Le S.

I have had a very bad experience with HomeAway, and a rental property that I booked through them.

This is the property (in East Harlem, NYC)

www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p*******vb

Upon my arrival, the landlored demanded cash payment, and charged me an added fee (not previously discussed) for using my credit card. She also has not yet returned my security deposit, and has not responded to my inquiries about when she plans to return my deposit.

When I inquired through HomeAway, they were of absolutely no help. Through my interactions with HomeAway, I discovered that:

- HomeAway does not vet the properties listed on their website. It is completely possible to arrive to a place that is double-booked, non-existent, or wholly different than the one in the pictures.

- HomeAway will not get involved in disputes between you and the owner

- HomeAway will not provide you with any information on the owner, even after you've made a payment. In all likelihood, they do not keep any information on the property owner.

- HomeAway only publishes the positive reviews for properties. All the negative reviews are censored and never appear online.