AirBNB - Poor customer service and dangerous practices. Is AIRBNB responsible if customer is raped?

[Dade0]

I rented an AirBNB in Tampa Fl.  Place looked good from the pics.  There was no mention of the level of crime in the area or the quality of the area at the time of rental.  One review said the area was " a little run down" but no other mentions of the area.  So that is a broad description, the pics were nice, OK I thought. 

This was the place -  [Personal information hidden]

Well we drive into the area and it is clear it is more than a little run down.  it is very run down, ghetto area.  We pull in to the drive, the neighbor is blasting bass.  The houses on each side are in disrepair.  Very unsafe looking.  We go into the house.  The inside was fine, the big tell though is all the blinds are closed, so you can't see the surroundings.  So we decide to tel the host we are going to stay elsewhere.  Very pleasant on our part.  The host said this has never happened before and she would get in touch with AirBNB to see what she could do.

So we ended up booking a hotel.  The I get a call from "Sir" Charles in AIRBNB customer service.  Very unprofessional, he just wanted to argue with me that the place HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO was accurately described and said the host said the neighbors are fine, so I should be fine with that.  I said that why would I go to the trouble of showing up to the place, then having to change if it was fine?  I offered to split the cancelation with the host fifty fifty.  More than fair offer.  'Sir" Charles said I would have to go through the reconcilliation process and did I want to cancel the reservation.  he really pushed cancelling the reservation in order to reconcile.  So I said OK.  Now it is clear that he pushed cancellation so that I could not post a negative review of the place, while I am still out the entire cost of the stay.  This is disengenuous and a terrible business practice.  I wonder how many accurate but negative reviews are not disclosed this way?

The host was similarly unpleasant and stood by her claims and "strict" cancellation policy.

So I did some research, turns out there is a crime reporting program in Tampa and they log crimes on a map.  This place has had one stolen car and two burglaries just in the month of June, 2017 within 100 to 300 yards.  http://communitycrimemap.com/?address=tampa,fl

A google search notes this neighborhood is one of the TOP 5 Highest Crime Rates in the city.  I searched the Florida Sexual Offender Database and THE GUY NEXT DOOR is listed!!!  And four others just within the block.  http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/searchNeighborhood.do?actionPerformed=neighborhoodSearchMa...

Of course I reported all this back to "Sir" Charles and have heard nothing.  Nothing further from the host.  What appalling service.  Tell me AIRBNB, if someone is raped, or hurt, or robbed in a place you stand by,what is your culpability in this?  Do you do ANY vetting of places being hosted?

Really disgusted.  Enjoy the money you both stole from me.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Dade0

It's the same for hosts. Airbnb is pushing for instant book. So hosts have to accept and open homes/listings to ANYONE who books. Do you think Airbnb will take any responsiblity if a host is raped in his/her own home by an unknown guest????? 

I mean, at least as a guest, you have the listing address. 

In some cases, there are guest users without full name information disclosed to the host - just the initial. User pic is a landscape or of a pet. What happens if a guest vandalized or robbed a host? Hosts would not even be able to properly report the guest because we aren't given sufficient personal information. 

It all goes both ways, hosts and guests face the same threats. 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Dade0

if I would look for a property to stay I would look the neighbourhood on the google map and street view  BEFORE I would book it. And if it is in a big city I would google that neighbourhood to find out if it is safe. Everything what you did AFTER your arrival.