Beware of this "Superhost" Scammer!

[Melanie1115]

Booked and paid half of an apt stay in London, Mayfair area 2 days ago for travel in 5 momths. Host messages me today and asks me to pay £100 deposit in addition because of a bad previous guest. They wanted security that I would actually show up.  Asked for payment outside. Spidey sense started tingling.

Contacted Airbnb support, terrible customer service but they did remove the host. Now waiting for my refund. This person was listed as a "Superhost" by Airbnb standards!!!  They apparently don't screen very well. 

BEWARE OF HOST SCAMMERS! 

[Tommy150]

Sadly, they don't screen guests well either. 

[Sudsrung0]

I'll second that @Tommy150 well said

[Huma0]

@Melanie1115 

Although it's not technically allowed by Airbnb and it's not something that I personally do, from what I have read on this forum it's not that uncommon for hosts to charge a security deposit outside of the platform. The reason is that Airbnb took away the ability to set a deposit on the platform and a lot of hosts do not trust Airbnb to reimburse them if something goes wrong. It doesn't necessarily make them a scammer or affect the quality of the stay they offer, which would explain the Superhost status. So, it's possible you got a perfectly good host suspended.

On the other hand, it seems odd to charge a deposit to make sure you would turn up, if that is the reason the host gave you. If the host wants security that you will stay, they should choose a cancellation policy that will still pay them for guests who don't show up. So, yes, that bit does sound suspicious. 

[Sudsrung0]

@Melanie1115 

BEWARE OF GUEST SCAMMERS, 

Do you realise you could have put a perfectly good host out of business trying to pay their bills and feed his family,

I hope you are Happy now?

[Helen744]

@Sudsrung0  I doubt very much if Airbnb would remove a host without some other previous poor behaviour. It is the off platform payment that Melanie is complaining about and obviously Melanie is unaware that the host does not receive any money until after the stay commences . I  would be suspicious too. Just saying ... H

[Debra300]

@Melanie1115,

I can appreciate that you were being cautious and don't blame you for contacting Airbnb about the off platform deposit, but I would suggest that you look at all available information before reaching judgment.  More than just you and the host will be impacted by this incident.  The host probably will be suspended and during this undetermined period her reservations will be canceled by Airbnb so those guests may have to find new accommodations on short notice.

Was the deposit requirement disclosed in the listing details or house rules?  Did any of the reviews mention any negative experiences with the deposits?  I can assure you that other guests would have stated their grievance if they had any, regardless if their publication worthiness.

I sometimes collect deposits from guests, but it's done via Airbnb's Resolution Center, because all transactions must remain on the platform.  The deposit is mentioned in the listing details and the house rules.  However, so hosts may think that using the Resolution Center is onerous or isn't necessary for small deposits and short stay.  As an experienced Airbnb user, if the deposit had been previously disclosed, I probably would have told the host that the deposit has to be done on platform.

If you decide to rebook on Airbnb, feel free to come back to this community to ask for insight if you're not sure if something seems right.