Guest be warned. If you are a host please don't do this to your guest

[Iris-Jonnah0]

I just wanted to share my recent experience in AirBnb NYC because I can't believe that this happened. I have booked a private room in queens with a super host and a glowing 5 star review. It started casual as most, the host was first nice and she went over the house rules. The place was also nice and everything described was on point. So what could be the problem right? The host had a temper and very particular to not getting the bathroom and bathroom sink wet. At the end of our stay, my sister used the shower and some water dripped on the floor and some old magazines at the side of the tub. She knocked on our door, yelled and scream at the top of her lungs and called us names. We apologized and I offered to pay extra for the magazines and even wipe the floor. I also asked her to stop yelling because my sister is sick. But she did not, she continued to berate us and continue to call us names, stupid and so on. We were shocked because we have never been treated this way. And yes, she continued to throw the magazines at me and also the basket. It was a very traumatizing experience. If you are a host and you are having an issue with your guest please let them know in a calm, civilized manner. I felt like because we were two small girls, quiet and even a bit timid it was just easy for her to yell at us thinking that we probably can't do anything. If she had just talked to us about the issues that she's having we would've corrected our actions and the unnecessary altercation could've been avoided. Nonetheless, very traumatizing experience.

[Enda0]

@Iris-Jonnah0 What a horrible experience!

It's a little worrying that the host threw things at you. I would suggest that you have a chat with Customer Service as that sort of thing is unacceptable. 

Remember that you have an opportunity to review the host. An effective negative review is one that is calm, measured and as factual as you can be. You have 14 days to gather your thoughts. 

Sorry this happened to you.

Enda

[Amaris0]

Oh no, that's so bad! I'm sorry to hear this!

First of all, I just want to say that this is the exception as opposed to the norm behaviour of hosts; most hosts are accommodating and want to ensure their guest have a pleasant experience during their stay.

Secondly, I hope you reported this host to Airbnb and will, if you haven't already done so, reflect this experience in your review.

If you are ever in a situation similar to this where you are made to feel uncomfortable due to abnormal behaviour, then you can contact Airbnb and explain the situation to them and inform them you no longer wish to stay in the property. Airbnb are very good with situations like this and they will work with you to try to find alternative similar accommodation, or at the very least they will liaise with the host. 

Thank you for sharing your experience and you are right, there is a civil manner in which to approach/ speak or act around people and shouting or throwing things is never acceptable, ever. 

I hope your sister is feeling better now and that you both managed to enjoy a bit of your holiday.

Best wishes,

Ama

[Guan0]

That's is horrible. Please write on the review so others know.

[Andrée2]

@Iris-Jonnah0 

It's much appreciated that you brought this to the Airbnb Community and I wish we could do more than sympathize. If you were hosted by someone who was seriously throwing things at you, I hope you realize that this could happen to another guest and Airbnb needs to investigate this matter and shut down that host's profile immediately before they assault other victims. They clearly were having issues that did not involve you or the wet magazines and floor but, if you let her get away with it, it will make it too likely to be worse for the next guest that mistakenly arrives when this host is having some sort of crisis. It could be an emotional problem or a mental one but whatever the case, please contact Airbnb. Their US phone # is 415 800 5959.

[Frances13]

I think if we are allowed to talk on the phone PRIOR to payment, a person could "weed" out a potential mismatch.

[Kelly-and-Shawn0]

I agree. I know there's a chance people will use a phone conversation to move things off of the Airbnb platform, but if you're sharing a home with a host especially (and especially if you're a woman traveling alone) it would be so nice to get a real sense of a person. I can't believe they couldn't do some sort of statistical analysis to determine if people were using phone calls to avoid the Airbnb fees, and make that available to the rest of us.

[Taryn4]

What would be the benefit for a host to going off Airbnb? I guess CASH is king but other than that it seems much harder to go after the person unless you created a complicated protocol (contracts, collect DL#, etc). Seems so unlikely. 

I agree, Airbnb should let us chat pre-booking and not force hosts to accept immediately to keep their ratings up. 

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

We stayed in a New England airbnb. We asked the host the name of the taxi service. She offered to call the cab for us. The cab came 15 minutes later than expected. We were not concerned and took it in stride. The host would not let it go and called the cab company and yelled at them. Her reaction was unacceptable to us. She had over 60 5 star reviews largely due to her gourmet breakfasts. The 61st review mentioned a similar reaction to something trivial like a toothbrush. Too bad she was not reported to airbnb and too bad I did not read every review. Please report her for the sake of others. Thanks for posting.

[Ros0]

I am a relatively new host ... but can some explain to me how one avoids getting a bathroom sink... wet? Is not the purpose of a sink to be a receptacle of... water?

[Amy38]

Actually, the issue is not not getting a sink wet, but wiping up excess with your towel. .. a common courtesy when sharing a bath.