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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To cancel this Air BnB booking?

73 replies

WildBelle · 06/07/2017 21:59

I had an amazing looking place on air bnb booked for a trip to London next week, but the host cancelled the booking earlier today . So I panic booked another place, which doesn't look as nice, but now I'm wondering if it's a bit dodgy and whether I should cancel it and find somewhere else.

The reasons I'm not sure are that the host and the property don't have any feedback at all. He has been a member since December last year. In the pics of the flat, they look more like stock photos than real photos taken by the host IYSWIM. There is a photo of the bed, which folds down from the wall, and it still has the plastic wrapping on the mattress.

Despite not having any feedback, the flat is apparently booked up on the availability calendar for literally every single night for the next year, which seems strange in itself. Seems a bit of a coincidence that the one night I wanted it was free?

It's quite cheap for the location (£85) and guests apparently have parking and use of the gym. Now when I click on the property the price of it has gone down to £55 a night, but it isn't available at all for the next year. Seems a bit too good to be true maybe?

I have the address and google image searched the apartment block and it does match the pictures in the listing, and after I paid I got a message from the host immediately saying it was fine for us to stay there on Monday. I queried the parking and he confirmed there was parking, although wasn't specific about where it was exactly. I also asked what time we needed to leave the next day as it wasn't on the listing, and he said midday, but on his listing it says guests can check in anytime from 1pm. Surely an hour turnaround between guests is a bit quick?

I can cancel now and get a full refund apparently, but don't know if I'm being overly suspicious! I've never had anything but positive Air bnb experiences but something about this just doesn't sit right, and the last thing I want is to get to London and find I have nowhere to stay. WWYD?

OP posts:

HipsterHunter · 07/07/2017 00:09

@GabsAlot thanks - I totally assumed they wouldn't get paid until after the visit, live and learn :-)

badg3r · 07/07/2017 00:30

Try the premier inn at Waterloo. I walk past it often and always think it looks so fancy (mainly due to location!).

Good call on cancelling. Definitely something fishy going on.

Original poster

WildBelle · 07/07/2017 00:39

Thanks for the suggestions, I've handed over the responsibility of finding somewhere to the bf...he lived in London for years so knows the various areas far better than me, I'm a bit like Pig in the City when I go there. Worst case scenario we can always get a premier inn or something, it's only for a night so doesn't matter too much.

OP posts:

Firstaidnovice · 07/07/2017 07:16

Missing the point here, but your host cancelled on you at short notice, and you only got vouchers? That's not right, surely? As in, Airbnb can't do that, can they?
They haven't fulfilled the original contract, so surely they have to refund you properly? I have previously had some last minute issues with hosts going AWOL just before I got on a flight, and the Airbnb help centre folk were surprisingly helpful.
Anyway, good luck with the search.

Ceto · 07/07/2017 07:23

Firstaid, it was OP who cancelled, not the host.

Original poster

WildBelle · 07/07/2017 08:58

It was me who cancelled the last one but the original place I booked was the host that cancelled.

OP posts:

TheSnowFairy · 07/07/2017 09:13

Very impressed with the detective work on here 🔍

Firstaidnovice · 07/07/2017 09:23

Sorry, I thought you'd said you only got credit for the first one, where the host cancelled on you. Which seemed wrong!

Heartoverheadhouse · 07/07/2017 09:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyLondonHome · 07/07/2017 10:04

This appears to be a scam listing on AirBnB. The images have been taken from our site and are from a number of different developments in London. We are reporting this listing to AirBnB

Original poster

WildBelle · 07/07/2017 10:25

I reported it too, MyLondonHome. So glad I posted here and didn't just turn up in London hoping for the best!

OP posts:

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 07/07/2017 10:57

How do you even do a reverse image search?
You can go to Google images and drag and drop the picture you want to check. It then comes up with all matches (Tineye is the same sort of thing). It's a great way of weeding out the shysters on internet dating too!

thereallochnessmonster · 07/07/2017 11:43

Thanks, HundredMiles and Bollocks - v helpful!

SpiritedLondon · 07/07/2017 12:02

I learn something new everyday on MN. I knew it was dodgy when I took one look at the pics versus the price and saw it was described as cosy!!!! I mean " cosy". ??? Come on fraudsters " spacious" surely. ?

bigbluebus · 07/07/2017 12:39

Hundredmiles You beat me to it - I had just established that MyLondonHome (as shown on the photos) was an estate agents - then clicked back on the thread to see you had been a much quicker super sleuth .

I have just booked a holiday property in France for August which is listed as new with no reviews. Will be going back now and checking it in much closer detail

ThePants999 · 07/07/2017 12:44

How do you even do a reverse image search?
If using Chrome, right-click the image and select "Search Google for image".

notgettingyounger · 07/07/2017 12:45

MN at its best. Well done everyone!

notgettingyounger · 07/07/2017 12:46

PS Could you also report ASAP to the police whilst they still have this guy's current mobile number and can track him? Or will Airbnb do that without alerting him first?

greendale17 · 07/07/2017 12:51

I would cancel- sounds fishy

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 07/07/2017 13:17

If you right click on an image it gives you an option to 'Search Google for this image', that allows you to see if the photo is an original or if it is a stock photo/copied from another site.

user1499333856 · 07/07/2017 13:29

If there's any problem at all, say the host cancels, Airbnb will refund you / put you in a hotel for free. Host cancelled on my husband at the last minute. They were super. This is nothing to worry about.

bigbluebus · 07/07/2017 13:35

That's useful to know user. I hope they sort it out quicker than they did when my DS had an issue with his account being blocked (through no fault of his own) and was unable to book accomodation. They took 10 days to sort it and lost 2 lots of bookings because of it.

Rachyabbadabbadoo · 07/07/2017 17:58

I used Airbnb earlier this year. All fine until we had a major safety issue with a boiler. Host only wanted to correspond via text (boiler was actually rattling and shaking so hard it was coming away from wall), and airbnb were impossible to contact verbally (even using emergency number). Seems if everything goes well and your host is a decent person it can work well. If however your host is a git, and you need help immediately, you are stuck. Wouldn't ever risk it again if your time is precious. And don't get me started on their shocking customer service

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