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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Found video baby monitor in holiday home

35 replies

YellowSunshineSky · 01/08/2021 23:46

I'm quite disturbed as I've just noticed a video monitor switched on in one of the bedrooms of the holiday home I'm staying in (Airbnb).

I've now switched it off and I've just messaged the owner to ask why it was left on.

Obviously I'm not BU, I just didn't know where else to post!

What do I do in this situation? Keep staying here? I'm reluctant to leave as it's the start of my holiday and I can't afford alternative accommodation.

The monitor was left in full view in a child's bedroom, the family who own the house have gone camping (so wouldn't need it), so there's a very strong chance that it could be a genuine mistake leaving it there and switched on.

If they were going to spy they'd have surely hidden it?

This is our third night here, can't believe I didn't spot it sooner.

OP posts:

LawnFever · 01/08/2021 23:49

I’d think it was a genuine mistake because they usually use it, switch it off and carry on as normal.

Wheresmybiscuit3 · 01/08/2021 23:53

I would assume it was a mistake to be honest

Guineapigbridge · 01/08/2021 23:55

I'd pump the opportunity for a discount and an apology.

Cocopogo · 01/08/2021 23:57

It wouldn’t bother me, I’d just assume it was left on

Original poster

YellowSunshineSky · 01/08/2021 23:58

One of my friends that I texted reckons the same, that it's a genuine mistake.

She also told me that the footage from video baby monitors isn't usually recorded and can usually only be seen in the same house.

Am feeling a bit calmer now, thank you.

OP posts:

WindyWindsor · 02/08/2021 00:03

I wouldn't like it either op. I can understand why you're feeling uncomfortable. It's just unsettling to think you are being watched without realising. Hopefully it is just a mistake but would freak me out too so I get it.

Blamelesscars · 02/08/2021 00:06

What type is it? I’d assume mistake.
We have a BT video monitor and it only works with the screen designed for it / in the house so couldn’t be used remotely.

We leave ours cameras on all the time but the viewing screen is off unless the kids are in bed. So i could totally see how a family with small children would forget they left it on

Eleoura · 02/08/2021 00:06

Maybe I'm missing something, but is there a monitor in the house to view it, or a code so YOU can access the video or does the videojust go to their phones/laptop if they dial in?

I would have thought having a monitor would be an asset if renting to families, unless it wasn't mentioned in the listing and you actually can't access the video? If its a holiday let, could it have been left by the previous family by mistake?

GNCQ · 02/08/2021 00:07

If they wanted to secretly film your child they'd have made more effort. Stuck it in a drawer with a hole or something. But even then it'd make no sense if it's a live stream you can't even play back.

I expect the owners will be mortified when they hear from you and they'll apologize.

Tryalittlemagic · 02/08/2021 00:10

I'd probably just turn it off & chill the fuck out

BillyIsMyBunny · 02/08/2021 00:13

I actually think YABU to be overreacting to something which is almost certainly a non-issue. If it was left in full view it seems highly likely it was just a mistake, if the owners wanted to spy they would surely hide it. Also in my experience most baby monitors only have a small range so it’s unlikely that anybody outside of the house could view anything on it and they stream live so it’s not recording.

KT59 · 02/08/2021 00:14

I’d also be freaked out by this!
We have a video baby monitor in our DD bedroom, but only transmits to the monitor within the house and can’t be saved, so hopefully it’s just one of them. Some baby cameras can be viewed remotely from mobile phones/laptops etc and the clips saved.
Do you know what camera it is?

Lolamambam · 02/08/2021 00:17

@BillyIsMyBunny

Lots of them now have passwords so you can watch from your phone etc. I know someone who has given the password to family who live abroad so they can see their grandchild as they’ve never met her (due to covid). I’m sure this is all very innocent and nothing to worry about as you and PP have said!

FortunesFave · 02/08/2021 00:23

It's a bit weird...surely you'd do a final check of each room if you were letting them out? Tell us what they say OP!

Luckymummytoone · 02/08/2021 00:26

Weird!

Topofthepopicles · 02/08/2021 00:30

Given where it was I think it’s highly, highly likely just a mistake and not even possible to be viewed by anyone.

jasminechocolate · 02/08/2021 00:33

I'd see what they come back with but would do a complaint through Airbnb. That's a massive invasion of privacy regardless of whether it's a mistake or not.

NuffSaidSam · 02/08/2021 00:34

'It's a bit weird...surely you'd do a final check of each room if you were letting them out? '

But it's still easy to miss something. Particularly if it's something that is there in your house all the time, you sort of become blind to it.

notapizzaeater · 02/08/2021 00:37

I'd want to know what type it is tbh, one that you can only see in the house, honest mistake, one you can view remotely/ record much much more of an issue

Original poster

YellowSunshineSky · 02/08/2021 09:09

The owner has replied saying that the viewing screen part is in a sideboard downstairs and that she always leaves the monitor for families with small children so they can use it if they want.

She said it can't be viewed out of the house.

OP posts:

callmeadoctor · 02/08/2021 09:13

Ah that seems a perfectly satisfactory explanation x

WimpoleHat · 02/08/2021 09:18

We have a holiday let and I’ve been asked if we have a baby monitor available. If someone used it last week, they may just have forgotten to switch it off?

Jasmine11 · 02/08/2021 09:29

If it's a home with young children who usually use the camera I'm not sure why you would jump to thinking it was something sinister rather than had just been left on. If someone wanted to film you or your children they would surely be more discreet!

Original poster

YellowSunshineSky · 02/08/2021 10:06

I'm very happy to realise that I was BU!

When my kids were small video monitors didn't exist.

When I discovered it I could just see a video camera recording my son's holiday bedroom - it was super creepy and gave me quite a scare! Google told me it was a video baby monitor but I mistakenly thought it could broadcast to the owners mobile and that they'd have recordings of the room, so I felt he'd been spied on and that they might be perverts wanting to film him getting undressed.

If I'd have known that video baby monitors just show live footage to another unit and had known that unit was in the house, then I wouldn't have worried at all.

I've suggested that the owner point it out to future guests. Not everyone is familiar with the concept of video baby monitors and how they work. Many people are not relaxed about being filmed in a private space.

OP posts:

PolypGrunterPulpit · 02/08/2021 11:15

Not surprised you were suspicious, OP. If the owners are leaving it there for the use of the holidaymakers, why don't they just put both parts in a box and leave on a table somewhere, rather than one unit switched on and one unit hidden in a cupboard? Bit surreal.

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