Guest Lied to Me

[Kevin1308]

To preface, our rental is an apartment above our detached garage at our personal residence.

A recent booking for two was supposed to arrive Friday at 3 and leave by 11 Sunday. At 1030 Friday morning day of arrival, she requested to alter the reservation to one night (Saturday) because "my sisters (plural) are having flight issues" so they would be coming Saturday early to check in. I have a two night minimum and rejected the request with a nice explanation but also asked her how many sisters she has flying in because it sure sounded like three people were coming and we are only good for two. She assured me that there were only going to be two people at the apartment and I thanked her for her understanding on the two night minimum. I did not see them come in on Saturday, but Sunday morning certainly saw three people leave the apartment, get in the car that had been there all night and leave.

Clearly she lied to me. What are my options or recourse other than a negative review?

Thanks-

[Linda108]

What other type of options are you seeking about this guest behavior, @Kevin1308 ?  If there were 3 guests staying at your place when there is a limit of 2, you would mention that in a review as a warning to other hosts.  You had the luck to have guests who are entitled to get whatever they want in spite of the rules of the situation.  We all have thoses guests.  If you think you are especially vulnerable to this type of lying, would it be worth it to you to install a front door camera?  Many hosts like to know the coming and going of guests and having a door camera not only gives that information but also the disclosure of it as required by Air BNB is a caution to guests who are apt to try to get away with unauthorized visitors.

[Kevin1308]

I don't know. Just kinda gets under my skin. Its dishonest and I guess I expect better. That's my first guest that's been anything but fine. I'll let it go I guess.

[Sarah977]

@Kevin1308  Yes, she probably lied, but you really have no proof of that. It's possible that the 3rd arrived by cab in the morning while you were occupied with something else and didn't notice, and they all left together. If you accuse a guest of something it's important that you have some kind of proof, otherwise the guest could get the review removed. You could private message her to say that you were upset that you clearly saw 3 emerge in the morning, when she had assured you that there would only be 2 staying.

I'd let this one go and like Linda suggested, install an outside camera so you can know for sure how many people entered and didn't emerge again until morning.

[Paul154]

As a guest, If I paid for 2 nights and could only stay 1 night, I would feel entitled to a free 3rd guest on that night. Instead of wear and tear and utilites for 2 people X 2 nights, you have wear and tear and utilites for 3 people for 1 night.  The arithmetic says you are still ahead.

[Sarah977]

@Paul154  Feeling entitled and acting entitled aren't the same thing. No one likes to be lied to. Maybe if the guest had simply said to @Kevin1308  that since they had to paid for a night they didn't stay, would it be okay if they just had a 3rd person without paying extra, he would have said sure, that sounds fair.

Just like when a guest causes damages- a host is far more likely to chalk it up to the cost of doing business, rather charging them, if a guest lets them know, and apologizes, rather than just not mentioning it, or worse, denying all responsibility, even when the host knows for sure it was them.

[Kaylee18]

@Kevin1308  I hear ya, it's annoying when a guest lies! Definitely be honest in your review so other hosts are aware. 

Another option. If you do install an outdoor camera on the garage or above the entrance to the suite (which I highly recommend!),  you see ahead of time that there are 3 guests, you can message your guest while they are there and try to resolve it. And if you really wanted to (depending on how the guest reacts) you can get Airbnb involved to ask them to leave for violating a house rule. (*This is an extreme circumstance, but can happen if a guest breaks a house rule). 

Just some options!