Airbnb - host has charged me for damage we did not cause

[Starmer]

We stayed at an airbnb property in non-English speaking country recently. Unfortunately my DS15 punched a door when we were there, and as it was hollow it was damaged. I took photos, contacted the host, said we would obviously pay for any repairs.

On our return he sent me a copy of an invoice and his bank details and I paid. Probably in a hurry as stressed by the whole thing. Only afterwards did I put the bill into google translate and saw that it also included work on another door downstairs, which we definitely had not damaged.

I emailed him saying I just wanted to check what the last sentence meant of the bill meant, and he confirmed that it was for additional work, but then said that he needed to cover his costs and the inconvenience of having to get a carpenter out to mend the door. He also implied that later reviews had mentioned the damage, but I can see them and they have not said anything about it. The tone went from cordial to rather nasty.

I said that I'd paid, but I felt that we had been honest and straightforward with him and that he has not been honest with us. He sent a further email asking how I planned to make up for the "collateral damage".

He says the value of the additional work was only about 15 euros - no way to check whether this is the case, and the overall bill was just over 300 euros - but I don't care so much about the money as the principle of it. I left him a great review and now feel he's been dishonest.

Airbnb support absolutely useless - apparently he's told them that he did not charge me anything for the additional work, and they don't seem to actually read anything I say or look at screenshots of messages confirming that he did.

I think I probably just need to drop it, but ......

I'd drop it to he honest. And be more concerned about why your son punches holes and damages other peoples property.

If the additional work was only a small amount compared to the door repair I'd chalk it up to experience. I don't think you'll get anywhere trying to claim the additional costs back.

I think I would let it go. 300 euros isn't that bad considering he needed a new door. No point arguing about it now.

I would drop it and deal with your son. He can reimburse you for the damage by doing some jobs around the house.

I'd drop it, and deal with your son. Why does he think it's okay to go round punching doors? That's not normal kid anger there.

Good morning @Starmer ,

I hope you had an otherwise enjoyable holiday?

My son would have done similar at that age, and I appreciate the emotional turmoil around going away whilst firefighting mental health issues, and the consequences for the whole family.

IMO forget it.

X

Thanks everyone.

It's not the money so much as the fact that the hose has assumed that I cannot read the bill and therefore has charged me for additional work, but I think you're right and I'll move on.

Not quite so sure why people assume that there have been no consequences for DS though - he's paying the money back, is aware that he cannot damage other people's property, and was as shocked as we were that the door was hollow and got damaged. I probably didn't make it clear that it was very much just cosmetic damage. Thanks @Willowview for your understanding.

Where was the OP asking for parenting advice?! It doesn't state ANYWHERE that she hasn't dealt with her son's behaviour. What an odd assumption to make. Why is it an either or situation?! Who says she can't appropriately deal with her son AND deal with the greedy Air B N B owner? Mumsnet is baffling sometimes.

As for the original question, I think it's really greedy and awful to charge you extra, but based on how shocking Air B N Bs customer service apparently is, I would be surprised if you got anywhere with this unfortunately. Do you believe it truly was just an extra 15 euros, or has he hiked up the cost of the first door in order to make it look like the second job was 15?

Your DS punched a door. Honestly the airbnb owner is being a bit cheeky but also if someone actively damaged my property like that I'd be absolutely furious. And paying £300 back seems to be the absolute minimum tour DS can do to understand the consequences of his violence

He was shocked that the door was damaged when he punched it? What did he expect to happen?

The primary cost and inconvenience will be getting the carpenter out in the first place. It makes sense to get a small extra job done while he's there.

You saying how shocked you all were that the door was damaged just reads like you're not taking full responsibility.

You shouldn't be giving the owner grief about this.

And this is why you stay in a hotel, no outrageous cleaning fees, maid service, breakfast included & no rip offs.

Your son damaged someone's home and you are concerned you may have been charged 15 euros more ? I'm surprised you haven't been stopped from staying in any other Airbnb or that he/the owner gives you and your family a bad review (they can do this) - you say that the damage was 'cosmetic' - it was damaged and it was someone else's property - that property has to be continuously let /or has been pre booked - how would you feel if you were the following rental group and had to wait or be inconvenienced while a carpenter/builder fixed/repaired it -

And why did he punch it if not for the shock value of causing damage?

should have done it through air bnb in the first place - but as you've paid him and sorted it privately not much you can do now

lesson learned is all you can take from it i guess

Are you sure your DS didn't damage the other door too? He sounds out of control and unlikely to admit causing additional damage. Either way, for the sake of €15 I'd let it drop. Your sons disgusting behaviour has inconvenienced the owner and probably had an impact on the people expecting to stay in the property after you.

You're concentrating on the wrong here...

Your son punched a hole in a door I'd be more concerned about that than a bill just drop it

You haven’t explained why your son was punching the door. Is this a regular thing? Forget the bill, that’s what you ought to be sorting out.

300 euros sounds very reasonable for a new door and fitting, would cost more here.

We had a glass top table shatter in an air b'nb we stayed in a few years ago in Spain.
It happened overnight, we hadn't touched it or our anything on it.
I tried to argue it wasn't our fault but of course couldn't prove it and it happened while we were there.
In fairness the host didn't charge us the whole amount but we paid it.

So your son only punched ONE door? 🙄 I'd be absolutely mortified. I'm not surprised the host has assumed he's damaged more than one. I would assume the same.

Disgusting behaviour. "He was shocked it was hollow" is not a good enough excuse.

Preachy lot aren't you. The OP hasn't asked for advise on parenting. We lost 2 doors to a teenager that's grown into a perfectly well functioning adult, it happens.
I'd be pissed off OP but to be honest you've paid it now so I'd just let it go.

How on earth do you reckon it was ‘just’ cosmetic damage when your son punched a hollow door? It’s not like you can just whack a bit of filler on it. He was ‘shocked’ that punching something damaged it 🙄
Id leave this one if I were you OP, chalk it up to experience and all that.

Let it go. Punching a door is pretty bad behaviour.

Was going to say similar, I would see it as paying for the inconvenience to the host especially as the damage wasn't accidental. I'm sure he could have done without the hassle.