My guests just showed up... with 14 people

[John2626]

I just had two consecutive guest who brought more people than expected. The first guest should have been one adult but brought 3 children even though my listing stated that my accommodations were not suitable for children. The next guest was for 1 adult, she sent me a text for  a family of 4 adults, which was okay but then, 8 people came, 5 adults and 3 children. I don’t charge for extra people but this was too many for the space. The grandmother remained in the room and I was notified that she heard things sliding and was afraid. I live here. It was 5 pm and I slide things during waking hours. . They asked to use the kitchen and requested chinaware although kitchen privileges were listed. Children were crying and jumping in the beds. This was the 3rd time that children were brought and I wasn’t aware. I am afraid to give a less than perfect review because I will get one, I’m sure , after they read mine since the host does the review before the guest. I am striving for Superhost but I shouldn’t have to lie for fear of bad reviews that may be retaliatory. I’m stunned. Should I continue to lie for fear of retaliation?  

[John2626]

Sorry, kitchen privileges weren’t listed. 

[Corliss2]

@John2626 

It would be easier to have a sense of your dilemna, but your profile shows no active listings and you have no profile photo. 

[Linda-And-Richard0]

@John2626 John,  So just where is your property?  Nothing at all is visible on our profile.

[Gordon0]

Only you can decide whether lying is the right thing to do, @John2626. 

[Rowena29]

@John2626 

I'm not completely sure you understand how the review system works?

after checkout both the host and the guest are encouraged to write a review. The reviews are "blind" you can't see what the guest wrote until you submit your review about them and vice versa. You  both have 14 days to write a reivew. If only one of you has written something it will be made "live" after 14 days, and the opporturnity for the other person to write has closed  - so no one can read either persons review and write a retalitory one.  If you have not received an alert to say the guest has left a review, I would wait until the 14 days have nearly expired adn then write an honest review.

Personally I wouldn't  knowingly  allow  unaanounced extra guests in my home under any circumstances. You have every right to get straight on the phone to customer service and say you are most umcomfortable and that the guests are not abiding my house rules. In these circumstances airbnb would almost certainly support you and cancel the booking. ( NEVER  cancel a booking yourself, always do it through customer service). At the very least if the number of extra guests did not exceed your stated capacity, I would insist the guest amend their reservation to reflect the true number of guests. If you don't charge extra, this is no skin off anyones' nose. State very firmly that it is an insurance/public liability issue and it's absolultey unacceptable to turn up with extra guests. I would also state this in your house rules if it's not already there.

Some guests quite genuinely think they have booked a place and it's theirs to do what they like with. They need to be  politely and firmly educated. This is your home and YOU  get to decide what happens.

I completely understand your desire to reach superhost,  - i was feeling the same not so long ago, but absolutely do not let your desire to achieve this make you subservient to unreasonable guests.

Worst case scenario, if a bad review IS left, you have the opportunity to leave an unemotive factual response. Any future guests and future hosts reading it will soon see the true picture.

It may be worthwhile giving customer service a ring and have a discussion about how to handle things should this happen again. I have found CS to be really wonderful in situations such as this. ( Hopeless with technical issues , but that's another story)

It won't take you long to find your mojo

Best of luck!

Regards 

[Susan17]

You need to get your abacus out, @John2626. Those numbers aren't adding up. Nor is much else about your post.