Hello,
I had my first airbnb experience on Friday. It began badly before I arrived, host complaining about lack of sleep, having to travel far through the night and telling me how ill he was.
I feel responsible for not taking note of the warning signs now tbh.
I asked if we could have early check in, he agree for extra £50, which I was perfectly fine with.
No mention that he could not do it - he accepted and as it wasn't on the booking, I'd pay him the £50 in cash.
Morning of booking, host calls 15 minutes prior to check in to tell me he had to go shopping for sheets because he had none available for the bed.
It was a bit of a mess because I was on foot heading there with heavy luggage.
He gave me the lockbox number, I dropped off my luggage and left the apartment. It clearly wasn't ready, but I was happy to wait for him to prepare the place. I asked him to open windows upon his return (the apartment was quite smelly and stale). I left the £50 cash for him as promised.
He called many times, updating me, and his final call was that the apartment was ready and to go and meet him. I expressed that as I had a key, was it necessary to return and meet him - but he was very insistent. I'm new to all of this so obliged against my wishes.
Upon meeting him, I noticed he'd taken the cash. Honestly? I would not have taken it if it were my business. However, I did express to him that he had taken the cash for a service he couldn't provide - upon which he offered £10 refund. It genuinely was not about the money, it was the principle. I refused the money and he said he'd taken it because his father had been diagnosed with cancer the previous week.
I offered him a hug, he left. I then noticed that it was really quite dirty. All around the bed, the headboard, side tables, lamp were covered in dust. To the point I could clearly write the word ''DIRTY'' in the dust. It was so awful we didn't sleep in the bed and left around 6.30 in the morning just to get out of the place.
He texted at 7.26 saying he'd put extra on the parking.
I replied at 7.27 saying we'd already left.
I wasn't going to write a review, but was urged to do so by regular airbnb users who rely upon reviews.
Obviously, he has left a retaliatory response, which is 100% lies.
Saying he'd already said the apartment wouldn't be ready at time of booking. Untrue.
Stating I'd texted him at 2am. Untrue.
Saying he didn't hear from me after offering extra parking time. Untrue.
Seriously, I'm 60 next year, even in Radisson, Travelodge, Hilton or on a full holiday, I remove the bedding to help the cleaners and I clean up after myself. I'm certainly not a bad guest. I've nothing to gain by blatantly lying about this accommodation and the experience.
I've sent images of the dirt and images of the messages where he's lied about my time of reply - also including a text from him at 4.17am.
airbnb are refusing to remove his false account.
This is so violating and unfair.
What can I do from here? Obviously I shall never use airbnb ever again because - partly through fear and clearly it would be crazy to allow me to stay at your place after reading what the host has said about me.
He had been ill, which he had no qualms about telling me, the apartment was really dirty and smelled so stale that we didn't even sleep in the bed we'd paid for. It baffles me that I was a guest and he was telling me about his father's cancer, which if true, naturally I sympathise. But still, not quite sure he should be using that as a reason to take cash for a service he was unable to provide due to a lack of bedding.
This has been such a heart-breaking experience. The money is not an issue, it has gone. But the principle of being publicly lied about with no assistance from airbnb is shocking and plain wrong.
I'm certain there are many terrible guests out there who aren't considerate of hosts properties, but I'm not one of them. I told him I'd leave the place clean, but couldn't because it was so dirty to begin with.
