Guest discriminatory language use on devices

[Patricia3428]

I’m a new host and have guests staying that via ring and Alexa notifications to my phone have heard/seen the guests using an absolutely unacceptable word.

They had been great guests as far as communication and upon arrival but when they returned to the house drunk their first night they sent an “announcement” via Alexa that also sent a notification to my phone (which I didn’t know was a thing). I added this word to a “routine” that announces use of this word in announcements is unacceptable. I also tried to shut off these notifications in app and saw this is a frequent word they used in general when speaking to the Alexa device. I wasn’t looking for this info at all and didn’t even know I could find it honestly! I left my devices for people to enjoy music on like I do and for easy on/off of some lights!  

I watched my ring footage the next night (thinking they had issues as they continued to lock/unlock the door) to hear them actually using this word. 

I’m not a person who takes this lightly and will always speak up about not using that term, but I’m unsure how in this situation. They’re in my house for 2 more nights so I’m afraid saying anything may lead to damage in my house.

I plan to leave a comment in my review and mark as someone I would not host again but how else can I handle this? Is this something to deduct the star review or just leave in the comments? If I report the person to Airbnb will they be contacted right away?  Would anything even happen? Since technically it was “accidental” I saw/heard this and it’s not directed at anyone I just don’t know how to handle, but this isn’t something I’ll not say something about somehow to the guest and to warn other hosts who hope to not have discriminatory things like this in their homes. 

Sorry this is long!! 

[Pat271]

@Gordon0  She apologized and will do better. ‘Nuff said.

[Kate867]

@Pat271 .. He actually commented to her original post.   Your response came subsequently to his and her reply stating that she is now aware.  We all ‘start’ somewhere.  Be kind….

[Pat271]

@Kate867  You’re right - I missed the chronology there. His post was the “last” one, except it wasn’t. 🙂 Gotta watch those timestamps.

[Anonymous]

@Patricia3428  The issues concerning surveillance have already been discussed, so I'm not going to get into that now, but I'm still struggling to understand why you feel that overhearing a guest using an offensive word in a private conversation is tantamount to "discrimination."

No matter how ugly that word was, it's just not a host's job to litigate guests' private conversations. If you encounter discriminatory behavior in your legit interactions with the guests, by all means mention that in your review. But it wouldn't be doing the community any favors to call your guests out for something you heard while spying on them. 

[Helen744]

@Patricia3428 I get that you are shocked at what you heard and are now also realising that it was not your business, so on a different tack It may be a good idea to prominantly nail your colors to the mast and make it clear somewhere in your post that'discrimination ' is against both the host and Airbnbs policies . This may go some way to giving you back a sense of control but as they say 'eaves droppers never hear anything they like " H 

[Lorna170]

@Patricia3428   It is very important that you reregister your rental echo devices under a SEPARATE account from your personal echo devices.  There is quite a bit of information available on Amazon's website on how to do this; look for how to set up your devices as concierge echos.  Then, make sure that all of your devices are listed somewhere in your AirBnB description so that there is no question as to what listening and camera devices exist at your rental.  

You CANNOT govern what your guests say while they are in your rental property and supposedly in private.  I think that they thought they were talking to a device that was only available within the confines of the property, and would not be heard or viewed by anyone else.  Unless the word is used while speaking face to face or on the telephone, do not reference it.  I would also advise that you check your local laws as to whether or not you can have your front door ring voice recorder on -- you may have to put up a sign that says that is is voice activated.

I recognize the importance of having perimeter or front door cameras to check the number of guests arriving. I also "get" the convenience of offering a device to instruct in how to use the TV or where to shop, dine or hike, but sometimes we go a little too far while trying to please guests.  I use devices in my own home, but have removed them from my properties.  When renting a home I will request from the host the right to turn off any echo/google/hub device capable of listening or viewing that I find in the home (within reason).

[Gillian166]

I don't use any of those things, I don't need google tracking my conservations so they can sell data to advertisers. 

[Gillian166]

I'm a little shocked you'd want to punish a guest for using a word you don't like. I can only think of one word that might be, and I still fail to see how you could possibly take it upon yourself to want to punish someone for it, after you were eavesdropping on a private conversation?  Astounding levels of authoritarianism in a regular citizen, straight out of 1984.