Hi everyone.
I have been a long time AirBnB user over the years and to date have never had an issue with any Host until recently. Travelled to London and booked an AirBnB in Fitzrovia. Nice little apartment. Communication with Host was good. We left the apartment as planned after 3 nights on Saturday 26 November 2022 at 10.00am, leaving keys in the Lock Box and advising the Host we had left. On Tuesday afternoon, 29 November 2022, I receive an email from the Host saying they wanted over $1200 AUD for damage to three items - a blind, a lounge chair and a Duvet. There were photos sent with the Request. What was most disturbing, other than the fact that we were not responsible for any of the issues brought forward by the Host, was that she accused us of having Children in the apartment, stating there were sticky fingermarks all over the furniture, and a green boiled lolly had melted into the Duvet and the stain could not be removed. My wife and I are in our 60's, we did not travel with any children - we have our Ferry Tickets/Airline tickets to prove there are just the 2 of us travelling. Why I even have to state this is beyond me. We did not even bring any food to the apartment as we ate out all the time. We only had cups of tea and coffee. We never even sat in the chair the Host accused us of damaging. We do not even know what blind the Host was referring noting we closed all three blinds when we arrived and never touched them ever again. The green stain of the Duvet, well we did not even remember seeing it, as if I would have I would have certainly taken a photo of it and sent to the Host. I have stayed in Air BnBs previously an on one occasion I broke a Hosts knife, and then replaced an item that broke with a vastly surperior type, and advised the Host of doing so. The accusations that this Host has made was Disputed by us, and whilst we await Air BnB to resolve, and regardless of what their response is, we feel like we have been scammed, and also hold the opinion that this Host must be a serial Accuser desperate for another Fix of sorts. Maybe she gets lucky with 1 out of every 10, but watch this space because whatever it takes and with a solid background in contract law, I will make it my mission to flush out people who think that this practice is acceptable. Hosts have a responsibility to provide a Service, within the bounds of the Law. AirBnB users also have obligations that protect the Host's property. These accusations levelled at us are not only unjust, they are lies, and the accusations could be easily interpreted as threatening. The term Extortion comes to mind, but I'll leave the AirBnB review team to work it out. I am very eager for anyone from Team AirBnB to reach out to verify the above. Like I said, I will not let this go. It is so so so wrong. AirBnB is a good product, however the screening of their Hosts in our case, leave alot to be desired.
