Long time lurker, first time poster so gentleness please.
I would like some perspective about a situation I find myself in.
I went on a big family trip abroad recently and for our final stay, had booked an amazing apartment on the beach. It wasn’t cheap (£300 a night) for 3 adults so we wanted to end the trip on a high.
Everything was booked & paid for in advance, but up to check in received no book in details, even though I had conversations with the owner via message about confirming the booking and confirming payments. I queried with the company (Airbnb) who said to give it some time and the owner should respond to my questions. When we arrived at the address still no check in details and we were wondered we were going down the scam route.
Eventually after a few calls with Airbnb, they gave me the owners number, who I had to call about getting in to the apartment.
The owner had no knowledge of what was going on but let us in to the apartment which wasn’t ready. A few things needed cleaning and what not. We weren’t impressed but brushed it off as a genuine mistake and that was the end of it.
The owner came back the next day when I was out and asked my 70 year old mother in law to come in and get my mobile number. She was reluctant to give it out so took his number instead. The issue was he said we hadn’t paid for the trip. We had.
When I got back I double checked bank statements and everything was legit on the booking website. I phoned him on my MIL’s mobile (didn’t have roaming for the country on mine) and he asked for lots of personal info like my full name, email, etc etc said I had to email him all my bank statements, booking confirmation etc etc and sort it. I told him I had paid for the trip, it was all confirmed on the booking end, and suggested he get in touch with the booking company to get his payment. I did give him the confirmation ID to track the payment. I said we were trying to enjoy an end to the holiday and this wasn’t my problem to sort. He hung up and we heard no more from him, so assume he got his payment.
Fast forward to review time, I left a review saying the property was lovely etc etc and would recommend the apartment BUT we had such a stress checking in and would recommend you check twice the property is actually booked. I also said the owner was lovely when we arrived but he came back the next day asking about payment which made my MIL a bit anxious.
I have since had a reply from the owner saying the review is not fair and it generates bad income AND he texted my MIL’s phone the same message, saved from when I rang him. She rang me last night, again, quite anxious about it.
I tried to complain to the booking company but received no response.
I am now questioning if my review was fair or if his behaviour was a bit dodgy.