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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
OnionKnight · 07/01/2018 09:33

You did the right thing, asking for a cash refund makes me think that she knew what she was doing.

nocampinghere · 07/01/2018 09:33

She was being a cf but I couldn't have thrown her out like that / called the police.
It was 9.30 at night, how much "damage" could the toddler have done? Surely he was just going to sleep?

TammySwansonTwo · 07/01/2018 09:33

Definitely torn on this one - she was definitely in the wrong bringing her child but I'm not sure I could have turned away a woman and toddler late at night, or called the police on them. I'd be too worried about what would happen to them, even if it is her fault.

CantChoose · 07/01/2018 09:33

YANBU. She had the choice to stay at home if she couldn't find an alternative.

SemolinaSilkpaws · 07/01/2018 09:34

Not sure how this works OP but you should notify AirBNB yourself as she will try with others. Can you get people blacklisted? Also stop her writing a review on your place that is untrue.

As a side note like the sound of your AirBNB as a quiet haven when wanting somewhere to stay without the screech of tremulous childish voices.

swingofthings · 07/01/2018 09:34

You have no idea what the situation was. Maybe she was genuine, maybe the person who was supposed to look after her child really let her down at the last minute, maybe she'd saved for months to be able to afford this wedding that means a lot to her.

She came at 9:30, so the child was going to be asleep soon enough and they were probably going to be out soon in the morning. I personally would have been very annoyed, let her know, but probably not let her and a toddler out on the street at that time. If I had, I certainly would have given her the money so she could afford a hotel.

I think you are right on principle, but I think you lacked to consider how you might have left a woman and little kid vulnerable isn't very nice. You run a business and that often comes with annoyance with people taking you for a fool (as I've experienced more than once as a Landlord) but it doesn't make it right to put someone in a potentially dangerous position.

insancerre · 07/01/2018 09:35

Yanbu
And she doesn't get a refund either
The op could have relet the room so will be out of pocket if she refunds

FluffyWuffy100 · 07/01/2018 09:35

Ah I see you DID NOT refund via cash. Thank goodness.

Lots of people posting on here seem to have no idea how Airbnb works.

She’s a total scammer.

FluffyWuffy100 · 07/01/2018 09:35

It’s not fucking Bethlehem and the Op is not the only stable in town.

The CF knew she couldn’t stay there with child. At that point she should have booked alternative accommodation.

InfiniteSheldon · 07/01/2018 09:36

Yanbu anyone saying poor child should be saying that to the mother not to the OP who didn't want, clearly stated she didn't want and could not accommodate said child.

FluffyWuffy100 · 07/01/2018 09:37

it doesn't make it right to put someone in a potentially dangerous position

FFS the woman out herself and her own child in a vulnerable position. Not the OP.

SuburbanRhonda · 07/01/2018 09:37

Interesting how many people think it was the OP’s responsibility to ensure they weren’t out on the streets at night, and not the child’s mother, who failed to make adequate arrangements to keep her child safe.

Original poster
Hiptrip · 07/01/2018 09:37

No swingofthings I did not put her in a potentially dangerous position. SHE put herself and her child in a potentially dangerous position.

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 07/01/2018 09:39

swingofthings but surely if someone says your kid can’t stay you don’t reply “ok I’ll book anyway” you look for other options Confused

It’s not fucking Bethlehem and the Op is not the only stable in town. Grin

MissDuke · 07/01/2018 09:39

Of course most don't know how it works, how would you if you don't do it?

I wouldn't have a clue, and this woman may well not either. Doesn't necessarily make her a scammer, maybe just a chancer, thinking the op would give in (I think most people would to be honest).

JanetStWalker · 07/01/2018 09:39

YANBU.

Mrsmadevans · 07/01/2018 09:39

OP you have not done anything wrong please do not feel guilty.

SemolinaSilkpaws · 07/01/2018 09:41

Swingofthings child would soon be asleep. Not in my experience of toddlers. Rocketing around half the night as excited as in new surroundings. Was the child dry at night too? All beddding pissed on or worse.

Idontdowindows · 07/01/2018 09:41

Ah, how lovely, the old switcheroo. It's why my friend stopped doing AirBnB. People were showing up with extras, with pets, and one even with electric plates to cook on!

SandyDenny · 07/01/2018 09:42

Even if the supposed alternative childcare let her down it wouldn't have been whilst she was on the OP's doorstep. She should have rung beforehand to explain.

The money will have to be sorted in accordance with airbnb policy

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 07/01/2018 09:42

Oh and absolutely no refund in cash at the door. You don't know this person and it reeks of scam. So she gets the cash off you to find somewhere. Then claims everything back off Airbnb later too. Or uses a stolen card so is quids in. It's all too shifty.

iBiscuit · 07/01/2018 09:42

Maybe this wasn't a scam. But I wouldn't want someone as flaky and CFish staying in my home. I wouldn't feel safe.

Anniegetyourgun · 07/01/2018 09:43

Would the police have really turned away a hysterical woman with a small child and left her to it if it had been in a remote or dangerous location with no alternative accommodation or return travel options? I suggest that is unlikely.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 07/01/2018 09:43

@Hiptrip, don't give if a second thought, you did the right thing.🌸

Original poster
Hiptrip · 07/01/2018 09:43

I let another room in the house as well, and due to my house rule people coming expecting child-free accommodation. So I couldn’t allow her in, as I had another guest.

Thankfully that guest was out for the evening, when all this kicked off.

OP posts: