Fake damage claims from the host

[Sandra4965]

Hello airbnb community,

I was wondering if anyone had false damage accusations against them after their stay?

I have booked a flat in Bergen to celebrate my dad’s 55th birthday with the family. We have cleaned the dishes, took out the rubbish, gathered used towels and cleaned the surfaces for the flat to look presentable. 

After our departure from the property landlord opened a case for severe damages i.e. deep damage to the counter, paint on the walls, missing glasses and the key fob missing from the key ring, floors being sticky from spilled alcohol and so on. He is claiming over £4,000 in damages that we didn’t do!

every other day last week and this week he comes back with yet additional damages and this sets me to have panic attacks, as this is just absurd! It was a quiet weekend away with the family and NOT a house party for 20 teenagers! And my reviews during the time I have signed up for Airbnb is spotless: all precious hosts have mentioned me being clean and respectful guest.
I can see some pictures being fake and I have already reported it to Airbnb.

Did anyone have similar experience and how you dealt with it?

I am considering even reporting it to the police.

Any recommendations or advise would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sandra4965 Just tough it out. If you didn't cause any damage then just keep pushing back. Sadly there are bad hosts out there just as there are bad guests. Airbnb will, eventually, take your previous good record into account.

Oh and I doubt the police would be interested.

[Thomas2955]

FTP

[Helen3]

I would just calmly state to the host and Aurbnb what you have stated here and point to your previous reviews from other hosts @Sandra4965 

ask for time stamped photos of the alleged damage .

have you looked at the hosts previous reviews and his reviews of guests - are there any similar cases ?

do leave an honest review of your experience 

[Thomas2955]

Yes this is the newest scam. Stay away 

[Neil763]

Hi there,

How can you stay away, other than knowing that the host has done this to others (which you would not know in advance). Seems to me the only way to protect yourself as a guest is a check in and check out video.

[Bernadette519]

I always take pics when I arrive and when I leave an Airbnb or VRBO.  My husband thinks I'm nuts.  This is why.  People will lie.  If I have pics I at least have proof for court if anything would become of it.  I also take pics before I rent my Airbnb that I own.

[Jammys0]

This is the most recent swindle, indeed. Keep away

[Sophie-Marika0]

Hi 🙂 ,

Sorry that you have had to go through this! 

We are going through something very similar right now 😞 .

How did your case turn out?

Im worried and dissappointed at how Airbnb are handling our case.

Best wishes to you all

[Sarah5987]

Same!!!

[Lakeisha18]

Me as well. Company is definitely on the host side without listening or paying attention to my evidence

[Casey435]

I had the same issue. I didn’t think to take pictures for a 12 hour stay. False claim and I asked for timestamp photos and never received them and Airbnb still sided with the host.

[Pasha26]

Airbnb said it didn’t meet their claim standards so I got off luckily. But it was an opaque process and the team handling the claims didn’t call me as I requested. I’m traumatized. It seems others were charged. There was no acknowledgement that this sort of fraud is occurring… I just realized this is a larger problem watching French news (FranceInfo) cover scammed people!! (Aug 22nd)

[Lorina14]

@Pasha26 

I’m sorry about your experience, I’ve unfortunately read that there are some guests do this and there are some hosts who have done this. I wouldn’t have thought to take pics before and after my stay to prove the state of the listing. I guess it is a protection from situations like this.

Just FYI, it appears the teams that handle investigations like these only handle things via email and it takes longer than expected, even if a call is requested, I know it’s frustrating and I would expect that they would call but that is the policy. 

I’m glad it was ruled in your favor. What did Airbnb say their claim standards were?

[JulieAnne13]

Going through the same right now too! Airbnb is asking for pictures from me like I would have taken pictures of a place that I took care of!? Seems protective of the host .