FRAUD/FALSE advertisement!!! EVERYONE PLEASE BE WARNED!!! DO NOT BOOK HERE!!! For listing, host by "***" and the listing is "***"

[Alice1208]

!FRAUD/FALSE advertisement!EVERYONE PLEASE BE WARNED!!! DO NOT BOOK HERE!

For listing, host by *** and the listing is "***" at ***.

1. I rent this unit because of the photos. However, after I entered this unit, it is TOTALLY different as the photos and apparently it is a really small unit with tiny full size bed and tiny SINGLE sink, however, the photos show DOUBLE large sinks. The photos are the only information for me to decide which listing to rent. If I knew this listing is FRAUD/FALSE advertisement, I will definitely not rent here and rent other places. And then I found out that this house is a 1bedroom but host put 2 bedrooms photos to disguise and cheat customers. 

2. Another evidence is that the layout photo is from 1 bedroom but the photos are all from 2 bedrooms. There is NOT ANY SINGLE photo for 1 bedroom.

3. This unit is really dirty and full of dust,. I had to clean it my self and got severe allergies because of this dirty room. 

I am extremely frustrated about the dishonesty of the host ***(actually there are ***, *** and *** behind this "***" account) and I required refund. I informed host I will move out on the 4th day after I entered this unit. They kept refusing to refund unspent remaining nights. 

***(actually there are ***, *** and *** behind this "***" account),

Why do you treat people like this? 

FRAUD/false advertisement to get people's money? you need to stop doing it.

 Fact- tiny single sink bathroomThis unit is dirty and full of dustFact-this is what this unit looks like. Apparently, photos are all about 2 bedroom, however, host "***"" cheat on customer and rend out 1 bedroom using photos of 2 bedrooms. False/Fraud advertisement!!!

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[Alice1208 · Accepted solution]

This host "***" should be banned from airbnb, because this "***" is using 2 bedrooms photos to cheat customers and actually rent out 1 bedrooms. Please refund customers their unspent/ remaining nights!

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[Sarah977]

@Alice1208  This is just a discussion forum for hosts and guests. 

I sorry you had this experience, but did you read the Airbnb policies and instructions for situations like this? If you arrive to find the place falsely advertised, you should contact Airbnb immediately have them cancel the booking, and you should get refunded. 

Hosts do not get paid until 24 hrs after guests check in, until then, Airbnb has your money.

You don't stay for 4 days and ask the host for a refund. It's important to follow the protocol and procedure in cases like this. This is something for a guest to deal with by contacting Airbnb customer service right away.

[Alice1208]

I contacted the host within 24 hours, and got no response. And then contact airbnb within 24 hours, but they just said will contact me back soon. And then it became one day, with no response. Second day, no response from host, either. I post it and moved out on 4th day. But I contact them within 24 hours. The host "***" is actually ***, *** and *** behind this "***" account. No one is really in charge and be responsible. I called the host for help, and the call leads to "Preferred Corporate Housing" and no one picks up the phone. This host "***" should be banned from airbnb. This community should be aware of this host and avoid anything to do with this ***. 

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[Sarah977]

@Alice1208  I'm sorry you didn't get an appropriate response from Airbnb.  Unfortunately Airbnb customer service has fallen off a cliff and seems to be increasingly unhelpful to all users, both hosts and guests. You should continue to talk to Airbnb about this. I would advise contacting them by message, rather than phone, or their Twitter account. The Twitter option is said to yield better results- they don't like their dirty laundry aired in public. 

The place to post warnings about this place is in the review you are eligible to submit. That will have much more impact than posting this here. This is an international English speaking forum and the chances of anyone seeing this who might consider booking wiith these so-called hosts is quite slim, whereas any guest who clicks on the listing with the possible intention of booking will be able to read your review. 

By the way, what were past reviews for this listing like? It's hard to believe it didn't have other bad reviews, unless it was a new listing.

[Linda108]

I can understand how upsetting this situation must be.  However, as @Sarah977 has pointed out, this forum is the least effective way to deal with your issue.  Therefore, since you continued to stay there, you may not be eligible for a refund, but you seem to want to provide feedback to Air BNB about the unsuitability of the listing.  Use the review to provide that information both publicly for other potential guests and privately to Air BNB.  There is a prompt in the review process for you to do both.

