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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be upset at review on AirBnB?

287 replies

ballerina1971 · 21/08/2021 22:40

This is my first time ever using AirBnB. There was so little available in area we wanted to go , but a property came up. It was an active Church, with 2 camp beds and 2 air beds for the children (aged 11 and 12). No bathroom but a toilet with sink, no cooking facilities or fridge, but a little table was set up with 4 chairs to eat breakfast at. A simple cereal, tea and coffee breakfast was provided. We slept in the Church. On the last day we cleaned the toilet and sink. We washed cups, bowls and spoons we had used and set it all back up, how it was when we arrived. All rubbish was put in a black sack and all recycling put in recycling box, these though we did not know where the bins were despite looking. We don't remember being told where the bins were or where to put rubbish. We were never there during the day, didn't eat there other than breakfast. We didn't make beds the day we left as they would be stripped and washed any way. I smoke, but respected it was a Church and did not smoke anywhere in the grounds, but went out to where my car was parked, smoked there and placed all butts in an empty packet and put in a public bin where ever we went that day, so did not leave any cigarette butts on the grounds even. So, I was shocked to read Hosts review which said
* and her family weren't the tidiest of guests, but they were a very jolly group.'

I don't know what we did wrong, what exactly is expected of us as I can find nothing in Terms and Conditions that says about expectations of how property should be left and my friend was still in the Church to give key back and collect key deposit, so if something bothered them in could have been mentioned then.

I will write a response to the review just not sure yet what to say.

AIBU to be upset at this as I assume other hosts can read this and put them off accepting us in the future, should we use AirBnB again. It has not sat right with me, yet we had a great time and loved the Church and all it's history.pö

OP posts:
igelkott2021 · 22/08/2021 12:18

@3Br1tnee

I think you still come across as slovenly. I mean, who leaves unmade beds? That's just skanky. Make them or strip them. Don't just leave them unmade.
???

Funnily enough, people on holiday like to enjoy their time off rather than making beds.

And it take seconds to remove bedding from a bed if you are a cleaner. I accept it also only takes seconds to remove bedding from a bed if you are the holidaymaker, but you are paying for a service.

It strikes me that AirBnB owners like the rent but don't like the work that goes into it. Tough. Maybe you could rent out the property as a home rather than taking it out of the housing market (and again I accept that some properties are not allowed to be rented out other than for holidays).

wewereliars · 22/08/2021 12:20

That's the trouble with airbnb.

The last place I stayed at was not clean, but I didn't bother leaving a review because I didn't want a tit for tat bad review.

Wheretoeattweenandteen · 22/08/2021 12:21

Re bedding it could be covid.
We stayed somewhere and had to strip beds and put into a bag which was fair enough really.

But general making of beds.. Google it.. Beds are much healthier with bedding exposed!!

SamVimes6 · 22/08/2021 12:24

You left black bags of rubbish, I guess the host found that to be slovenly, but in all honesty don’t worry about it. Especially as you say you’ll never use Airbnb again.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 22/08/2021 12:24

@Wheretoeattweenandteen

Op in so glad you are going to tackle this because that service charge is disgusting and the way they have taken your money and spoken about you is awful.

You need to really pin it down, ask for specifics ask if their level of cleaning required for a family on holiday clear on their website?

How much more cleaning do they expect?

Ask them to retract the comment.

Unfortunately, I've had some bizarre encounters with people who work in a church.. Different churches at different times.. Sometimes they do attract people who are perhaps not used to normal life as it were.

The service charge is the Airbnb fee. Not up to the host.
Wheretoeattweenandteen · 22/08/2021 12:24

Infact op on also think you should push for a some money back.

You wanted a holiday not patronising critism about being a jolly family.. And leaving mess.

Say her description also can be construed as noisy and you don't do these things to get such descriptions, will the next family be labeled "clean" but "serious" or quiet??

Wheretoeattweenandteen · 22/08/2021 12:25

Oh well it's still a few embedded in what they do.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 22/08/2021 12:25

@wewereliars

That's the trouble with airbnb.

The last place I stayed at was not clean, but I didn't bother leaving a review because I didn't want a tit for tat bad review.

You can't get a tit for tat review. Please leave honest reviews for places in future. The host won't see it until they have left theirs or the window expires.
Bryonyshcmyony · 22/08/2021 12:25

@SamVimes6

You left black bags of rubbish, I guess the host found that to be slovenly, but in all honesty don’t worry about it. Especially as you say you’ll never use Airbnb again.
Why wouldn't you leave rubbish?
CloseYourEyesAndSee · 22/08/2021 12:26

@Wheretoeattweenandteen

Infact op on also think you should push for a some money back.

You wanted a holiday not patronising critism about being a jolly family.. And leaving mess.

Say her description also can be construed as noisy and you don't do these things to get such descriptions, will the next family be labeled "clean" but "serious" or quiet??

You can't get money back for a vaguely mediocre review
Bryonyshcmyony · 22/08/2021 12:27

I'd leave a scathing review then restart my account
I wouldn't use air B and b anyway, too many skanky properties on there.

