A “guest” (unverified ID account, no reviews) sent me a booking request a couple weeks ago at 2 o’clock in the morning, wanting to come and stay for the coming evening (meaning, check in here in 12 hours time!). I declined her request because it was too short notice and I genuinely was unable to host her.
Anyway, just now, at 11 o’clock in the evening, she’s come out of the woodwork again with a request for 2 nights - yet again intending to arrive in 12 hours time.
she sent a message along with the request that she “really loves my place” and “even staying here one night would be great”.
Then, the following red flags:
- “my boyfriend will get there at 10am, but I’ll be there after 7pm, because I’m working”
(so why does she desperately want to come here for one night?!! Only to have to check out the next morning - doesn’t make sense.
- payment unsuccessful, she writes “I can 100% put the money through tomorrow morning 9am”
ummmm, what?!
Are these people being urgently evicted from their home? They’re certainly broke. Why message me so late on both occasions wanting to come here so quickly? Why would her boyfriend want to come here without her? At 10AM. Check in is 2pm. Sorry, but all this added up to weird behaviour.
Working with customer support, we managed to get her to cancel her reservation, and customer service told her i was unable to accomodate her, and offered her alternative accomodation options.
She then sent me 22 messages within the span of 5 minutes, which had no content as CS had blocked her from contacting me.
Her grammar was atrocious and in her profile pic she had half her head shaved, the other long, a nose ring, and a bio that stated she worked on a cruise ship. Whilst these qualities alone are not grounds to reject a reservation, i must admit the strange behaviour coupled with the profile (no reviews, brand new account) did add up to one giant waving red flag.
Was my gut instinct correct?
