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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That this Airbnb host deserves a terrible review

196 replies

Finknottlesnewt · 27/08/2021 17:09

My sister is travelling to my home town for my other sisters' daughters (our niece) wedding . The date has been long known . 6 months ago she booked a cottage nearby for her husband and three children. Paid a large deposit and the balance taken last week. (By Airbnb - it seems the host doesn't get the money until after the first night).
They are going to make a week of it - so a 6 night booking.
Last night - at 10:30 the host sent a message to say that she would have to cancel the booking as she had hurt her arm and couldn't clean the property between guests.
My sister is distraught. Cannot get anywhere else to stay. (We are in a popular holiday area and it's a BH weekend. ) The prices are also 3x what my sister paid - and she paid over £1k for 6 days ! the amount stated at the time of booking.
Obviously we are not going to let my sister and family miss the wedding so will literally put them up on any floor space we can find between my home and my other sister but we all already have other family staying so will be a very tight squeeze.

No my question. Whilst driving to my sisters to drop off some stuff for the wedding I passed the cottage my sister had booked. Only to see a car parked in the drive with a roof box on top and a man and woman obviously unloading suitcases ...

It is also obvious what has happened. The host got a 'better offer' and dumped my sisters booking in favour of this one. With less than 12 hours notice. . and didn't have a single moral issue with screwing up someone else's long made holiday wedding plans for simple greed.

AIBU to say that my sister should write a review of this 'host' to warn others off.. as well as telling Airbnb what she has done. ?

OP posts:
SukonthaM · 27/08/2021 17:11

Of course she should.

crazymare20 · 27/08/2021 17:11

Absolutely

JayAlfredPrufrock · 27/08/2021 17:13

Outrageous. I’d be contacting the owner as well.

HirplesWithHaggis · 27/08/2021 17:13

Break the host's arm. *

*no, I don't mean it. But gah!

mygenericusername · 27/08/2021 17:14

I would make sure Simone is actually coming rather than going before you go in all guns blazing.

mygenericusername · 27/08/2021 17:14

Simone is a new autocorrect. I obviously meant someone.

Original poster
Finknottlesnewt · 27/08/2021 17:18

Bloody hell mygenericusername don't add bloody Simone to the mix !! We all ready have 9 people in a 3 bed house !! 🤣

OP posts:
Longdistance · 27/08/2021 17:19

That’s so fucking cheeky. Yes, she deserves a really bad review. Karma will hopefully bite her on the arse.

IntermittentParps · 27/08/2021 17:20

Report to AirBnB for sure.

MrsBungle · 27/08/2021 17:21

That’s awful.

Original poster
Finknottlesnewt · 27/08/2021 17:21

But yes. I feel like goi g to the door and knocking . Some pretext or other . Just to check they are renting it for the week..

MN posse . What ideas do you have. ? Just want the occupants to say - 'I'm sorry - we can't help you, we are just renting for the week' ..
so what question should I ask .

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 27/08/2021 17:22

You could pretend you're thinking of moving to the area and hoping to chat to locals about what it's like to live there.

Tataru · 27/08/2021 17:23

Say you've just moved in down the road and do they know if they collect XYZ with the bins or something? Or that you just moved in and are introducing yourself to the neighbours? Or that you are thinking of moving there and wanted to see if they were interested in selling/what the neighbourhood was like, etc?

saveforthat · 27/08/2021 17:25

Ask them if it's an air bnb and how much does it cost to stay there as you are looking for somewhere for relatives.

GrandmaSteglitszch · 27/08/2021 17:26

Ask if they can direct you to Acacia Avenue.

CockSpadget · 27/08/2021 17:26

Ask them if they had a parcel delivered there yesterday that wasn't theirs.

Marni83 · 27/08/2021 17:28

Why don’t you go back
Ask
Confirm

It could be her family coming to stay

Marni83 · 27/08/2021 17:28

No need to lie.
Just say you are profoundly disappointed and wanted to check

smileandsmilesooooooo · 27/08/2021 17:28

Knock andsay oh my sister gave me this address as where she was staying. Is this an air B&B?

itsgettingwierd · 27/08/2021 17:29

That's a crap excuse even if it appears she rented it out or double booked.

Just get in a cleaner but an agency or ask the guests if they'd be happy to do it themselves for a discount.

Cancelling at that notice is terrible. The owner should have already had back up plans in place for these types of circumstances.

I like the parcel idea. If you ask they are likely to answer and say they are just there for week, or only arrived today or whatever.

Marni83 · 27/08/2021 17:30

@IntermittentParps

Report to AirBnB for sure.
Won’t do anything Her word against theirs Only way would be if they re rented via air bnb And she’d be daft to have done that
Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/08/2021 17:30

Ooh, Do it op.
Go and introduce yourself as a new neighbour and ask a specific question.
Let us know what they say.
I don’t think your sister will be able to leave a review if she’s not stayed - I hope I’m wrong on that though.

BeaucoupFish · 27/08/2021 17:31

Parcel is the best ploy IMO

PuppyMonkey · 27/08/2021 17:33

Yes, were Simone and co definitely unloading and not packing to leave?

user1471428785 · 27/08/2021 17:34

I am an Air BnB host and behaviour like this really makes my blood boil and gives us all a bad name. I only have a small studio with very reasonable prices and get plenty of bookings as people tell me its good value. Blatant greed is appalling. Definitely report to Air BnB. Previous poster is correct, you can't leave a review unless you've stayed.