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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have turned away this airbnb guest?

999 replies

Hiptrip · 07/01/2018 09:05

I have been doing airbnb for a while and have found it a great way to meet new people, and earn a little extra. That is until last Friday night.

Despite my house rule of no children, a woman wrote to me and asked if I could make an exception, promising that her two-year old son would be very well behaved. My house is not set up for children, and I simply don’t want toddlers here so I replied and said no.

She said that was okay and booked anyway, saying she had to come to my town for a wedding, and that she’d find someone to look after him.

Then she turned up with her child at 9.30pm saying she couldn’t find a sitter, and had hysterics as she pleaded with me on the doorstep, to allow him to stay. I refused and in the end called the police because she said she wouldn’t leave until I gave her, her money back in cash because she needed it to stay elsewhere. As she was starting to cause a nuisance, they got rid of her.

She’s taken this to airbnb. My argument is that she was told she couldn’t bring her child, and did anyway, so she should lose her money. Not unreasonable?

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 12:48

This reply has been deleted

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Snowysky20009 · 07/01/2018 12:50

FFS some of you are unreal!

All this the 'child is wet and cold' what a load of crap. They came in a car, cars have heaters, therefore cars are warm! He's wet? Where did that come from? Did OP say he was wet? CF asked to use the toilet for the LO, so is he in nappies or not? Surely most parents would put a two year old in a nappie or pull up for a car journey?

See there's so many unanswered questions. But the reality is this:

  • she has a car so is not wondering the streets
  • she obviously has money if she's coming to a wedding
  • the child is in a warm car
  • if he is in nappies he doesn't need to toilet, she can change him in the car- we've all done that!
  • children (well the majority) sleep peacefully in the car when it's dark
  • if she has money for the wedding she has money for a travel lodge/premier inn etc
  • if she couldn't find somewhere (but OP says there are loads of places to stay) she can easily drive back home

All this crap about turning a mother and child out on the street- get real people! Wake up and smell the coffee!

WestEndVBroadway · 07/01/2018 12:50

Pengggwyn You said you would not turn away a child. No you don't run a b&b, so you really can't comment.

Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 12:51

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CherryMaDeara · 07/01/2018 12:53

So why mot send OP £80 so she can issue the refund?

BashStreetKid · 07/01/2018 12:54

Obviously inside the car could be warmed up, but the child would need to be removed from the car for changing and feeding, so finding suitable facilities, then taking the child into a chilly service station, changing them into pjs etc. Just not nice for the child

If she lived any distance away, the child would probably have had to be taken out of the car for changing and feeding anyway. It's hardly the most dreadful thing that can happen.

And IF this wasn't a scam, the more likely scenario is that she gets back in the car, rings round the local Premier Inns/TravelLodges etc, and drives there. Or else she goes back home. Again, not a massive hardship for the child.

Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CherryMaDeara · 07/01/2018 12:56

But who will recompense OP for her lost £80?

Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 12:56

This reply has been deleted

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imyourgirl · 07/01/2018 12:58

@ivykaty44 ugh!

I have severe anxiety at times and having two different people knocking at the door next door everyday would absolutely send me over he edge. Which is why I live in the arse end of nowhere the nearest house is ten minutes away.

BewareOfDragons · 07/01/2018 13:00

YWNBU. At all. She asked, you said no, she tried it on anyway.

And wouldn't refund her either. She essentially cost you another booking: she kept the reservation thinking you'd cave and allow her child to stay. You could have booked someone without children in for the weekend; she cost you that.

SandyDenny · 07/01/2018 13:03

I may have missed someone else pointing this out but really, if this is a scam it's a pretty rubbish one. The woman has paid her money to airbnb, she turns up hoping to not be allowed into the house so she can try and get 2 refunds. Is that right? So what is the plan if the OP says, sure, come on in?

Is she stuck in a room she doesn't want with her child for 2 nights?

How is it a workable scam?

Jaxhog · 07/01/2018 13:04

YANBU. You'd already made the rules very clear to her, so the fault was hers. Let's hope AirBNB see sense too and don't refund her.

Jaxhog · 07/01/2018 13:05

I don't think this was a scam. She was just too lazy to find somewhere else that would take her kid and hoped you'd fold when she turned up late.

KateGrey · 07/01/2018 13:08

For all of you who’d invite her in can I have your address please? I’m making 2018 the year of travel so me and one maybe more of my children want a room for the night.

BashStreetKid · 07/01/2018 13:08

Pengggwyn, what would you have done if, after all your kindness, the woman refused to leave, and still insisted on her money back despite the fact that it could leave you £240 out of pocket (the £80 cash refund, the further £80 refund via Airbnb, and the £80 to the other guest)?

Trills · 07/01/2018 13:08

I don't think it was a scam. I think she is a person who would benefit from more people saying "no" to her.

FelixBrown · 07/01/2018 13:10

@sandydenny she would then complain about something to airbnb to get a refund. Something that can't easily be checked so doesn't have to be true - maybe saying the other guest was really loud, or the room wasn't cleaned enough. In that case she'd only get one refund, but wouldn't be paying for an unwanted room

BashStreetKid · 07/01/2018 13:10

So what is the plan if the OP says, sure, come on in?

She's already made pretty sure OP wouldn't do that by specifically querying it beforehand. And/or she manufactures an emergency or another reason for demanding her money back.

AdalindSchade · 07/01/2018 13:11

Pengwynn you would ring around travelodges for her?! You really are a mug

QuiteUnfitBit · 07/01/2018 13:11

I think she [the "guest"] is a person who would benefit from more people saying "no" to her.
This is so true! No wonder the woman was so upset. She realised that AirBNB wouldn't refund, so she stands to lose all the money!
I actually admire the OP for standing her ground, as she was put in an awful position.

Snowysky20009 · 07/01/2018 13:12

SandyDenny because she contacted her and made sure the OP would not accept children, the chances that she would give in on the night is very slim.

If she does allow her child to stay, then nothing lost initially, however, she could then make complaints that the room was not suitable for a child, her child was hurt in some way etc. Which then puts OP in a bad situation as she technically wasn't supposed to have a child there, so could affect insurance etc, also put she her in a difficult situation with Air bnb as she was deviating from the contract.

Basically it can open a can of worms- which would not be in OP's favour.

WellThatsATurnipForTheBooks · 07/01/2018 13:14

I don't think it was a scam. I think she is a person who would benefit from more people saying "no" to her

This.

She sounds like someone who has been used to getting her own way by stamping her feet and shedding a tear. A ridiculous sense of entitlement whereby she thinks rules don't apply to her.

giveitfive · 07/01/2018 13:15

YANBU. You aren't living in Bethlehem and this isn't the story of the holy family it's the story of C.F. who thought they could bully you into acquiesence. You told her your conditions of booking in advance and she ignored them. I think she has no right to her money back at all.

All these people making out that she could have been in need or in a dangerous situation.. Then she should have gone to a refuge, not land on your doorstep shouting and swearing and demanding a refund. You are not a charity and she chose to drive to a stranger's house under conditions that had clearly not been agreed.

No hotel would give someone a refund in this situation. You will have missed out on another suitable booking as a result of this CF.

Stand your ground. And ignore anyone trying to make you feel like you need to be a charity. You don't.

Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 13:17

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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