We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Jun 2nd 2006, 5:32 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire
Posts: 170
We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
I've had a nightmare of a day. Some of you may remember about a week ago when I asked how long it took for mail from Sydney to arrive in the UK because I was expecting details of an apartment that we booked on Domain.com.au through an independent advertiser. Anyway the details have not arrived having paid £1.5k up front for 6 weeks rental. We did not have the option of paying by credit card and thought that because he was on a big site it would be OK. Stupid in retrospect I know. Anyway, we cannot get hold of this guy by e mail (when I asked for the exact apartment address) and his mobile is always switched off. We thought he may just be on holiday but hubby rang up the website helpline today and they said that the name Michael Barrett (take note) rang a bell and they thought they had taken previous properties off that he had advertised due to problems. Anyway, it's now looking like a fraud case for the police to investigate but I don't think we'll get our money back. To top it all off, we leave on 14th June and now have nowhere to stay so will have to start looking again. I am angry and upset. I wanted to warn other people on this site to never send a payment direct to advertiser - always pay by credit card.
Jun 2nd 2006, 5:44 pm
#2
Humble vaudevillian
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Set adrift on memory bliss
Posts: 690
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Sh*t luck 
Last edited by Pollyana; Jun 2nd 2006 at 6:03 pm.
Jun 2nd 2006, 5:52 pm
#3
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Originally Posted by benny the ball
Sh*t luck
I hope you manage to salvage something or the bastxxd gets caught by the balls and hung out to dry!
Last edited by Pollyana; Jun 2nd 2006 at 6:03 pm.
Jun 2nd 2006, 5:53 pm
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Ballarat
Posts: 7,005
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Hope you get some sort of compensation. I really feel for you. We got ripped off over westlife tickets paid up front no tickets arrived cheque was cashed .We are still trying to get money back and this was at the start of the year. Not to the extend of your problem.
There are some real scum bags out there.
Mandy
There are some real scum bags out there.
Mandy
Jun 2nd 2006, 6:05 pm
#5
Livin it large
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 533
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
That really sucks.
Why on earth does the site let him continue to advertise, if there have been problems before??
Why on earth does the site let him continue to advertise, if there have been problems before??
Originally Posted by liverpool girl
I've had a nightmare of a day. Some of you may remember about a week ago when I asked how long it took for mail from Sydney to arrive in the UK because I was expecting details of an apartment that we booked on Domain.com.au through an independent advertiser. Anyway the details have not arrived having paid £1.5k up front for 6 weeks rental. We did not have the option of paying by credit card and thought that because he was on a big site it would be OK. Stupid in retrospect I know. Anyway, we cannot get hold of this guy by e mail (when I asked for the exact apartment address) and his mobile is always switched off. We thought he may just be on holiday but hubby rang up the website helpline today and they said that the name Michael Barrett (take note) rang a bell and they thought they had taken previous properties off that he had advertised due to problems. Anyway, it's now looking like a fraud case for the police to investigate but I don't think we'll get our money back. To top it all off, we leave on 14th June and now have nowhere to stay so will have to start looking again. I am angry and upset. I wanted to warn other people on this site to never send a payment direct to advertiser - always pay by credit card.
Jun 2nd 2006, 6:09 pm
#6
Former Resident Visa
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 2,887
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
God that is awful. Hope everything works out when you arrive.
Good Luck
J x
Good Luck
J x
Jun 2nd 2006, 6:47 pm
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
have sent you some k ...i'm so sorry to hear your bad news....
Jun 2nd 2006, 6:59 pm
#8
Never going back
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: New South Wales!!!!!!!
Posts: 3,656
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
not a great start to your new life, you poor things
hope you can get some of the money back at some point, if not all of it.
arent there some nasty toads about
hope you can get some of the money back at some point, if not all of it.
arent there some nasty toads about
Jun 2nd 2006, 7:20 pm
#9
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Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire
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Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Originally Posted by Sleeping Beauty
not a great start to your new life, you poor things
hope you can get some of the money back at some point, if not all of it.
arent there some nasty toads about
hope you can get some of the money back at some point, if not all of it.
arent there some nasty toads about
. Looking on the bright side, worse things have happened - at least we all have good health and jobs waiting for us. Thanks everyone for your support.
Jun 2nd 2006, 7:28 pm
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne.
Posts: 1,130
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Big hug and karma sent . 
Jun 2nd 2006, 7:54 pm
#11
here and staying
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: happy in the hills of Perth......
