Retaliatory Rating

[Aj172]

I had a guest leave a great review, concluded with a 10/10 experience, but after I found damage to the property I had to submit a request for reimbursement, after denying the request, that same guest that initially said 10/10 ended up leaving a 1 star rating. Air bnb refuses to support or understand the nature of this retaliatory rating. What would you guys do, should I just not submit requests for reimbursements in fear that someone will in turn, leave a bad rating? 

[Aj172]

@Helen3 I reached out to guest with no response, but the sequence of events, a great review was submitted the day of check out, I then submitted a request for reimbursement, then the great review and poor rating was posted. Air bnb seems unable to verify if the rating was edited during that 14 day window. I would think the guest would be responsive if it was an honest mistake. It seems nefarious to me. 

[Joan2709]

@Aj172 

The problem was the guest posted their review, but you didn't. This allows him to edit his review until yours is posted. If you don't post a review, then theirs is published anyway after the 14-day window. Is that what happened?

Prob best not to let on about the damage claim until you post your review. Then the guest can't edit theirs.

[Aj172]

Yes, exactly this was my biggest takeaway, my thought was to wait and see how the reimbursement would turn out, then post the review, but that proved to be a bad decision. 

[Helen3]

As I said they wouldn't have been able to change the rating once published.

However if you hadn't left a review by the time you contacted the guest they could go in an edit it theirs if within the 14 day review period. @Aj172 

[Sara-And-Rob0]

This was addressed directly by Brian Chesky in the Airbnb Winter Release 2022...however, this seems to be a past remnant and the company has taken a different direction, including dismissing the valuable VP in charge of Host Relations...

https://youtu.be/zYrXoBhnaaY?si=viR4gRnGAEr9P2-W 

Scan to about 2:20 where he speaks to retaliatory reviews.