Must pay money to view apartment for rent? Is this normal?

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If you want to pay and have some assurance, pay Tsui Mama, http://www.tmm.org , a few hundred and far more reliable.

tmm.org is up for sale .. tmm.org.tw is functional

Paisei. Corrected.

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I wish there was some way to find out who the owners are (of the apartment), and try to rent from them directly

Let it go, my friend. Those scam artists are usually well into the mafia, and it could get nasty. This one is not for you, trust me, there is a better place out there with your name on it.

[Quarters]

Did a search on the company name. It is a bait and switch scam. Others have posted complaints on blogs and such about this particular company. They lure you in with great pictures, take your $2000 NT and then tell you that particular apartment is no longer available, then proceed to show you garbage apartments. Thanks for the heads up and advice!

[Confuzius]

Crazy, not done ... but they can ask what they want, nothing illegal there ... but who's a big fool enough to pay that?

Exactly! It is a big shame because the place looks great and the price is very reasonable.
They said the fee is reasonable because they don't charge any agent fees. Some agents charge one or two month's rent if you rent through them. I asked, "what happens if I don't rent through you?" They said that is impossible because they are sure I would find a place suitable to my needs through them.

Still crazy.

Total utter lie.

Agents charge HALF 1 month's rent...and guess when you pay? WHEN YOU SIGN THE LEASE! Not a minute before.

This is a scam artist, plain and simple.