of the day -- was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen on Kiawah.
Mrs. NE did call to tell me they were leaving early. I told her that there was absolutely no need to leave and reminded her that, under the circumstances, there would be no monies due her. She kept arguing for a refund. Even though I was under no obligation to do anything for NE at all, I offered them a free night at a later date. Money was what she wanted, however, and seemed to think this matter could be subject to a protracted negotiation. However, the time to negotiate was before they signed the contract, not after spending a few days in the property. Mrs. NE acknowledged in an email that “I know our exit does not meet the terms of our contract,” yet she persisted in wanting a reimbursement to which they were not entitled. In light of these facts, I saw no point in further discussing the matter with NE. They simply did not like the legitimate answer I had already given.
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