A woman on Vancouver Island is frustrated and disappointed after a property management company refused to reimburse more than $ 3,000 in housing fees.
Erin McCammon had originally booked her and her family on a five-day vacation at a condominium in West Kelowna for late August.
Since then, COVID-19 cases have risen in the central Okanagan and forest fires have held the region in a stranglehold. Both have warned tourists from provincial officials, asking them to cancel their vacation in order to limit the spread of the virus and clear hotel vacancies for evacuees.
“If you are planning to travel through these fire-hit areas, it is time to change your plans,” Public Security Secretary Mike Farnworth said at a news conference on Monday, August 16.
McCammon and her husband then made the decision to cancel the trip because they felt it was unsafe.
The southern inland forest fires along with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the central Okanagan have led her to make the best decision for her family, McCammon said.
“I was concerned about our trip because of the forest fires and the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly when Health Secretary Adrian Dix turned down non-essential trips,” McCammon said.
She first reached out to Lavish Vacation Properties about their cancellation policy, but was told that the $ 3,150 booking would be non-refundable despite the province advising against non-essential travel to the area.
READ MORE: Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association urges tourists to postpone vacation
In emails received by Black Press Media, property manager Ariane Stevenson McCammon said Aug. 18 that she had not heard of the province’s recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to the south of the country. Stevenson also said families check in and out and enjoy their time every day, saying there are “clear blue skies” in the area.
“Please understand that everything you read on the news is well decorated and incorrect. Please understand that there are no restrictions, only suggestions, ”Stevenson recently wrote in an email.
This email made McCammon angry and upset. “I was looking at the BC Wildfire dashboard and the fire (Mount Law) is (near) the resort and she says it’s okay for my three kids to go there,” she said.
“She bullies and accuses us of coming. We are incredibly frustrated, upset, and disappointed. Not just for us, but also for our children who really deserve a vacation, ”she added.
READ MORE: Weather conditions prevent forest fires from growing at Mount Law in West Kelowna
In response, Stevenson said she was not guilty of anybody’s guilt, referring to Lavish Vacation Properties’ refund policy, which says no refunds will be issued once a second deposit is made, as McCammon did in July – long before the news broke Province changed. She also said everything was open and McCammon had ample opportunity to cancel before a second deposit was made.
“COVID-19 has been here for two years. She knew about it when she made her second deposit, ”said Stevenson. “I will try to rebook the accommodation in good faith. There is no intent to withhold any money, but McCammon has already paid the second deposit and she knew there would be no refund when she signed the contract.
When asked about the latest provincial news in order to avoid non-essential travel, Stevenson did not go into details.
“I’m very aware of wildfire too, and it sucks, but a lot of things can change from now until your vacation day,” said Stevenson.
McCammon and her family won’t be traveling to Kelowna even if $ 3,150 is at stake. They will continue to ask for a full refund and ask travelers who wish to cancel their trip to read the cancellation policy.
VRBO said natural disasters will not override the cancellation policy set by the host and agreed upon by the guest at the time of booking. However, on July 23, Airbnb activated its extenuating circumstances policy for reservations in affected areas of BC.
“We feel very discouraged. We couldn’t use our credit card’s cancellation policy because the company wanted us to pay by e-bank transfer or check, ”said McCammon. “I want to make it clear that I have no problems with the property itself or with the individual owners. It’s the caretaker herself and her business that I’m pissed off about. “
Stevenson disagrees with McCammon, however.
“I ask everyone to think from the owner’s perspective as they have had to block appointments for months,” she said.
@ paulatr12
paula.tran@kelownacapnews.com
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BC Forest Fires 2021City KelownaCity West Kelowna
