How greed of individuals destroys reputation of Seychelles and Kempinski Seychelles Resort.
Max Kozlov Sep 20, 2021
This is a follow up article on our previous post regarding organized car hire scam in Seychelles https://www.max-kozlov.net/seychelles-rent-a-car-scam-c8a31e5d78f4.html The very controversial case involving Mr. Michael Lavigne and Hibiscus Car Hire company received a lot of interest both in the country and abroad.
In March 2021 the recent tourist victim of Mr. Lavigne issued official well documented complain regarding his experience with Hibiscus Car Hire to:
- Seychelles Tourism Board
- Seychelles Ministry of Tourism
- Seychelles Fair Trade Commission
To summarize the case: when Hibiscus Car Hire rented the car to the tourist, the Hibiscus Car Hire representative agent did not fill car’s current “damage state report”. This is apparently very well-planned tactics – clearly schematics typically used in car rental contracts worldwide to mark damages when car is given out and returned back are not present on Hibiscus Car Hire contract at all.
Hibiscus Car Hire contract has no “3D car projection” schematic to mark damages properly.
On returning the car the victim tourist was presented report with scratches and damages existing before rental and a quotation for significant price to pay for them. In the complain the tourist reported:
I requested photos of the damages listed in the quotations. The photos were sent to me by Mr Darrel (+248 2 591 610) on 18 January 2021 by WhatsApp with a note that “as per your contract the car had none of those damages when rented out to you” with as small car logo marked in upper left corner as alleged place where damages were supposed to be marked. I was surprised to learn that small car image on the contract is supposed to be a schematic to mark damages!
Deliberately planed scam - Hibiscus Car Hire agent claims small car logo is supposed to be schematic to mark car's scratches. This is to confuse client and avoid marking scratches when car is rented out.
Then it became evident to my wife and me that we are dealing with organized and planed scam. […] We were tourists in foreign country, we felt threatened and we decided to seek a help of the lawyer.
Mr. Michael Lavigne is an Australian who came to Seychelles years ago to be a worker at Banyan Tree hotel and then get married with local lady and remained on the island. His lack of decency is well recognized in the society. He is exploiting Seychelles, destroying its international reputation as friendly tourist destination for his own benefits. Motivated by greed he clearly disregards not only tourists but also local community of country he settled in and made his wealth from. He made news once again in April 2021 broadcasted by official Seychelles TV channel:
This time involved in scandal with his employees that without respect to local social rules and labour laws were made redundant in controversial circumstances from Chez Plume hotel and restaurant that he manages and co-owns. Interestingly, at the same time Palm Cars, another his company, purchased brand new BMW car as it was reported on Seychelles Nation newspaper on 24th April 2021: https://www.nation.sc/articles/87 04/five-brand-new-bmw-vehicles-go-under-the-hammer-for-r84m
Mr. Lavigne's company purchased expensive luxury car and at the same time made redundant employees from Chez Plume hotel and restaurant without respect to local social rules.
Given the fallen reputation Mr. Lavigne enjoys at the archipelago, notorious scandals he is involved in (for example: https://eglobaltravelmedia.com.au
/kempinski-hotel-blocked-off-by-taxis-following-ongoing-dispute-in-seychelles/ ), and news he makes it is very interesting to note the strong position he enjoys at Kempinski Seychelles Resort. Apparently, his acts of well-organized scam, targeting tourists, taking advantage of local community does not bother Kempinski’s management to distinguish and advertise his Hibiscus Car Hire at Kempinski’s official web page: https://www.kempinski.com/en/baie-lazare/seychelles-resort/local-information/island-guide/
Kempinski’s management favors Hibiscus Car Hire despite scams and scandals the company and Mr. Lavigne have been involved.
Clearly Kempinski’s management favours Mr. Lavigne company at disadvantage of other honest car rental companies from the island. As we described in previous post this is apparently due to “special relation between Mr. Lavigne and Kempinski’s general manager”.
Hibiscus Car Hire has strong presence at Kempinski Seychelles Resort supported by “special relation with general manger”.
Kempinski’s attitude is well in contrast to attitude of Constance Ephelia Resort which banned Mr. Lavigne and his companies at the hotel in act of transparency and care for its guests, after dishonest exploits he committed to the guests of the hotel…
The mentioned tourist victim had plans for long term stay in Seychelles. He expressed in the official complaint: “Unfortunately, after the experience with Hibiscus Car Hire and Mr. Lavigne that his ways of conduct rather remind organized mafia than business and after how the situation unveiled, that my wife and me were threatened and instead of enjoying our stay we had to search for help of lawyer we are no longer confident that Seychelles is a place we can feel safe […] I am reporting the case with sincere intention to respective government bodies will pursue actions aligned with local laws and regulations in respect to this matter.”