Upon answering a craigslist ad, I was in talks with a Bernard Hamel, operating out of Redondo Beach, CA, about renting a property he owned in South Beach, Miami, FL. I originally paid $834.60 to stay four nights at Ocean Point
Condominiums, 345 Ocean Drive, Unit 1020, beginning May 22nd. I was also expected to pay $250 for a security deposit 3-7 days before arrival.
Two days before I was to arrive, I received a frantic phone call from a woman named, Annabelle, who was to arrange everything in Miami. She called claiming that the previous occupants of my room had damaged it and caused such a disturbance, that the police would not let her rent the room out again. She then went on to explain how she had a studio available next door, which I agreed to take seeing as how me and my company's plane tickets, vacation time from work, etc. Was already set.
Upon my arrival, I was in contact with Bernard to receive a new rental agreement, which he drew up and emailed to me. The new price for the studio rental was $487.92. Since I hadn't paid the security deposit yet — due to the previous room being wrecked — the email stated that the $346.68 credit would be used as the security deposit, and returned 5-7 days after my departure.
That email on May 22nd was the last I ever heard from Bernard Hamel, and the day of my departure was the last I heard from Annabelle. I began to email and call Bernard and Annabelle June 5th, then another email June 9th, and a final email June 12th, with many calls in between. No response. I tried to file a complaint with PayPal, but they told me unfortunately they do not cover person to person transactions, even though this person utilized their service to do so. Consumer Beware of Bernard Hamel of Redondo Beach area, CA, Leonor Hamel (He may opt to use his wife's name) or Annabelle (310-713-9153)!!!
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