Hi!
I had a guest with two dogs recently, and one of the d...
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Hi!
I had a guest with two dogs recently, and one of the dogs peed on a basket that stood on the floor. The guest wrote to ...
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We recently had a guest show up to tour the property one month in advance. They didn't let us know they were coming and proceeded to walk around our home and onto our covered dock. We had other guests staying in our home at the time and were taken by surprise when we were informed that this happened. When I contacted support they told me that whenever someone makes a reservation they are provided our address, and have the right to come to our property anytime as long as they don't enter the home.
Is this true? This is our primary residence and if so I feel very uncomfortable with not being able to control when guests can come to visit my property. Has this happened to anyone else?
Answered! Go to Top Answer
Hi Maggie, this issue is being worked on at the moment!
What has happened here is, the way Airbnb traditionally operated was, guests were given a property address and details as soon as they booked. Airbnb did alter that late last year after complaints from hosts that guests were booking, receiving precise property details and were then, for one reason or another, cancelling their booking with details like entry codes and other sensitive information that had already been given, in their possession! Some even did this in an attempt to simply bypass Airbnb.
The policy then became, house rules and property details would be provided to a confirmed reservation 36-48 hours prior to the commencement of the stay. There has been such a dramatic backlash from booked guests complaining they have no stay details.....the stay is about to commence and they have no address..... no contact with the owner, the complaints were of such a substantial number that Airbnb have gone part way back to the original model until something else can be worked out.
You have in the first instance got onto an CX who was not entirely helpful or understanding, but was at least up with the current ruling unlike quite a few of them, But to be fair changes to the platform are happening at such a rate that CX don't get a chance to keep their templates up to date.
I am glad you got a neutral cancellation in the end Maggie, you are much better off without a guest like that. Guests who wish to take advantage of and stretch the rules, never make good guests.
Good luck Maggie and I hope its a long time before you strike another like that again.
Just one last point, when you make an approach to customer support a ticket will be opened with your issue. That ticket will remain open until it is closed to either to the satisfaction of both parties or CX, through guidelines, chooses to close it. But while that ticket remains open any subsequent contact is directed straight back to that agent!
If you feel you are not getting adequate attention to your problem and CX are not prepared to pass your ticket on to a higher level of help, thank the agent for their help and ask them to close the case. When that is done, make a new complaint and that way you will get a fresh pair of eyes looking at your problem. Be polite and passive in the way you talk to them, remember they are getting their heads ripped off all day and when someone nice comes along it is like a breath of fresh air to them and they do lower their barriers and go in to bat for you!
Cheers......Rob
@Maggie277, I'm with everyone else thinking this whole thing is just crazy! I wonder what Airbnb's stance would have been if these future guests disturbed your current guests? Current guests want a refund because people were walking around peering in their windows. Airbnb would probably suggest that you refund the current guests and give you a lecture about how important safety and security is for your guests!! . . . . ridiculous.
This is crazy! I'm glad you managed to cancel. How rude and entitled can some be to do something like that. I'd personally be furious!!! Actually I was because something of similar nature has happened to me.
I had a couple in their 60s book my house and the lady told me she's been a vrbo host for 15 years. next thing she's asking me if her sister could see the house. Me (stupidly) said yes, sure, the house is empty tomorrow let her come by.
Needless to say she inspected the house trying to find faults, like a buyer. Opened every door, every closet, inspected everything, the oven, the fridge, the closet linen which was closed and wanted to see whats inside and why do i keep it closed.
She got on my nerves so bad that I called the person who booked and I yelled at her to cancel because her sister was disrespectful and I am not comfortable with them. They tried to blame the sister but did cancel.
Now your story is even worse. I hate these people who feel entitled. Your guests were horrible!
wow! did you add any wording to your house rules after this experience? I am thinking I should.
I have just read through this entire thread and I am quite astonished. Firstly, I think it is awful that you have had this experience and Airbnb's Customer Support advisor was quite incorrect in their response. Factually incorrect to say that a guest who has booked to stay at your property, your home, has the right to violate your privacy, boundary and potentially your safety, they are TRESPASSING. The guest have booked to stay during certain dates and to abide by the Terms & Conditions, House Rules etc and that is the basis of the contract. It does not afford them the right to 'swing by' 'inspect' 'cross property lines' and 'upset' current guests and homeowners. How could you ever feel comfortable hosting these people totally correct to cancel their reservation. I liked the advise about closing down the complaint with an inept Airbnb advisor and re opening with somebody new who had a much better grasp and understanding of the situation. At the end of the day your rights as a homeowner were violated once an un invited 'third party' invaded, trespassed your boundary line. Guests should not be given the exact address until 48hrs prior to travel, must be a breach of Data Protection / Privacy Law.