Battle of Fort York

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Title of post relates to listing location.

Message sent to me after midnight the day of check in.
“Ok I will meet you at the front entrance tomorrow at 5:15 - 5:30pm. Just wait outside, I will come and get you there. Thanks. Kate “

If you check elsewhere for my post re this host. You would see there had been issues. I was reassured by her message on Monday, and noticed she had a number of positive reviews, including one that mentioned how easy check in had been.

This was going to be extremely difficult considering I have a 3 Hour drive prior to arrival and it would be during very busy traffic in Toronto. I sent a message, via the Airnb system at 10 am. saying I would arrive between 6 and 7 PM. I continued my plans for the day. Packed and drove to Toronto.

At 5:15 PM I received a telephone call while I was driving on a major highway. I pulled the side of the road and spoke to Kate. She was very angry with me for not being there and asked me to be there within 10 minutes. As I had considerable distance still to drive, I advised her that I would be there between 6 and 7 PM, if I could be there any sooner I would be. She was very angry with me and said she would call me back. A few minutes later I received another call from her, and she advised me that the key will be left at the reception desk and I could get the parking pass from the security guard.

I continue driving down major highway, my phone rang three more times, As stopping and talking to her would further delay my arrival, and was dangerous considering the narrowness of the highway I was on at that time, I did not answer the phone. I figured I would be there with in 15 minutes. I arrived a few minutes before 6 o’clock. Signed in at the desk receive the key park Parked my car and let myself in to the apartment.

I called host as the only lamp in the apartment wasn’t working, I couldn’t find a new light bulb. She was quite rude, saying I’d better not break anything. She said the lamp ‘might” be unplugged. When I discovered it was, I asked her why, she said previous guest had broken switch. Why she didn’t a) leave a post-it on the lamp, b) tell me immediately that was the problem, I don’t know. There were many post-it notes.

Then I checked my email to discover host had cancelled the reservation. There was also a message asking me to lie, tell people that I was a friend of her mother, I was not to mention that I was an Airnb guest.

I also discovered that the message I’d sent earlier, had failed due to a network error. When I sent the message, it showed green, ie sent. It is unfortunate that this didn’t go thru, but it doesn’t address the unreasonable check in period.

She had offered use of a lockbox at the beginning of the week…

I tried to contact Airnb early Friday am, was unable to get anyone to answer the phone. I also posted on the Airnb Facebook asking for help. I sent a private message with my contact info. No one responded. I decided to continue with the trip, as I had multiple appointments to attend Sat, Sun and Monday.

At this point I called Airnb explained situation and Matthew made accommodation arrangements.

Today, I had an email from another Airbnb advisor. He had been told I arrived before check in time and “was uncomfortable with the cleanliness of the listing and I had cancelled. He went on to say that per policy, I should have given host opportunity to rectify the issues. Could I provide documentation of the problems? I might not be eligible for a refund. I replied asking him to contact the other advisor, told my story, and suggested he read the messages. Later, he sent another message, very kindly apologized for bothering me.

I’m very comfortable in the downtown Toronto Hilton. I have noted the name and contact info of Kate’s apartment management company. It could be that Airbnb might close the listing.

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How frustrating for you. I’m sorry you have had to deal with this while on a medical trip - that is enough stress! Air should shut her down as it is obvious she is renting in violation of the apartment management. Asking guest to lie is never a good sign!

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her last message to me
"I don’t know if you see these messages, but here is some info for you. I do Airbnb to make some money to go visit my family on the other side of the ocean. So it’s important. Don’t walk around telling you’re doing Airbnb there, just tell them you’re my moms friend. Please don’t screw my additional income as I need for important things, I haven’t seen my family almost 2 years. And pick up your phone when I try to reach you."

I can’t imagine sending a message with this nasty tone. Answering the phone while driving is illegal. She has cooked her own goose. Such stupidity. If she’d waited 30 minutes she would have earned some cash. It’s most likely that Airnb has shut her down.

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@Louise. Oh my. Guess this won’t be the place you can stay regularly as you get medical treatment in Toronto. So your host is running a whole space AirBNB and wants guests to lie about their relationship to the host? It does sound as though you will have the opportunity to review, but that doesn’t take the place of having a comfortable place to spend the weekend while you make your way to your appointments.

And, of course, I hope that your appointments go well.

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Well, I suspect that this is unlikely. They are reluctant to kill their golden egg.

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Listing is still up.

Fort york

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I’m sorry for you that you had such an aggravating experience but at least you are now housed comfortably at The Hilton. (yay!)

Just curious, did you learn what the rate is for your room, and does Air pick up the difference or do they charge the cancelled host?

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I was told that Airnb has a contract with a company that manages unsold hotel rooms. They are paying $170 a night and parking costs, which are not cheap in this area, as I’d booked a place with free parking. Airnb have applied my payment to the hotel costs, I don’t pay any more. I don’t know if hosts are charged the difference.
I needed a private bedroom, bath and parking. They couldn’t find a similar listing in the area. I expect if you’d booked a room with shared bath and no parking, they might have been able to find a vacant listing.

