@Bradley162
Yeah Brad, you have been played for an idiot!
Because Airbnb is so guest centric, some guests know they can get away with this behaviour with immunity. And it is becoming worse!
- Guests know they can book a 14 night stay for a 15% discount, cancel after 6 nights and get refunded for the remainder of the stay at the discounted rate and the host gets stiffed into providing a 6 night stay at a 15% discount!
- The guest knows they can book a 7 night stay and on the last day introduce bedbugs from a supply they carry with them and claim a full refund for the entire stay and get the hosts listing closed down.
- Guests know they can threaten the host with a 1 star review unless the host agrees to a substantial refund for some insignificant issue the guest might have conjured up.
Guests know how to work the system Brad because Airbnb let them, their word is gospel whereas the hosts word and house rules is of no consequence. You won't get support and Airbnb will run you around in circles saying they don't have an answer and close your case.
I am fortunate in that I have been here on the CC for 6+ years, I have seen it all and I have taken steps to make sure what has happened to you will not happen here.
You have to strengthen up your listing description and make it clear that, privacy will be respected but acreage or not you have a cigarette smoke detector which alerts your phone and sounds an alarm when cigarettes are smoked within the listing.
You have to make it clear that unauthorized visitors are not covered under Airbnb's protection scheme and property numbers are monitored before entering the listing.
You have to make your property unappealing to guests who might want to push the boundaries and screw you over.
Learn from each experience Brad, and close off that loophole from your end and you will have a great hosting career.....but don't expect support from Airbnb, when it comes to disputes that's what guests get, not hosts!
Cheers........Rob