Neil, in Australia
I want to get involvedin a class action law suit against Air BNB. I am American, though I live in Italy. Four months prior to my decision to spend 2 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I scouted many sites for extended stay options. The best location and offer for my budget was through Air BNB. The total price for my 64 day stay was around $1700 USD. I planned this 4 months inadvance so there would be no issues. When I arrived, I would have to stay there a long time, not like a couple of bad nights in a hotel. I had to pay almost $700 USD upfront non-refundable. It made me uncomfortable, anything can happen in 4 months.
I asked the host if the room had a full length mirror, for dressing purposes, she said no. She said she could buy one and I would be charged for it. I said fine. One of the reason I chose this unit was it advertised a washer/dryer which appeared to be in the apartment. I asked in advance if wifi was included and she said yes. I said it was the most important thing for me as I need it for business.
4 months later I arrive. I texted the host from the airport letting her know I was on my way on time. When I arrived, she was cold, not at all friendly. I had just come from a 15 hour flight.
We got into the room and she said there was no internet, it had been out in the building since the day before and it was up to chance when it would return. (it did turn on later)
I asked about the washer/dryer and she said it was 3 floor above and a shared laundry area.
That was not explained in the ad. I asked her how it operated and she said it took special coins that you had to go down the street to purchase. I was exasperated. I asked fo the address of the place, she never gave it to me.
I got settled and sent her an email, the kitchen drain was slow to work and the hall light was out and the kitchen under counter light fixture broke and fell to the counter when I tried to turn it on. I went to sleep. Within hours, I got an email saying my "reservation" had been cancelled. I would need, to leave that day. I thought it was a joke. I was having surgery the next day, I was exhausted and now baffled. How could a property owner throw you out, when you had taken possession of the unit, and it was paid for, the first installment required.
I called Air BNB and they said it was the owners perogative to do what they wanted.
This is legally nuts. There is no protection for the consumer. I asked where my money was and she said, "in your Air BNB account". So I had no access to my money to get another place if I could find one for the same amount of money and in the same location.
I asked if there were any penalties for the host and she would say, meaning none.
I told her, I wasnt going anywhere. I had a contract that was binding for me, but apparently not for the host. I said I would sit there and if they brought the police, we would have a picnic. Air BNB took another 5 hours out of my llfe, saying they would help me find alternative lodging and that never happened. By mid-afternoon, the air BNB rep called with "good news" the host has changed her mind and if I stopped complaining about the things that needed to be repaired she would "let" me continue with my original contract. I am not a lawyer, but this is absurd. The host has no obligation to me, but I do have a contractural relatioship with airbnb, and where does the host fit into this legalese??
Its a corrupt system that does nothing to protect the consumer and hides the relationship between the host and their colluding partner, air BNB.
I want to join the fight in exposing this. I could have been, and still might be out of a great deal of money, depending on the mood and whim of the host. I am stuck here and I came on a budget. If I am forced out again, which could happen anytime, I have no where to go, when you think about it, they have a big chunk of my money which could take months to get back to me, if ever.
Help me go after air bnb.
