I am sure this topic has been addressed before but I can't seem to find it on the forum. What is the process in Belize for pursuing legal action against Reef Village for $1000+ dollars of unreturned rent deposit?
We were told when we left in May that in one month it would be credited to our account...they told us the exact amount, what utility costs would be taken out etc.
Here it is the end of August and not one cent back. We have called, emailed numerous times, nothing, even though we are assured they are working on the problem and do admit we do have a refund due.
I seem to remember other people posting with a similar problem.
I guess I am looking for other perspectives, ideas...something. We loved the six months we spent on the island, traveling the country and especially the friends we made there. We were to return to Belize in November, but are rethinking. I am just frustrated!

Consider it a very expensive lesson learned........you will probably never get that money back, but please do come back but don't stay there!

I am fairly certain the managers that were there are long gone, never to return. So it is unlikely the funds will be returned. And sadly, if they are gone there isn't anyone to hold accountable for their actions.

You know I love Belize and San Pedro, but it's really obnoxious that people have to constantly chalk up to experience getting screwed there, and not even with the pleasure of a nice dinner out first. It really takes the edge off, when every experience becomes a potential lesson. I mean, the original poster is now talking about maybe not wanting to come back.

The practice of requiring pre-payment at lodging accommodations is not uncommon in Belize. And added to that, an increasing penalty for cancelation as the reservation time grows closer. Being forewarned is standard and knowing who you are dealing with is essential for avoiding an infuriating disappointment. Travel insurance costs little and is a great comfort if plans change.

I am so sorry to hear of a lost deposit - $1,000 is a lot of money.
I'd liken the experience to a really bad blind date. Hopefully it doesn't put you off from seeking a good relationship in the future?
Now that you have been here and know the players/places better, you won't need to choose blindly.
I hope that one bad landlord doesn't put you off an entire wonderful country and community!

Legit hotels post their deposit and final payment requirements. I would have to say nearly all the hotels on the caye and in the country are honest and deliver. I would also imagine if you had googled this establishment before you sent the deposit, you would have found comments about them which would have been more than fair warning. I know this board has an old thread which addresses these same problems. I am sorry this happened to you, but this is not a reflection of most other businesses nor indicates a problem with advance payments.

Any and all comments are really appreciated, even the somewhat acerbic comments. I actually did research Reef before I took my cart over there, signed a three month lease and paid my deposit. The negative comments I had read on the web, prior to renting there, were related to the timeshare component of the business and not longer term rental. Lisa Cartwright, I believe was the managers name, was actually very efficient at resolving some small issues we had while we were there. I don't know if she is now part of the problem.
I guess we should consider ourselves lucky since out of all the places we have lived and traveled longterm worldwide, this is the only place this has occurred.
Again thank you for all the feedback.

To give you some kind of update about Reef. I purchased a condo their 6 months ago. I had dealings with the PM from a previous condo that I own. We decided to rent it out ourselves. The PM that was there quit about 4 months ago but the hoa denied it till about 3 weeks ago. Word is the PM run off with major $$$$$. She can't return due to legal action on her.

I would try contacting the HOA there. John Adams is the president. Push them hard to get ur money back.

On another note I have a condo elsewhere that is 2 bed 2 bath, 1300 sq ft, FULLY furnished, bottom floor over looking the pool and 100 yards to the beach. If ur interested let me know.

Well, to be honest: This is the ordinary reaction here in Belize and it's embarrassing: "You learned a lesson - you will never get your rights - but please come back" ......and then we cover everything with a curtain of silence.

Years ago I worked for Reef Village and they owe me 10 Thousands of US$ in salary and in the end I received many emails from owners telling me that I was the only honest person there but they could not help me as they wanted to "protect their investment". Hundreds of people from the outside had been ripped off by JP since then and he was still riding through the streets of San Pedro - with ministers of our government or other "celebrities" on the seat of his golf cart and he smiled and EVERYONE smiled back - it was so disgusting. For years he had been protected by our government even with huge evidence that he ripped so many off. It continued and still continues - years of rip offs and our BTB is incapable to stop this and shut the place down (at least till they pay their duties)! Yes, that would be the consequence to stop this bullshit. As long as we're willing to continue and always say: "Yes, sorry, but come back" we'll invite others to do the same and it will do more harm to our tourism than if once we would start to follow up on these scams and get them to the prosecutor. - Don't let me ask how many Thousand tourists we lost for closing our eyes and say: "well this is gone bad but come bacK!"

All this corruption, police brutality or ignorance of the law by authorities can only happen if we continue to allow this. It needs strength, some guts and an intention to stop this and make our country a reputable place! We could fight together but instead we always want to protect our shitty little investment and then hundreds of additional victims have to suffer now and in the future and we ALWAYS stay in bad reputation and all have to suffer - all of us and the poor people of Belize in the first place as they don't get jobs that are related to tourism!

My suggestion is: Never come back and tell to all of your friends to not travel to Belize and maybe one day, instead of trying to protect any investmant - selfish and egoistic - all people here will get together, stand up, say "NO" and stop this corruption and these cheaters and criminals and then it will be worth to come to this beautiful country and enjoy your vacation.