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What a nightmare! Sorry you had to go through that. To be honest I would have cancelled when she was being awkward about check in the first time, but I understand it’s the only listing that fit your needs. I’m glad it all worked out in the end.

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I have so many things I’m balancing. Doctors, work, my listing,…

It was a thought, but then there were some good reviews, and she said lock box on Monday. How was I to know she was lying? Lock box is mentioned on her listing, also flexible check in.

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I do recall your earlier post and had fingers crossed your trip would be perfect. Sadly this person is not a host. Her last communication was she would arrange a key. It’s obvious she wants to meet people to not let on she is illegally subletting and insist you give a fake story of how you ‘know’ each other. So essentially she is a liar.

Shame. I have a general rule of never reporting people to landlords, welfare, tax dept etc but some people deserve the consequences of their actions.

This ‘host’ has treated you appalling and I’m calling BS on her stories. I do hope Air shuts her down. You only booked for a couple of nights but suddenly this is enough income to see her family for the 1st time in 2 years, her fate is all in your hands? If my fate was in your hands like that I would have treated you like a princess with wine and chocolates on arrival, not abuse, demands and threats.

So glad Airbnb has put you in the Hilton, I do hope some room service for your troubles was included :joy: now I only wished you’d taken my earlier advice crying to Airbnb to cancel the booking and give you a credit for the now much smaller inconveniences of this ‘hosts’ original cancellation of your booking. For someone desperate to make illegal $ she’s sure quick to hit the cancel button.

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Sorry to hear about your poor treatment at the hands of this rank amateur! As I live in Toronto, I can tell you that her behaviour indicates that her condo building forbids owners or tenants from doing short term rentals in their units, so she was trying to hide your existence from the concierge at the front desk. Soon enough she’ll like have to shut down her listing herself, as building management will find out and can issue fines for violation of the condo by-laws. You can call them yourself if you’d like, I’m sure they would love to hear from you!

It’s also possible that her lockbox was removed during the course of the week, as the police are known to go around and cut them off lampposts on a regular basis.

Incidentally it appears that her listing is available at bargain-basement prices, so perhaps you got what you paid for… buyer beware!

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There are many at that price point. The unit was very small. I don’t think there was a lockbox, nowhere for it to attach to door. A lot of fuss as reception didn’t ask me any questions re Airnb. People who get found out do it to themselves, by renting to noisy groups, or pissing off a guest who will notify management.

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I considered it, but other listings in that location were nonexistent then. Airnb was not supportive when I contacted them on Friday am, suggested I would get no refund.
I could have not shared this experience as I knew there would be people who said I told you so. I’ve extensive experience in travelling, this is the first time something this outrageous happened. But as in prior planning, I had back up support, I booked thru Airnb and used my travel credit card, I had two options for obtaining support and accommodation. I had relatively minor inconvenience, Airnb arranged everything, all I had to do was leave and drive to the Hilton.

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Just had a message from host, asking for money. What a nut!
“Usage of my space for almost the whole night. Sheets were used, towels, soap, garbage in the bin. Front desk received keys at 2 AM. Also, I was a lot offended with disrespect and waste of my time. I was charged it work for not being there. Let’s pretend that this is cleaning fees even though it doesn’t cover what I lost it work.”

Prior to checking email, I did use the bathroom, washed my hands and sat on the bed, as there was only a hard chair, no couch. I had left the keys at 8pm.
Spoke to host at 6:28
Reservation showed as cancelled at 6:37
I called Airnb at 6:40 pm

This woman seems to have contracted whatever is affecting Donald Trump, total disconnection with behavioural norms and honesty. I will contact Airnb in the am.

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I wasn’t saying I told you so at all, I was expressing concern and empathy with your situation, I’m sorry if it did not come across like that.

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Just posted my review.

Don’t book this Airnb unless you are willing to have Airnb find you an alternative place to stay at short notice. Kate was unreliable, checkin instructions were not sent as promised. Checkin was changed from lockbox to a 15 minute period of time between 5:15 and 5:30 pm, changes were made the day of I was to arrive. Shortly after my arrival at 6:00 pm. I spoke with Kate by phone, as the only lamp wasn’t working.

Then I checked my email, one was a message from Airbnb be telling me that my reservation was cancelled, the time stamp was after the time of the phone call. Airnb was very efficient in arranging new accommodations.

A second email from Kate advised me to tell the reception desk, where I was to pick up key, that I was a friend of her mother, and not to mention Airnb as it might mean she could not continue earning money from Airbnb.

After I returned from my trip, Kate requested $40, “Usage of my space for almost the whole night.” As I was checked in at a hotel by 9 pm, this was not true. Times of my arrival and departure are documented in the front desk reception log.

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You mean submitted your review? It won’t post until she posts hers. I think I would have waited until the end of the 14 day period. I’m in a hold pattern on a couple of my reviews now (first time ever).

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I have no time or energy to figure out what the deadline is. She has replied, it’s full of more lies and libellous. Said I poked into her personal papers!
Will be contacting Airnb.

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When I click the link you supplied I see your review but not her reply. FWIW.