A review which brings into question my privacy

[Marcus73]

Hi all,

I recently received a review from a guest which, among other things, specifically details what the guest alleges was my sexual activity. They suggest that I was having loud sex which kept them awake. Apart from the fact it's incorrect, it violates my right to privacy as these reviews are public.

Airbnb refuse to remove this review on the grounds that it doesn't violate their policy. Am I crazy for wanting this review removed? I'm utterly humiliated by it.

[David5641]

You can contact Airbnb and have the reviewed removed on the basis of privacy or discrimination.

[David6]

You have great reviews. And people have sex. I would let this one go.

If I was booking - wouldn’t be put of by this review. And a hour hey? Someone had a good night. Haha . Joking. 

I’d take the review on board. Ask yourself is your place as super clean as it needs to be to get 5* reviews. You will know if any other part of her review is accurate. 

And if the walls are super thin in your new place, just realise guests will hear you & you them. 

[Anonymous]

@Marcus73  Generally, explicit mentions of sexual activity can be grounds for a review removal. In the case of L----'s review, it's heavily implied that this is what was meant by "intimacy" and being "busy," but unluckily for you it it's equivocal enough that there doesn't seem to be a privacy concern. Also, the complaint was really more about your dog.

A bigger issue for guests considering your listing is that your most recent review is a Host Cancellation only 3 days before arrival. Nothing a guest can write about you looks worse than this, so if you had a good reason to cancel that booking you would be wise to post a response to it explaining that the circumstances were exceptional and assuring people you won't ruin their holiday plans too.

[Marcus73]

I'm less concerned about the cancellation since I had a medical emergency which meant the space wasn't available. I guess I could annotate it to reflect that.

I'm also unconcerned about their suggestion my place was unclean. The other 90 or so people who have left 5 star reviews think the space is clean, and it's generally very well kept. One of L----'s gripes is that I mixed the up bookings and expected the people who were arriving after them instead of them, and their room wasn't ready. The folks arriving after them were arriving at midnight, so I didn't prep the room before work that day and got back and L---- had checked into a room which looked slept in. We all make mistakes, and honestly in two years of hosting it's the first time it's happened. I wouldn't care about her opinion of the house or my hosting except for that suggestion which I think contravenes my right to a private life outside of Airbnb.

The odd thing is she was on her honeymoon, so I can only say I have little hope for the sexual life of their marriage if on their honeymoon they were complaining that I had loud sex (I didn't by the way).

[Sarah977]

@Marcus73  If you had a medical emergency, you could have cancelled the reservation under the extenuating circumstances policy, in which case, that cancellation wouldn't have shown up in your review section. Something to keep in mind if you ever have to cancel again for something outside your control

What I find odd is that a couple would book a shared home listing for their honeymoon- you'd think they'd want more privacy than that.

[Jennifer1897]

Unfortunately when we decide to open our home to others, we are inviting them into our lives on some level, which sometimes means they get a glimpse into the otherwise "private" things. If Airbnb already deemed it appropriate, there is probably not much you can do at this point. In the future, you can always write a response to reviews, good or bad. 

I know you feel that it is a violation of privacy and looks negative, but luckily, you have many great reviews which will likely overshadow this one. Also, a lot of people focus on the number of reviews and overall rating, vs reading every single review you have. Eventually this one will be pushed down far enough that it will most likely rarely be read.

Moving forward just be extra mindful of noise in the home,  including your dog barking. 

[Helen427]

@Marcus73 @Sarah977 @Jennifer1897 @Anonymous @David6 

No one needs their intimate moments discussed anywhere in any shape of form by anyone regardlesss of who we share our homes & lives with, those moments are private and may be deemed to be a Breach of one's basic Human Rights.

You also have the "Right to be forgotten" under various Laws and one day it will come back to haunt the person involved if they have half a conscience.

It would have been better to address if necessary via Private msg system, if need be.

Ask for it to be removed