Host claiming damage

[Laura4058]

Over two weeks after our stay, and after they left us a very positive review, I have been contacted by our host with pictures of blood on sheets and an invoice for $100. We are confident we did not leave blood on the sheets. The pictures show the sheets unwashed still on the bed , but you can see the floor which is not the floor any room had. The invoice claims 2 sheets and 4 pillows were ruined. They’re are no pillows in the pictures. We are a young group in our twenties, they know this and we suspect they are trying to take advantage. I have replied asking for time stamped photos , which bed / room it is , why did it take this long to contact us , and to explain the different flooring. Any other steps we can take or what we should do next ? Really can’t afford them taking $100 from my account which I presume they can? 

Any help appreciated , thanks

[Rowena29]

Hi @Laura4058 

Sorry you are having a negative experience.

Without knowing all the details and the facts of the matter, this does not seem to be very professional host behaviour and is not "in keeping" with how most hosts behave.

The host most definitely CANNOT just withdraw funds from your account, so you can relax on the count.

In fact, you can relax on pretty much every count, because a host has only 14 days to raise a claim with airbnb OR before the next guest checks in - whichever is sooner.  As you say it's after 14 days, if you reject the claim the host has no recourse.  As they have already left you a positive review, I can see no potential for any negatives for you whatsoever.   

 There are of course many instances where a host may leave a positive review for a guest and THEN quite legitimately discover some damage and approach the guests re this.   HOWEVER  I find it very hard to believe a host could fail to see blood on sheets and pillows  only discover it 2 weeks later.

Since the host left you a review, it seems unlikely it's a scam.. My best guess would be that they do in fact have genuine damage and have inadvertently contacted the wrong guests for the wrong reservation. As you say the flooring is different, perhaps the host is a co host or a manager and looks after more than one property.

The doesn't lessen the negativity of your experience but might explain what seems a fairly unusual situation.

IN summary - I'm certain you wont' have your bank account debited and almost certain you will not have any negative consequence from this contact.   I'm just a host though - so my word isnt' law, just experience

Hope this hasn't put you off airbnb.

regards

[Laura4058]

Wow thank you so much for the extremely helpful advice! Hopefully it was all just a mix up on their end as I do think as you suggested they have a number of properties. Definitely hasn’t put me off Airbnb thanks again for your help 

[Rowena29]

No worries @Laura4058 

Just to clarify though - I'm no one official - these are the community boards where hosts and guests can meet up to problem solve, share, ask advice etc. airbnb community officials monitor and occasionally interact, but they are not customer service and do not action anything.   I started off as a guest and I also now host. I'm not very experienced at either, but I am pretty confident that everything i said was accurate.

[Laura4058]

I understand thank you! Do you know what would happen if I refused to pay ? 

[Lisa723]

@Laura4058 if you refuse to pay, the host can either give up, or try to involve Airbnb. However, if it's been more than 14 days since you checked out, according to Airbnb policy they will not step in. If anything else happens (Airbnb Customer Support is notoriously inconsistent), direct them to this:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/767/what-is-the-resolution-center

As @Rowena29 said the host has zero means to charge you directly.