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Original poster

Is Air B&B host being unreasonable?

39 replies

Inapickle72 · 08/10/2022 17:00

I was looking for a cheap AirB&B as budget is pretty tight but I do need somewhere to stay whilst travelling and house hunting. I found a double room that said £40 a night. However, when I changed it to two guests (going with partner) it said £80. I decided to double check with the host as usually when I've booked a double it's for the room, not per person.

I asked if it would be double £80 for two of us and he said it's a little extra, not double, as the only thing he needs to provide extra is a towel. He then came back and said no extra charge. I said OK great, so can I confirm it's £40 a night for two of us sharing. He said yes. I went ahead and booked just under 1 guest as otherwise the price was coming out as £80. He accepted straight away, but today he's come back today saying I need to add and pay for the other guest.

I went back and reiterated the messages he'd sent me confirming it was no extra cost. He says he'll do it half price for the second person. I questioner a bit further and then received a full caplock/shouting sentence from him.

In the end I've had to agree as we need somewhere to stay and I could only get a partial refund from him anyway.

But having sought as much clarity as possible and been told there's no extra cost for two, I feel like this has been done on purpose. The extra cost wasn't within budget and there's other places we would have stayed for a lower cost.

I also don't feel the shouting sentence was remotely professional. I was polite throughout. Is this something I can take to AirB&B or will they not care?

OP posts:
randomusername666 · 08/10/2022 17:04

When you review give him a low score for communication and explain why in your review.

I'd also raise a complaint with airbnb.

Original poster
Inapickle72 · 09/10/2022 16:14

Thanks - I will follow through. Just to add he's now just charged me the full price despite saying he'd do the second guest for 50%.

OP posts:
ChateauMargaux · 09/10/2022 16:23

He should have charged you £40 for a double room as advertised. Raise a complaint with AirBnB and book the cheaper room instead. You are not asking for a refund.. you are querying the additional cost that was charged without your authorisation. He agreed there would be no extra cost... he has come back and said there is... he is wrong. Refuse the additional charge and take it up with AirBnB.

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Bananarama21 · 09/10/2022 16:25

I don't know anywhere that charges 20 quid per person 80 sounds about right.

WeAreTheHeroes · 09/10/2022 16:28

Bananarama21 · 09/10/2022 16:25

I don't know anywhere that charges 20 quid per person 80 sounds about right.

Immaterial to the OP's question.

hedgehoglurker · 09/10/2022 16:29

Was all of your communication via the website? If so, I imagine Airbnb will be able to cancel.the booking and refund you if you complain to them.

ChilliBandit · 09/10/2022 16:31

I would raise it through Air B&B, I wouldn’t be happy staying in this man’s house with him there

Original poster
Inapickle72 · 09/10/2022 16:31

hedgehoglurker · 09/10/2022 16:29

Was all of your communication via the website? If so, I imagine Airbnb will be able to cancel.the booking and refund you if you complain to them.

Yes, all the communication is on their website.

OP posts:
CloseYourEyesAndSee · 09/10/2022 16:38

You're wrong in the first instance because with airbnb you must put in the number of guests when searching because most places add extra fees per person, so to assume you were paying for the room was incorrect.
however he was wrong to offer you one price then change it to a different price. The original mistake was yours and you really shouldn't complain to airbnb unless he was actually abusive. If so, don't stay there.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 09/10/2022 16:38

I would have cancelled everything the moment you got the shouty capitals, not handed him more money! I’d feel safer sleeping in my car or on an airport floor than in the house of someone who speaks to customers like that! He sounds dangerous, lying and being so aggressive!

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 09/10/2022 16:39

ChateauMargaux · 09/10/2022 16:23

He should have charged you £40 for a double room as advertised. Raise a complaint with AirBnB and book the cheaper room instead. You are not asking for a refund.. you are querying the additional cost that was charged without your authorisation. He agreed there would be no extra cost... he has come back and said there is... he is wrong. Refuse the additional charge and take it up with AirBnB.

Actually, the advertised price was £80. OP made a mistake assuming the price would be the same for one or two guests. He offered to discount her then changed his mind. Changing his mind was not ok, but he didn't advertise the price at £40 for two guests, OP made a mistake by assuming.

MossGrowsFat · 09/10/2022 16:40

Bananarama21 · 09/10/2022 16:25

I don't know anywhere that charges 20 quid per person 80 sounds about right.

Premier Inn, 39.50 for four.

akabluebell · 09/10/2022 16:42

Inapickle72 · 08/10/2022 17:00

I was looking for a cheap AirB&B as budget is pretty tight but I do need somewhere to stay whilst travelling and house hunting. I found a double room that said £40 a night. However, when I changed it to two guests (going with partner) it said £80. I decided to double check with the host as usually when I've booked a double it's for the room, not per person.

