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Missing in action

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 8:51 pm
by awardb
Hello, all

I need some assistance from some of the long-time forum members with a unique problem that we've encountered. We've booked our 9th trip to STJ, to the same villa we rented last year. Paid our deposit in February, and now our balance is due. Problem is, the rental management company appears to be missing in action. We cannot raise them by email or phone. So I'm asking whether anyone that's currently renting one of their villas or lives on the rock and knows something can help. They seem to have gone radio silent, which is worrisome, to say the least. This company, which we worked with last year, was just SO nice at that time, and very professional.
Now, we just don't know. They manage about 10 very popular villas, so we're very confused as to what is going on.

The villa we're set up to rent is Kia Ora, and the company is Private Homes VI, which represents a bunch of the popular villas (Sea Turtle, Altamira, Tree Tops, and Tree House, among others).

So if anyone knows anything, or has alternate contact info, we'd love to hear from you!

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 3:38 am
by stjohnjulie
I don't have any specific knowledge of what is happening with this business, but I CAN tell you that the phones and internet have been 'out' for a lot of people. There was a recent merger between Innovative (telephone, cable, internet) and Choice (internet), and it's had it's issues. On top of that, WAPA has been going in and out and some brown outs and that just fries things. Last week I lost my work computer, yesterday I lost my APC back up battery! What I'm trying to say is keep trying. There is a chance they are just having some technical difficulties and since we are where we are, they usually take longer to rectify.

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:12 am
by TrvlJohn
We are on island right now and are renting from Private Homes. All is good with us.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 5:07 pm
by awardb
Thank you both, that helps. Still, I am concerned. Phone/Internet problems or not, we've now left 7 or 8 messages via phone, email and Facebook, and no response at all. TrvlJohn, may I PM you to ask when you checked in to your rental and when you last talked to them or saw them? Thanks to all so far, any other info is appreciated!

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:29 pm
by philbetm
And if it doesn't seem to awkward , maybe TrvlJohn could let them know you are trying to contact them . :)

Good Luck !
Sherry in SC

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:46 pm
by awardb
That's sorta what I was hoping, since I've just about exhausted every method of contacting the rental management company. Thanks!

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:16 pm
by awardb
All is well that ends well! Finally got a return call from Private Homes Private Vacations, and indeed, as the first poster pointed out, it was the entire Internet/Phone mess that caused us to not be able to contact them about our August rental. We've now been in contact, all is good, so thanks to all that posted a response, and a special thanks to the owner of Tree Tops that PM'ed me to give us another number to contact the management company. :D

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:47 pm
by philbetm
Yeaaaa !! :D

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:21 am
by silverheels
All' s well that ends well. Glad that everything worked out. The people on this forum are very helpful. See you in August.

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:05 pm
by hoosierdaddy
Great to hear. you can rest well now. I know there are shady people everywhere but in our 6 trips to St. John I cannot remember anyone trying to cheat us. It is one of the great qualities of the island.

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:17 pm
by awardb
That's what we kept thinking, too. This is STJ, we've always felt safe and never worried about people taking advantage of us. But after 7+ days and no return call, no email, nothin', we began to worry. However, on STJ, when things go down or get fouled up (in this case Internet and phone both), they can *really* get fouled up. It's all good now, we're looking forward to Kia Ora in August, and seeing our beloved island, the residents, and our friends Silverheels and her sister Sandy who'll be on-island at the same time we are.

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 3:29 am
by stjohnjulie
I was having trouble with internet and phone and when I called Viya (new name of the merged companies) and asked if they were experiencing any issues they said that they didn't have any reports of issues. I then asked them if they could check my account and see if there was a billing issue and their reply was "We can't, our system is down." :shock:

Re: Missing in action

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 4:15 pm
by awardb
That would be funny if it wasn't so sad! :(