[Belinda405]

I have many problems myself with a Host at the Moment -told her I will be doing an honest review, also said she should be ashamed of herself which she didnt like, she then claimed after they doing a Full Inspection and me leaving that I ruined her hob and is claiming €250 damages damages that wasnt there when I left, and I certainly didnt do it.

[Anonymous]

@Alice1208  I can appreciate your urge to warn the public about fraudulent listings, but the odds that anyone who was considering this property will happen to see your post are basically zero. Also, you can't post hosts' personal info and home addresses here.

I had a look at the listing and associated host profile, and I can see exactly what this host is doing. This "person" (actually a management company) has 68 reviews for previous stays, but all of their listings are brand-new. That's because they're very consistently getting terrible ratings and reviews. The host just removes the listing and starts over with a duplicate every time. It's really discouraging that Airbnb allows this, but guests considering listings with few/no reviews can save themselves a lot of headaches by checking the hosts' reviews for other listings. Or, better yet, choosing an established listing with consistent reviews.

[Alice1208]

FACT- it is tiny "SINGLE" sink and it is dirty!

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[Sarah977]

@Alice1208  I don't know what you think continuing to post the photos here is accomplishing. We believe you that this was a scam- are you trying to convince us? 

[Alice1208]

I am extremely devastated and angry about this scam!! Airbnb is not responding and they are ignoring this issue, and it took them so long. I contacted them, both Airbnb and the host within 24 hours. But till now, nothing is solved. Airbnb wanted me to contact the host and get unspent/remaining nights refund. And each time I did so, the host "***" just refused and told me to contact Airbnb back. The communication is back and forth, repeatedly endlessly no solution for 1 week till now, and is still not solved. I am extremely devastated and frustrated and upset about both Airbnb and this host. I booked this FAKE unit for 1.5 months. They took lots of my money. Originally, the host "***"posted "85 dollar per night", but the bill now shows 8,000 dollars??!!! (85 dollars per night*1.5 month=8,000 dollars???!!!) . When I booked this unit, the listing shows "85 dollars per night". After I reported this FAKE unit issue, the listing post on website is modified to "6,1960 dollars per month". It really damaged and ruined my life. And now, this host is till out there renting out other units , probably all FAKE units, on Airbnb and pretending nothing is happening, I just want Airbnb to notice this issue. Sorry to bother you guys here, I want justice and want this issue to be publicly noticed. 

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[Anonymous]

@Alice1208   I would never condone false advertising, and this host is obviously a bad actor in the STR scene. But of all the horrific injustices in the world, I'm finding it hard to see how getting a single sink instead of a double sink should ruin a life. Who uses two sinks at a time, anyway? Couples who can't bear to be apart for 5 minutes when they use the toilet?

You got conned, and entered a Twilight Zone feedback loop of incompetent customer service. I think we've all been there in some capacity before, and I can sympathize with the frustration. I hate that there are so many scammers out there, but when you find yourself dealing with one, you don't want to lose your leverage before you've gotten a resolution. Anyway, what's done is done. Maybe try Airbnb's social media (Twitter etc), minus any direct mentions of the address or personal info. 

[Sybe]

Hi @Alice1208 , I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I can imagine how frustrating this must be. I've sent this over to the team, hopefully we can get a resolution for you soon.

I noticed that you posted information regarding the listing and host, and I'm afraid I've had to remove this as it is not allowed to share this per our Community Guidelines. I'm sorry about that.

I hope I'll get an update for you soon, and please keep an eye out for any communication coming via phone or email. 

[Sybe]

@Alice1208 they updated your case and a Support Ambassador will be in touch with you soon. Let me know how it goes! 

I'll keep an eye out on my side as well for any updates. 🙂 

[Alice1208]

I got conned and got charged over 8000 USD (for 85 dollars per night and stayed in this unit only for 3 days). This "***" is scammer. 

Do not allow scammers ruin Airbnb reputation, thank you.

Thanks and regards,

Alice

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