Guest requesting refund after checkout due to bedbugs

[Mike2776]

I have a guest who is requesting a refund due to bedbug bites they say they got in my unit several days after checking out. There wasn't a peep from the guest during their stay despite me asking several times if things were going okay, so I'm suspicious of this request. The guest has sent photos that look like bedbug bites but the photos they sent of the mattress don't show anything that definitely looks like bedbugs to me. I have a guest currently there too and they haven't said a word about bedbugs. I'm inclined to turn down the request and eat what I assume will be a bad review but I wonder if Airbnb may try to take action against me like shutting down my listing and forcing me to treat for bedbugs? Needless to say, if I really do have bedbugs, I'll do that myself, but based on the situation, I'm not really convinced I do. Thanks for any advice!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mike2776 Sounds like a scammer to me. Be ready to get an exterminator out to prove there are no bed bugs as if the guest complains to Airbnb then I am afraid they will most likely suspend your listing and potentially cancel future guests.

Strange that the guest waited until after they left to send you the claim.

[Suzanne984]

Some of these guests are **. I totally sympathise with hosts as I myself have encountered a few nightmare guests. How did everything turn out with Airbnb?

**[Content removed inline with the Community Center Guidelines- Please be respectful in your discussions with other members]

[Bhumika]

Hi @Mike2776 , As it has been a while since you posted, what did you eventually decide to do? Did you refund this guest?

[Mike2776]

I turned down the request and said we could revisit it if bedbugs were found. I had a professional inspection done and there were no bedbugs. And so far the guest hasn't had anything else to say.