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I went skiing in January with some good friends of mine, this January where there was the coldest, snowiest winter I can remember. In the weeks preceding our trip, the mountains went from bare green and brown to metres of snow. The best conditions anyone could hope for to ski in, we arrive and the sun said hello, the mountains were white and the air was crisp.
I was full of joy, full of anticipation of a fantastic week, and all started well. We arrived in Meribel Mottaret early in the day, skied for the remainder of the day, and had some fun. Then the apartment we had rented out began to show its true colours. The electrics were not only dodgy, but actively dangerous, the appliances didn't work, and bits were falling off the wall.
In fact, this is the full list of failures that we suffered that week. I sent this email to them, after they promised some sort of recompense for the clusterfuck of misery that was visted upon us.
The multiprise (a 4-gang, multiple socket extension) in the kitchen was attached to the wall via metal prongs stabbed into the side of the item itself. When trying to boil the kettle and use the oven it exploded, including sparks. There was a massive smell of burnt plastic and electronics, both of which are dangerous in themselves, never mind the sparks.
A second multiprise was attached to the wall in the living room in the same, extremely dangerous manner.
The coffee machine was broken in such a way that the power switch did not work, which is again, dangerous - if we had not noticed it would have remained on and extremely hot all day, and been a potential fire hazard.
The dishwasher did not work all week. When the technicians came to investigate the dishwasher they didn't say a word to us. They left without telling us anything about the dishwasher - we didn't know if it worked, or not, if it would explode if we turned it on, nothing. We received no information from them at all. They didn't even have the courtesy to say goodbye, I had to call to receive any information about it. When they left, they left the kitchen flooded and dirty. Twice.
Finally there was a large hole in one of the walls to the chimney breast, covered over with a wooden board and a large brass pictureframe. This pictureframe fell off the wall and landed almost exactly where my head would have been had I been asleep. We estimated the weight of this frame to be in the region of 7 to 8 kilos of solid brass. Were I in bed, I would have been if not severely injured, probably permanently, quite likely dead.
So the electrics exploded, their appliances didn't work, their technicians were rude and left our kitchen utterly filthy, and the apartment tried to kill me. This is completely ignoring that you're not supposed to have kitchen equipment plugged into an extension cable or the oven on its own was over the rating for the extension.
It takes this bunch of charlatans at least a week and a half to respond to anything. Their offer?
10% of the cost of the apartment, as credit for the next time we book with them. I actually laughed out loud - both that they thought that was acceptable, or that anyone I ever meet will use their deathtraps ever again. They have since clammed up, refused to negotiate, not admitted any liability, not apologised, and said they will not talk to me again.
I have no idea what to do now, I've spoken to watchdog in the UK, am going to the citizens advice bureau tomorrow, but I just wanted to put this down somewhere, just to announce to the world that the least competent, rudest, most self absorbed rental agency I have dealt with, with the most dangerous apartments that I have ever come across is Agence Saulire in Meribel Mottaret. Don't get taken for a ride. I'll be trying to get a just response, and maybe even an apology, until I cease to draw breath.
 
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Pictures would be nice.
Unfortunately, since you are back in the UK, the chances of something being done about this are slim. I hope something happens though.
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Well of course this is how you limey bastards would slander the beauty of France. If you invade France her citizens will make your life a living hell. They'll surrender first and then form an underground movement to sabotage your daily life until you pack up and go home. Freedom fighters, I think they're called.
On a serious note, that really sucks man. You probably should have done something about it while in France and not in the UK though.
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If you need help to contact someone french about this I can help you if needed, if you don't speak french that is.
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im not anti-french but french laws protect businesses VERY well, especially against things they do with non-french/international people, and let scams and charletans get away with stuff very easily if they want to
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oh and I hope you get something done about this!
Maybe it's too N.American of me, but is there any legal action you can take to try and get back some of the money you guys paid for this apartment?
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Thanks a lot guys, we did all the right complaining etc - but we were skiing, and didn't want to spend the days (skiing) or evenings (tired from skiing) arguing with these people. I filled out their complaint form etc - everything that I could do. They just ignore that you exist. One of my friends has photos etc, I'll grab them when I can and add them to the OP.
Thanks for the offer MrCon - but I already speak very good French, live with someone who speaks fluent French, and my parents live in France. Any suggestions as to who I could complain to on the French side would be very very welcome, however.
Whilst it's true that the French are quite protective of their own in terms of law, they're also very hard on rogues and protect the tourist trade strongly. I'm not convinced I'll ever manage to get anything sensible out of Saulire, I might, however, cause them enough hassle to actually run their business better from now on - which would be a win in my book.
As a bunch of engineers we were shocked at most of the nonsense that went on - I mean, I knew continental electrics had a bad reputation, but to have a plug drilled into, into the electrics itself, and then attached to the wall with bits of metal beggars belief.
Not to mention that the apartment is STILL not safe in my opinion - the kitchen plugs are woefully underrated. The multiprise was rated at 3600 watts. The oven on its own was rated at 3750.
I'll report back when I've talked to the CAB.
@masamune - there is, but it's not necessarily financially worth it. Personally I don't mind that, and I'm all up for a scrap in the name of fairness, unsure about the others, but since I'm the one handling it...
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You can contact "50 millions de consommateurs", it's the french most powerful consumers association. I guess you can do that on their website. I went skiing on the same place as you but never had problems, but it was before the semi fake online travel agencies that target foreigner tourists hoping they won't engage action existed.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qqStz.jpg)