Posts: 4,351
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
K sent
plus
big hug
plus
big hug
Jun 2nd 2006, 7:57 pm
#12
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Joined: May 2005
Location: Liverpool UK
Posts: 992
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Originally Posted by liverpool girl
Can't say I'm all that thrilled at having to start a new life in Sydney at the moment. I wish we'd never started down this route. I really hope it doesn't cloud my view of Oz when we get there and that I get over it. At the moment I could quite happily cancel the whole thing only it's not that simple - we have no jobs or home to go to in Liverpool now and our new employer is waiting for us. . Looking on the bright side, worse things have happened - at least we all have good health and jobs waiting for us. Thanks everyone for your support.
. Looking on the bright side, worse things have happened - at least we all have good health and jobs waiting for us. Thanks everyone for your support.Hope you have better luck soon and can put it down to experience...have a big drink on me
Jun 2nd 2006, 10:46 pm
#13
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Beautiful Mindarie WA
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Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Originally Posted by liverpool girl
I've had a nightmare of a day. Some of you may remember about a week ago when I asked how long it took for mail from Sydney to arrive in the UK because I was expecting details of an apartment that we booked on Domain.com.au through an independent advertiser. Anyway the details have not arrived having paid £1.5k up front for 6 weeks rental. We did not have the option of paying by credit card and thought that because he was on a big site it would be OK. Stupid in retrospect I know. Anyway, we cannot get hold of this guy by e mail (when I asked for the exact apartment address) and his mobile is always switched off. We thought he may just be on holiday but hubby rang up the website helpline today and they said that the name Michael Barrett (take note) rang a bell and they thought they had taken previous properties off that he had advertised due to problems. Anyway, it's now looking like a fraud case for the police to investigate but I don't think we'll get our money back. To top it all off, we leave on 14th June and now have nowhere to stay so will have to start looking again. I am angry and upset. I wanted to warn other people on this site to never send a payment direct to advertiser - always pay by credit card.
Hi
I am so sorry to hear about this, unfortunately there are some people about hoping to make money from migrants/ holiday makers like you. But please dont think we are all like that.
I have a holiday let in Perth, and at the moment I cannot take credit cards payments but that doesnt mean I am like them. I wish I could think of something to help you but you need a place in Sydney and I am in WA
Since running my holiday let in January 2006 I have helped 2 new arrivals to get jobs as well, so there are some good people out there.
I hope the police catch this man and you get your money back.
Good luck with your move to Oz and hope you find somewhere soon.
Kim
Jun 3rd 2006, 2:56 am
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 34
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Originally Posted by liverpool girl
I've had a nightmare of a day. Some of you may remember about a week ago when I asked how long it took for mail from Sydney to arrive in the UK because I was expecting details of an apartment that we booked on Domain.com.au through an independent advertiser. Anyway the details have not arrived having paid £1.5k up front for 6 weeks rental. We did not have the option of paying by credit card and thought that because he was on a big site it would be OK. Stupid in retrospect I know. Anyway, we cannot get hold of this guy by e mail (when I asked for the exact apartment address) and his mobile is always switched off. We thought he may just be on holiday but hubby rang up the website helpline today and they said that the name Michael Barrett (take note) rang a bell and they thought they had taken previous properties off that he had advertised due to problems. Anyway, it's now looking like a fraud case for the police to investigate but I don't think we'll get our money back. To top it all off, we leave on 14th June and now have nowhere to stay so will have to start looking again. I am angry and upset. I wanted to warn other people on this site to never send a payment direct to advertiser - always pay by credit card.
Don't let this scumbag put you off coming to Oz, as everywhere you will find people trying to rip you off, however, there is a lot more people who are willing to go out of their way to help you out. I am a firm believer in 'What goes round, comes round', he will get his one day! Don't let the buggers grind you down!
Changing the subject, where in Liverpool are you from? We moved here from Aintree in February and are loving Perth.
Sue
Jun 3rd 2006, 5:06 am
#15
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10,158
Re: We've been victims of an apartment booking fraud
Damn! I wondered about this when I saw your first post and hoped you hadn't been scammed.
I'm really sorry to hear this. If you're coming out to Sydney and you need any sort of help, please IM us. We're in the Blue Mountains which is a bit of a hike I know, but we have wine and beer.... and a nice view.
I'm really sorry to hear this. If you're coming out to Sydney and you need any sort of help, please IM us. We're in the Blue Mountains which is a bit of a hike I know, but we have wine and beer.... and a nice view.
