My guest flagged me for some unknown and phony safety violation that I can't defend. I lost a month's worth or rent.

Irene475
Level 2
Cleveland, OH

My guest flagged me for some unknown and phony safety violation that I can't defend. I lost a month's worth or rent.

This young lady reserved a full private apartment  in our Victorian house. She arrived on time and we had a seamless check-in.

She had a few good reviews from traveling with her family in another country a few years ago; she seemed like good guest material.

We chatted and she said she was breaking up with her boyfriend, which we do get guests in her situation, it happens.

I always meet and greet the guest and walk them through the premises. She was very nice.

She didn't bring the dog, just a few suitcases.

My husband and I have a dog also. We live on the 1st floor, her suite is on the 2nd.

She and I agreed that we would text each other so our dogs don't cross in the hallway and the anticipated drama of 2 dogs that don't know each other would bring. My dog stays in our space until we escort it out to the backyard.  We never let it roam around the common hallway and stairwell.

She says she walks her dog every few hours because she works out of her home.

She said she could carry her dog down the stairs so her dog doesn't additionally leave the smell of paw prints on the stair carpet so my dog wouldn't even know her dog is in the house. I assumed she had a tiny dog that's carrying size. 

As she was getting ready to move her car and get the rest of her stuff, I introduced her to my dog.

She says "oh your dog is the same size as mine". My dog is almost 60 pounds.

I asked her to not carry her dog on the stairs because that's too big a dog to be carrying.

She agreed and said it won't be an issue anyway because she has a set schedule for walking and our schedule for taking the dog out is different than hers. 

A few hours after she checked in I texted her because I forgot to show her how our vintage Victorian brass shower works.

I got no answer so I thought she was still out collecting her dog and more stuff from her boyfriend's place.

I think the young lady stayed the night but I can't be sure because we turned in early.

My other guest across the hall says he heard someone in the room that night.

 

Imagine my surprise when an Airbnb rep leaves me a voicemail the next day and says the reservation is cancelled due to safety issues.

I called and asked why, they said they can't divulge because of privacy issues but it could be anything from assault to unsafe environment.

I was very upset that something awful happened and I texted her but she didn't answer.

 

Shortly afterwards another guest I'd been in touch with messaged that she couldn't find my listings anymore.

Airbnb took all  of my listings in 6  different locations off the market due to this bogus safety issue!

 

I think this girl made something up to avoid paying me either because she found another place, got back with her boyfriend, 

figured out that it would be difficult to sneak her boyfriend in as a second guest, or some other reason.

She sent two inquiries about apartments on another housing site I post on.

 

I have a strict cancellation policy  and I'm wondering why Airbnb:

1- doesn't at least give  hosts a clue as to what these allegations are so we can defend ourselves and counter them, especially if they're untrue

2-believes the guests over the hosts on these matters

 

does airbnb reimburse us for lost income??

 

 

16 Replies 16
Maia29
Level 10
Anchorage, AK

I just had a guest last week make up a bogus health and safety issue to cancel and get five days stay for free.

 

 Airbnb also deactivated my listing.

 

Five days later Airbnb reactivated my listing but I’m still aggravated that they gave this guest a complete refund based on lies (I’m sure they are going to take the refund out of my best reservation). 

 

I bet she made up that excuse to get a refund since you have a strict cancellation policy. It’s sickening. 

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico
Patricia1327
Level 2
Memphis, TN

Why would Air bnb refuse to divulge the safety issue? You would think they would tell you so you could make the place safe.

@Patricia1327 because it's Airbnb. Airbnb can't fathom things that  make sense

@Patricia1327 No, you are supposedly knowingly doing something that is unsafe and don't care, so why should they tell you, just fix it.

Kinda like if someone is mad at you, but you are sincerely baffled as to why, because you can't think of anything you've done to offend them, and ask for an explanation and they respond "Oh, like you don't know!"

@Patricia1327  That is my thought everytime I read one of these. (yeah, it happens often) I don't understand why they can't tell you what the complaint is against YOU?? Who made that policy and what the heck were they thinking??

@Suzanne302 @Colleen253 @Sarah977 

"Privacy rights" you guys, "privacy"

Can you feel my air quotes?

Helen350
Level 10
Whitehaven, United Kingdom

@Irene475 "I asked her not to carry her dog on the stairs, because that's too big a dog to be carrying." - I expect she flagged THAT as a health & safety issue! - NOT your fault or issue tho' .... HER problem if she chooses to use your stairs in an unsafe manner.

Cormac0
Level 10
Kraków, Poland

@Irene475 

 

 

Does anybody believe the BS that Airbnb is just a listing site and that one is running one's own business!

David704
Level 2
Portland, OR

I've been a Superhost for over two years and learned that it is a useless achievement when it comes to AirBnb caring about your interests. I've decided to open my calendars on other booking sites and I am looking forward to the day I wont ever have to deal with AirBnb. It looks like they are modeling themselves after Uber and the way they mistreated their drivers.

The commission they receive from the guests is more than the host, now they feel the listing is too much but guests not as much as they want, so they found a great ideal to take advantage from host to guest  for increasing their income! When more people know what Airbnb doing, will love to use Airbnb, because they no need to follow the rules,  case manager can help them to broke all of  them! and even it may help them to take some free nights stay! 

Linda108
Level 10
La Quinta, CA

I was able to see all 20 of your listings on your profile so I guess all is okay now?  I mean at least your boarding homes are visible.  Right?

 

I am confused a bit by your post.  You stated in your post that the guest was in a second floor apartment which is listed as an entire apartment, and you live in the first floor.  You also posted that the male guest across the hall heard something.  Perhaps she was  not expecting there to be another guest to be across the hall.  Just a thought about what might have been the issue.  

 

I agree that you need some feedback to be able to correct whatever is the problem in case there is in fact a correctable issue and not a made up one.  If my thougths are on target, perhaps your listing description can be tweaked to provide information about other guests in the home.

I can understand that this property is hard to list accurately. There are two apartments on the second floor.  And we, the owners, live on the 1st floor in our own apartment.  It's no different than having someone live across the hall in an apartment building or in the apartment next to you. It's a big house.

Helen427
Level 10
Auckland, New Zealand

hello @Irene475 @Linda108 @Chile1 @David704  and others

 

As @Linda108  has pointed out, if you have other Guests staying she didn't know about and were not disclosed it may pose an issue, especially if one is breaking up with their partner.

Emotions are possibly running high and encountering another "unknown" person in ones 'home" may have been a trigger and deciding factor in cancelling her stay.

 

This is a common issue with undisclosed to Guests prior to arrival knowing who else may be staying.

 

It pays to be transparent in one's listing if others are staying in one's property at the same time as one's Guest.

 

I had a Guest who I've subsequently found out through his Reviews he has issues with women who challenge him & his behaviour - one of his Guests wrote a review on his Profile that challenged him and he spat the dummy with his reply!  I had firm words with him in our communications in person and in our message threads when he stayed in my place & I won't tolerate any abuse.

 

The reality is @Irene475 none of us know what another may be going through in life without  walking in their shoes/ feet.

 

Have you messaged the Guest to ask @Irene475 ?

Personal Safety for all is important.