shared from Facebook
· Airbnb does not collect a security deposit nor does it allow the host to collect a security deposit, in or outside of their platform.
· Airbnb collects payments, often months in advance, but does not remit them to the host until 24 hours after the guest arrives.
· Airbnb can override the host’s chosen cancellation policy. The host confirms a reservation for a busy holiday week and a member of the guest’s party becomes ill. The booking is cancelled for an “emergency” at the discretion of Airbnb and without recourse or compensation for the host. No need to buy traveler’s insurance, Airbnb has the guests’ back.
· Airbnb routinely fails to enforce “extra-guest” fees even with photographic evidence or an admission from the traveler.
· Airbnb makes no distinction between a service animal and an emotional support animal.
· Airbnb routinely denies claims for in-house smoking and pet violations by the guest.
· Airbnb $1 million host guarantee is NOT insurance and funds are issued solely at the discretion of Airbnb and not a third party.
· When a host ejects a guest for a violation of rules (large party, smoking, neighborhood disturbance, vandalism, etc.) by default Airbnb automatically and instantly refunds the guest their balance without consideration of damages, lost revenue or other claims. The balance is refunded directly from the host’s bank account if payment has been disbursed by Airbnb.
· Airbnb often “pauses” or suspends hosts’ accounts for reasons unspecified. Airbnb will often refuse any correspondence and will cancel all future incoming guests, regardless of their numbers if this happens.
· When you are suspended or banned from the platform, often without a stated cause, Airbnb will notify your (previously) future guests of your violation of their terms of service determined by their “trust and safety” department and encourage them to find alternate lodging on their platform.
· Airbnb demands relevant communication only take place on their platform and when a conflict arises they will often remove all conversations with the conflicted guest from the host dashboard.
· Airbnb allows guests to rent anonymously. Airbnb allows guests to use pseudonyms instead of real names. Airbnb recently eliminated guest pictures during the booking process.
· Airbnb forbids the collection of a signed rental agreement, occupant list, photo identification or any personal information by the host.
· The arbitration agreement agreed to in the Terms of Service indicates hosts agree to an “informal” resolution by Airbnb’s “customer service team” before binding arbitration takes place. Hosts waive their right to a trial by jury, as well as their right to become a plaintiff in “any purported class action lawsuit, class-wide arbitration, private attorney general action, or any other representative proceeding.”
· For the purposes of dispute resolution, Airbnb will not consider any communication outside of their platform. This includes phone calls, texting, face-to-face conversations and private email to private email communications.
· Airbnb will often punish a host for offenses by blocking calendar dates, disabling a listing, removing “Super Host” status, levying a fine in the form of a lien on the host’s next booking, or removing the host from the platform temporarily or permanently. This typically occurs with accompanying correspondence indicating the decision is final, the matter is closed, and no recourse exists.
· Airbnb has a history of ejecting hosts from their platform, suddenly, without warning and without explanation. There is no recourse for the ejected hosts.
· Airbnb will not release guest information to a host. Any release of information about a guest will require a court order.
· Airbnb is beholden to the guest. The guest is the source of revenue for the Airbnb platform. If the guest is the customer, the host is the commodity. Hosts are both plentiful and expendable. Nearly everything the platform does in regards to host/guest interaction is designed to compel the host to accept all possible bookings.
· It is to the benefit of Airbnb to side with the guest when a dispute arises.
