Watch out for these people. They take paypal to seem real, but paypal told me after the experience I am about to relate that they don't investigate service type complaints. I had paid $175 for each way travel from Kiev to Sumy. I also paid $300 for a deposit on a central city 2 bedroom apartment in Sumy. I called them from Munich to check on my reservations. they said "who?". I gave them a paypal transaction number and they said "Ooh yes... Everything is ready". I arrived in Kiev and there was no car there. I called them and they said that they would look into it and call me in the next 10 minutes. No one called. I called them back but thanks to caller ID, no one answered. I asked a travel agent in Sumy to call them and she called me back in 15 minutes saying they had no reservation for me. She sent a car that cost me $100 more than originally agreed on. On the way down to Sumy I asked the driver where he was taking me. He said "I don't know, they didn't tell me". He called and told me that they said to take me to a hotel in SUmy. I said , "No hotel I have an apartment reserved". He called them back and did get me an apartment 40 minutes from down town where my apartment was supposed to be. I paid for 3 days rather than 14 days and after 3 days a local agent found me an apartment down town. I moved to the apartment and had a fairly good stay. I called Ukraineeaparttments.com and they said they were keeping my deposit for the apartment because I had moved out early. I reminded them that they didn't have the apartment I reserved so I never moved in so I couldn't move out. They said that I had never told them that I was unhappy with their apartment even though it was 40 minutes from town. I reminded them that I had interacted with teir manager and he was the one who arranged my move. They said he was only the local one and not the one I was supposed to deal with. So they agreed to use my deposits for the next trip I made out there. I said OK that was fair.
The night I was to leave I waited and waited. Their drive never showed up. I called some local connections who got me a ride to Kiev for my flight for another $100 more than we had agreed on. The next day I called Ukraineapartment.com and they said their driver could not find my apartment. Oddly no taxi driver had a problem and no one called me to tell me that even though they had my number.
I got home and called paypal and their response was that they did not investigate service transactions. Oddly if I would have paid with my visa card they would have investigated the claims. DO not do business with them or with paypal. They are both scammers and will take your money and leave you no recourse. Use your visa card and you can always dispute a claim.
Ukraineapartments.com are total scammers and when I told them I was going to write about my experiences with them, they threatened to "blackball" me with all Ukraine service companies. These people should be considered the provider of last resort.
Sounds like another rookie over charged for not doing there home work in advance. The services of a few of the apartment rental places are dogy at best in most cases. do not expect service that you would consider normal in western Europe. Since my wife is from Sumy I have traveled there quite a bit and 100 more for a taxi to Sumy sounds crazy since they charge 100-120 dollars for the trip.this is a prime example why it is important to have a few contacts before you go.
Bow I'd venture a guess I've been over there more times than you. I had success with them once but they screwed me the second time. I did look at a map and was supposed to be in city center. The apartment I rented, has been rented again to people who got there first. As for my post being boring, I DGAF. It want intended foot Ukraine scammers like.... It was intended for others who might go over. I've been over 5 times in just the last 19 months and have never stayed in a hotel. As it was explained to me, "only whites go to a hotel, your girl friend can come to your apartment"
lonelyranger1701 said: Unless a guy knows the area where he plans to stay,,, speaks passable Russian, and knows a few people in town,,, he shouldn’t bother with apartments.
This is very good advice. Knowing the area is most important. Also, Sumy has long been known as the scam capital of Eastern Europe. I would not deal with anyone in Sumy long distance.
Wineman,,, I always come down on the side of caution. But I also like what hotels have to offer,,, restaurant, bar, phone, staff-English speaking, ATMs, laundry service, etc. I don’t like carting my stuff around town, on foot or by taxi.
No,, I don’t think Sumy is the scam capital of the FSU,,,, but it surely isn’t the little sweet hidden gem of Ukraine.
As strange as it may seem,,, I like Sumy too. If it was only a few hours drive by car from my home in Wisc, I would be there several times a month,,, but it’s 17 to 21 total time by air,, then 5 to 7 hours by car!! No way,,, not any more.
so far in Sumy I have not noticed many scammers except one of the agency's that keeps changing its name. I keep a few links on my web site that has some places to rent from and book a taxi(I have personally used them on my trips). If you plan to travel to Sumy just hit me up and I can have one of my sons make the arrangements or tell you who to contact. I have never known it to be one of the big scammer city's.