Yep I understand. Maybe I was lucky and had a Airbnb rep who didn’t know what they were doing… but they definitely told me I could keep the payout if I wanted.
Again, like I said earlier, sorry you experienced this.
I am absolutely right to raise this issue because if it happens to me it can easily happen to someone else. I believe Airbnb should have different systems and procedures that make it safer for single woman to rent rooms in their home. This was a very difficult and complicated situation. I contributed to it. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t work towards a better system that will be safer if it can be implemented. I am the opposite of a troll. I care about Airbnb. I advocate for Airbnb. I provide my guests with a wonderful experience. You have no right to label and attack me.
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And I believe the safeguards can and should be strengthened. I’m not looking for sympathy. My city council is the place where these types of regulations are managed. If I believe Airbnb is not doing EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP HOSTS SAFE, I am going to be an advocate for change.
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The Head of the Charles is really a big deal around here. [I forgot to raise my rates and instead had a lovely couple coming to meet their new grand baby and didn’t know what crew even was!]
People all over Cambridge move out of their homes to rent them out on craigslist and through realtors for this event. Folks can often make enough money in one week to pay their entire property tax bill for the year. And this pre-dates the “sharing” economy by decades.
Obviously, @Kathleen_Gilroy should not have allowed this person to check in without Audrey, but to blame HER for being a victim in her own home seems unbelievable. She was first a victim of a reservation scam or fraud. Audrey pretended to be making a normal reservation and instead was getting a buddy into her home. And then this man was horrifying. Maybe you haven’t been assaulted this way [and yes this is assault] and think you will know just how to handle it. You don’t. You have no idea how this will make you fearful to make any moves that might be you in harm’s way.
This just reinforces how we can not simply depend on AirBNB income to make a living. There will be times that any one of us could loose a big-sum-to-us-of-money on any single booking. Walking away from $750 is not something that most people take lightly, especially when you are selling time, which is not a renewable resource.
I would slam the hell out of these people in the review and ensure that EVERYONE in the future knows that Audrey feels comfortable cheating and putting other people at risk. Her account will no longer be the one that can get the bookings.
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If Airbnb’s systems and policies can be set up for better safety and protection and they are not, then Airbnb has some responsibility here.
When someone who didn’t book the room shows up instead of the Airbnb member you thought was coming, you notify Airbnb, and the reservation is cancelled. You don’t get paid for it, because no one stayed. But you also don’t get dinged for cancelling.
Thank you. I came to this forum looking for suggestions about how to improve the systems and policies so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else. I wish I had not started this conversation.
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Are you guessing? Or is this based on actual experience ? I ask because what you say directly contradicts what I have experienced in this situation …
Yes but I have been running an Aibnb since July 2015 and I have not been well educated about these issues. I read all the forums but there are so many variables that it is sometimes hard to know what to do. If I think that something can be changed to make this better, I am going to advocate for it. I won’t make this mistake again. But some other woman will and she may be seriously hurt. I’m shocked that many of you have responded by attacking me.
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Sorry you had this terrible experience… I’ve found this forum really is a great place to come to find answers and information, but there are some on here that can be pretty negative, harsh and ‘to the point’ at times.
We’re all learning as we go, especially if we’re new to Airbnb, and might not get it right the first time. Let’s try to remember we’re here to support one another. Can’t we all just get along please?
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No, I’m not guessing. I had someone book as a woman and show up as a man. He was the woman’s live-in boyfriend and had been booking this way for a long time. I notified Airbnb immediately, and they told me in no uncertain terms that they would be contacting the woman whose account it was and telling her not to do this or allow this again. Then they told me that allowing him to stay was at my discretion, and they would not hold a host cancellation against the host when the wrong person shows up. I told them he seemed like a reasonable person, and I would allow him to stay this time. I could have done otherwise, and I made sure he knew that.
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Why are you shocked? I didn’t attack. It just makes logical sense that you contact Airbnb if you have a problem with guests not following obvious rules.
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You called them three days after you allowed him to stay without having been the one who booked with you. If I understand you correctly, you made a demand that they let you both kick him out and keep all the money. That’s more than they can do.
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I was lucky then 
or Maybe it was because I insisted the guest cancelled and they called air, I have no idea why the same situation would end with different results.
Sad to hear that.
Yes, if the guest cancels the cancellation policy is adhered to by Airbnb. The original poster’s “guest” was drunk and belligerent. I doubt he would have cancelled.
Hindsight is always good, but if this guy showed up looking neat, tidy and personable, I would most likely have let him in; and I’m a fairly well-seasoned host. What I would not have done is involve my local government but instead pursued all avenues with Airbnb and hope for the best.
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I don’t give a flying F if someone is drunk. My house, my rules period. I’m not saying she should physically take him by the arm and throw him out. Tell him to leave & if he doesn’t, call the police and let them handle it. He’s trespassing at that point, especially because he’s not even the person who is suppose to be there.
Even if there was a grey area where the police weren’t sure if he could legally be there. The fact that he is causing a disturbance is usually more than enough. They would likely give him two options at that point, leave or go to jail.
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None of that applies to this situation at all. @Kathleen_Gilroy chose to stay there and let him go on and on instead of either removing herself from the immediate situation or having him removed. The guy was obviously way out of line and is a complete jerk. But he in no way “assulted” her.
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Actually, if you stand your ground you will definitely get paid per the cancellation policy. It’s basically a no-show. Or, at best, a guest that broke a major rule and was kicked out.
I’ve had several and got paid in full each time.
And you don’t have a clue about what it is like to be a woman alone with a man who is drunk and sexually inappropriate. It is scary as hell and it is not clear in the moment what the safest path out should be.
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