AIBU to be upset at review on AirBnB?

[ballerina1971]

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

Just thinking how we have hit new lows when a holiday constitutes sleeping on an air bed in a church with no shower facilities. I think you did everything fine OP and the church has come up with this money making idea and expects way too much from their guests.

Yes, they are used to armies of women making sandwiches for no reward and think that the paying guests are part of this ''tribe''

You've paid to be insulted, publicly. That would upset me too!
Especially when the review was posted by somebody who identifies with being a christian I bet.

I can see that your host has left 13 reviews in total, all glowing except yours, and the review you left them was lovely.

My theories are:

1. They are referring to your tidiness during the stay itself. Were there any daytime visits from them, or was part of the church or grounds kept in use? Could your sleeping and living areas be seen from the outside?

1. You offended them in some way. Their ratings are nearly all 5. I think star ratings for specific categories (locations etc) are anonymous, but if previous guests had all rated 5 and you rated 4* it would drop their overall rating and they would know.

1. There was a miscommunication over expectations and you did leave it untidy. The bagged but nothing binned rubbish sounds the mostly likely culprit here, but something like bedding on the floor or furniture moved from its original position could also have triggered it.

I meant to add that it, yes, it’s a poor review and, no, it doesn’t sound like you deserved it!

@Cherrysoup

Every Airbnb I have looked at charges a cleaning fee and service charge, so tbh, although I tidied massively and vacuumed, I didn’t feel I needed to leave the place pristine. Surely the cleaning fee covers any tidying?

This foxes me because I use them a lot, and nobody has ever come in and cleaned whilst I have stayed there. So, is the cleaning fee for cleaning up after the visit?

I have a fourth theory:

1. Jayne (the host) disapprove about some element of your lifestyle and was looking for something to criticise

CloseYourEyesAndSee

May I ask which host boards you use?

@mewkins

Just thinking how we have hit new lows when a holiday constitutes sleeping on an air bed in a church with no shower facilities. I think you did everything fine OP and the church has come up with this money making idea and expects way too much from their guests.

my thoughts exactly

I don't like the idea of being reviewed and judged when I pay to stay somewhere either.

@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.

if i was to rent out my house like this , i would expect the beds to be unmade as id be stripping then anyway to put on fresh bedding , whats the point in finding them made when they only have to be unmade again

We often get a bit of feedback/give feedback before we leave a review. Did they do that?

Just thinking from my experience of living near an airbnb, what a great pity it is that neighbours of the host can't leave reviews.

@purpletrees16,my proposal came with me an experienced teacher offering my services. It came with the knowledge that people in the locality are suicidal due to isolation, it came with 3 visits to The Church,several emails and a shed load if good will.

How absolutely pathetic.People hide behind safeguarding because they cba.

She is reviewing a different family. She wasn't actually there and asked someone - cleaner, other family member, who whinged a bit not realising it would in a review.

We recently used Air b&B for the first time. Rented private home with high cleaning charge (agreed in advance). We left the beds unmade and didn't do any cleaning, other than our washing up (as specified).

We got an awesome review!

I wonder if the person renting the accommodation didn't really understand Air b&b norms and felt they had to give a 'rounded' review (and maybe to them unmade beds were untidy!).

I'd mail back and ask them to change it, and if not try complaining to Air b&b?

@TheSockMonster

I can see that your host has left 13 reviews in total, all glowing except yours, and the review you left them was lovely.

My theories are:

1. They are referring to your tidiness during the stay itself. Were there any daytime visits from them, or was part of the church or grounds kept in use? Could your sleeping and living areas be seen from the outside?

1. You offended them in some way. Their ratings are nearly all 5. I think star ratings for specific categories (locations etc) are anonymous, but if previous guests had all rated 5 and you rated 4* it would drop their overall rating and they would know.

1. There was a miscommunication over expectations and you did leave it untidy. The bagged but nothing binned rubbish sounds the mostly likely culprit here, but something like bedding on the floor or furniture moved from its original position could also have triggered it.

On point 2 - you can't see the other party's review until you've both left one or the window expires so retaliatory reviews aren't possible. My belief is that the OP left more mess than she realised. Some people are 'mess blind' because their standards are different.

@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.

Why are you so full of mean? Feel sorry for you? The lady is already sad and made a big effort! :(

@purpletrees16,my idea was support not accommodation. If you genuinely believe refugees are being housed in Travel Lodges,well,words fail.

@Therehavetobeadjustment

CloseYourEyesAndSee

May I ask which host boards you use?

community.withairbnb.com/t5/Community-Center/ct-p/community-center

I can't believe they said that about you after you left a good review about them!

@godmum56

an active church? you mean used as a church when not rented out?

I find godsquadders the first to be self righteous and stick a knife in tbh. We paid over the odds for a childs party in a church hall once and were told off for not putting the chairs back in the right place. Also charged extra for "messing up" the coffee area that the kids had to walk /run through to get to the room we had hired! £40 extra for my trouble despite there being 4 do gooders in the kitchen not saying anything at the time "hello and smiling" but ultimately grassing on us. They need a word from you, say how disappointed you are with the review, despite the basic provisions and how you made the best of it. You were definitely the logical one and did the right thing xxx

@SeoultoSeoul

"Jolly sorts" you found the stash of communion wine didn't you!

😂

@Lockheart

"Weren't the tidiest of guests" is the most gentle criticism. Overall, the review is neutral.

If this is how some of you react to an OK, 3-star, fine but not amazing, review, I'd hate to see how you handle feedback at work.

Your comment misses the point. The review would be made available to future potential accommodation letters. So it has implications for future lettings.

[quote sadperson16]@purpletrees16,my proposal came with me an experienced teacher offering my services. It came with the knowledge that people in the locality are suicidal due to isolation, it came with 3 visits to The Church,several emails and a shed load if good will.

How absolutely pathetic.People hide behind safeguarding because they cba.[/quote]
My response to that is to set it up anyway and invite people from the community to come along and brainstorm solutions and then approach as a group of 12 or so people and then you have the power of being more than just you. there’s a difference between looking for them to do something to looking to utilise their facilities. Look up community organising - there’s a structure that’s really easy to start. You’ll have fantastic community reach from your role as a teacher.

youngfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Growing-Community-Organising-FINAL-V3.pdf

As someone who has run something minor in a church for community that takes 4-5 hours a week on top of full time job & family after 5 years because otherwise it might stop… it’s a big thing To do but you are clearly passionate.

After you have a group, get a name, and then ask for a note in the church newsletter / a note in news section about your next meeting. I think you can really make this work!

@PearlyBird

I can't believe they said that about you after you left a good review about them!

You can't see the review left for you before you leave the review for the other. There is a review window of 14 days after which you can no longer leave a review and the other will be published.