A German villa rentals website, Fincaurlaub.de, has been accused of allegedly failing to transfer customers' advance payments for villa rentals in Mallorca and of withholding these deposits.
One customer, Emma R., explains that she booked a villa in Santanyí for a family holiday in August. Two instalments, amounting to 8,700 euros, were paid. When she received an email from the website owner informing her that the money had never arrived, she initially thought it was a fake message. However, the email was genuine. The website's customer service was then unavailable. The family had also booked flights and a hire car. She fears they have lost over 10,000 euros.
Fincaurlaub.de emerged from the purchase of the German company MC Fincaservice, which had been founded in the 1990s. For several years, the owner has been Jochen S., who manages several other companies through a holding company in Ettlingen. The Santa Ponsa branch has been closed for a few days, and a note is posted on the door asking visitors to contact the manager.
Jochen S. told Mallorca Magazin that there had been no fraud and that "if there are victims, of course they will get their money back". He has yet to respond in writing to allegations levelled at the website.
Emma R.'s case isn't unique. Various customers have had similar experiences. They made transfers, sometimes into the thousands of euros, and then received cancellation emails. Marc F. says he has booked several times through Fincaurlaub.de. But with a reservation for a holiday this October, something went wrong. "We paid the required deposit of 733.25 euros and then received a cancellation email." He tried to contact the owner and the company "through every channel, but without luck". He has filed a complaint against the company with German police.
A former employee says Jochen S. "must be arrested", adding that there are "desperate" customers who are still waiting for their money. Employees' social security contributions haven't been paid since May.