IntermittentParps · 22/08/2021 12:29

Re bedding it could be covid.
We stayed somewhere and had to strip beds and put into a bag which was fair enough really.
I've had to do that since Covid too. Not a problem because everywhere I've stayed has made that clear at booking and/or on arrival and it's been in the guests' guide in the property too.
This place doesn't sound like they gave any instructions as to what the OP should do, then criticised them after the fact because they couldn't mind-read.

bananafish · 22/08/2021 12:31

i had a similar review saying that we were a family tres sympa but had left the place 'dirty'. We really hadn't, as far as I was aware. We were there for one night and had a late arrival and early start. Everything washed up, beds stripped, rubbish bagged and in bins. It also had a £75 cleaning fee or something, so I was a bit Hmm.

Luckily, I've used Air bnb quite a few times and all the other reviews I have had were glowing, and particularly mentioned leaving the place clean and tidy, so I just assumed she was having a bad day or something.

Chalk it up to experience and make your point answering her review if you feel you can be bothered. Folk can be strange!

Wheretoeattweenandteen · 22/08/2021 12:38

Yes she can ask for money back.

She's gone on holiday (into basic place) paid handsomely for it but in the back of her mind she's helping a good cause (questionable) and in return for all the extra work she had to do anyway... She's been publicly shamed as being messy and then patronisingly labeled as a jolly family which could also mean loud.

Now as a result op is upset and has been mentally turning this over in her mind.

So it's undermined her holiday and possibly put further holidays via air b n unfair at risk.

This person needs to know and compensation her.

EmeraldShamrock · 22/08/2021 12:56

@IntermittentParps if you'd read my posts it was left cleaner than I found it as it wasn't clean to begin with.
Not knowing where the bins are does not excuse leaving rubbish bags, go find the bins like newcomers do.
If OP read the t&c most accommodation want bedding bagged and quarantined.
So they left dirty bedding and rubbish bags I'd call that messy.

countrytown · 22/08/2021 13:04

if you'd read my posts it was left cleaner than I found it as it wasn't clean to begin with.

Did you leave a negative review? There's no excuse for that!

countrytown · 22/08/2021 13:04

If OP read the t&c most accommodation want bedding bagged and quarantined.

Bagged and quarantined?

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 22/08/2021 13:10

@Bryonyshcmyony

I'd leave a scathing review then restart my account I wouldn't use air B and b anyway, too many skanky properties on there.
She can't leave a review now
CloseYourEyesAndSee · 22/08/2021 13:11

@Wheretoeattweenandteen

Yes she can ask for money back.

She's gone on holiday (into basic place) paid handsomely for it but in the back of her mind she's helping a good cause (questionable) and in return for all the extra work she had to do anyway... She's been publicly shamed as being messy and then patronisingly labeled as a jolly family which could also mean loud.

Now as a result op is upset and has been mentally turning this over in her mind.

So it's undermined her holiday and possibly put further holidays via air b n unfair at risk.

This person needs to know and compensation her.

You're mixing up the two different reviews for one thing, the jolly review was someone else. I guarantee Airbnb will not refund a penny for a mediocre review.
sadperson16 · 22/08/2021 13:17

OP you and your family sound lovely.

IntermittentParps · 22/08/2021 13:34

[quote EmeraldShamrock]@IntermittentParps if you'd read my posts it was left cleaner than I found it as it wasn't clean to begin with.
Not knowing where the bins are does not excuse leaving rubbish bags, go find the bins like newcomers do.
If OP read the t&c most accommodation want bedding bagged and quarantined.
So they left dirty bedding and rubbish bags I'd call that messy.[/quote]
I did read your posts; that's what I'm responding to. I understand the place wasn't clean when you arrived; you still dont have to scrub down worktops etc.
We don't know if the OP's accommodation wanted bedding bagged and quarantined. everywhere I've stayed recently has been very clear about that verbally and/or in the welcome pack, not buried it in the Ts and Cs (if in this case it was even in them).

The OP also says 'we did not know where the bins were despite looking.'

EmeraldShamrock · 22/08/2021 13:40

I did read your posts; that's what I'm responding to. I understand the place wasn't clean when you arrived; you still dont have to scrub down worktops etc.
I did as they were dirty with grease and a sticky layer especially during covid. Maybe you'd be happy to prepare food in these circumstances.
Ps I couldn't find the community bin either but I asked someone.

EmeraldShamrock · 22/08/2021 13:46

It wasn't the worse review considering they left rubbish and dirty beds.
Just open an new Airbnb account OP.

IntermittentParps · 22/08/2021 14:04

Emerald, I don't see why anyone should do even a 'quick sweep' (unless they've made the place mucky beyond 'normal' use e.g. tracked in sand or mud) when they're paying a cleaning/service fee. As for 'wipe down any human scum/mess in bathroom', they cleaned the toilet and sink.

I couldn't find the community bin either but I asked someone.
Perhaps the OP couldn't find anyone to ask? You seem to be assuming the very worst about her.

countrytown · 22/08/2021 14:14

It wasn't the worse review considering they left rubbish and dirty beds.

How did they leave dirty beds? You mean they didn't strip & wash the bedding?

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