I asked if it would be double £80 for two of us and he said it's a little extra, not double, as the only thing he needs to provide extra is a towel. He then came back and said no extra charge. I said OK great, so can I confirm it's £40 a night for two of us sharing. He said yes. I went ahead and booked just under 1 guest as otherwise the price was coming out as £80. He accepted straight away, but today he's come back today saying I need to add and pay for the other guest.

I went back and reiterated the messages he'd sent me confirming it was no extra cost. He says he'll do it half price for the second person. I questioner a bit further and then received a full caplock/shouting sentence from him.

In the end I've had to agree as we need somewhere to stay and I could only get a partial refund from him anyway.

But having sought as much clarity as possible and been told there's no extra cost for two, I feel like this has been done on purpose. The extra cost wasn't within budget and there's other places we would have stayed for a lower cost.

I also don't feel the shouting sentence was remotely professional. I was polite throughout. Is this something I can take to AirB&B or will they not care?

Sounds like a couple of tampons down the toilet job followed by a load of toilet paper 😎

YumYummy · 09/10/2022 16:48

The advertised price was £80 for two people.

Catcherintherice · 09/10/2022 16:52

I don’t think I would even want to stay there for free after he has acted in this way. Even if he initially misunderstood there is no need for shouty capitals. I wouldn’t want to meet him in real life.

Hotandbothereds · 09/10/2022 16:55

The minute he replied with shouty caps I’d have cancelled the lot and put in a complaint to Airbnb.

If the price he wanted was £80 he shouldn’t have said he’d charge you £40 then changed his mind.

I’d still be very tempted to do that and stay elsewhere, I wouldn’t want to give him a penny of my money.

Cheeseandlobster · 09/10/2022 16:56

akabluebell · 09/10/2022 16:42

Sounds like a couple of tampons down the toilet job followed by a load of toilet paper 😎

Show quote history

What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you suggest something so petty and that might also cause the neighbours problems too?

Op I would go with the cheaper room or a Premier Inn. This stay is going to be uncomfortable at best

Hotandbothereds · 09/10/2022 16:57

YumYummy · 09/10/2022 16:48

The advertised price was £80 for two people.

Irrelevant once he’d offered the discount, he should’ve just said it was £80 as advertised if that’s what he wanted for it.

ChilliBandit · 09/10/2022 16:57

YumYummy · 09/10/2022 16:48

The advertised price was £80 for two people.

Then all he had to say from the start was it’s £80 for two people.

Original poster
Inapickle72 · 09/10/2022 16:57

He has two rooms he's advertising. Both to share, which he says allows a total of 4 guests (so two sharing.) My receipt now says two beds.

I understand I may have made a mistake initially, but he answered within seconds, reassured it was the same price for one guest as two. It's not so much this side of it that bothers me, but the aggression he's shown since. I can't afford not to stay there as already poured so much money down the drain. However, I'm not in the least bit comfortable being around the man.

When I queried on extra cost for a second person he also said 'I think there's only slightly extra for the towel.' How can you think? Isn't it his house?

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 09/10/2022 16:58

The OP only searched for one person originally, and only booked for one person - you think she should block the toilet for that, akabluebell?

OP, you can complain to airbnbn but you've only booked for one person rather than two so I doubt that is going to help your case. You may be able to get the booking cancelled.

JestersTear · 09/10/2022 17:00

I would be looking to cancel this booking and go elsewhere. I wouldn't want to stay in this man's house.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 09/10/2022 17:02

Cheeseandlobster · 09/10/2022 16:56

What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you suggest something so petty and that might also cause the neighbours problems too?

Op I would go with the cheaper room or a Premier Inn. This stay is going to be uncomfortable at best

Show quote history

I always assume that posters who write such pathetic nonsense are shy little mice who rarely venture outside but think that this is a normal way to behave

See also hitting people, having shouting matches in the street, slitting tyres for minor parking misdemeanors etc

If it's a thing I'd ask airbnb to review the correspondence and arrange a refund if that's your preferred solution

CatJumperTwat · 09/10/2022 17:05

I asked if it would be double £80 for two of us and he said it's a little extra

He told you right away it would be more than £40 and less than £80 for two people. You then booked for one person and challenged him when he said you needed to pay another £20 for a second person. He didn't need to "shout" but I can see why he was annoyed.

Original poster
Inapickle72 · 09/10/2022 17:11

CatJumperTwat · 09/10/2022 17:05

I asked if it would be double £80 for two of us and he said it's a little extra

He told you right away it would be more than £40 and less than £80 for two people. You then booked for one person and challenged him when he said you needed to pay another £20 for a second person. He didn't need to "shout" but I can see why he was annoyed.

No, he said that initially. Then he came back and said no extra charge. He also has charged me £40 a night for the other person - not the £20 he said.

OP posts: