Airbnb

It would take too much time to write all the details of the issues that I wasn't able to resolve through Airbnb's customer service in June 2019. In a nutshell, I ran into three issues during June that were never able to be resolved. That includes many messages to Airbnb customer service through the app AND calling. It's not rocket science, Airbnb. Do your job correctly and your reputation won't continue to go down. I deleted the app but deleting my ACCOUNT required that I send a message through the app to their customer service department. WHY? It seems pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, I don't expect that to be done properly either.

I found a room that looked good to me, emailed the owner asking to reserve the room, and got back from airbnb a form with a very complicated and difficult sign-in process with many steps to it. In the middle of a trip, I wasn't able to complete the application, kept emailing for help, and kept getting form responses which were not helpful.

I eventually had to give up - no more time to spend trying to deal with them. I cancelled my application, but the next day I got an email saying they had already charged my credit card! And this is before they even accepted my application. Unbelievable! They wouldn't complete the reservation for me but still charged me for it.

They did eventually refund the money, but I would never try them again. Traveling with my dog, I now stay in Motel 6. They're not fancy, but clean, dependable, and you can make a reservation on the road with their staff - actual people who are helpful. And they all accept dogs! Takes the stress out of a road trip!

They charge a lot and provide no service. If you complain as a customer they have just lame excuses. They make a lot of money with their fees, even if the advertiser violates the sites terms and conditions and offers illegal apartments!

This about listings where there is no automatic reservation - which a lot of them if not most of them are that way. So applies to most cases.
There are a lot of hosts who do not respond. So you have to wait for a day or two then cancel your request if there is no response and then send a request to another place.
Website allows you to send requests to multiple hosts at once but beware if two accept your reservation you still pay fees if you cancel one. I wish there was a good alternative to airbnb

Negative experience as a host.

We rented a Manhattan 2BR place for 6 nights to an SF couple.
While we were away on vacation, at the time of their checking in, we learnt with disbelief that the couple had complained about our place directly to AIRBNB and got full refund on the $1,400 rent.

They complained that there were no towels in the bedroom, we had notified them about this, and that the sheets were dirty, which was just wrong as we could prove with the laundry ticket of the day we left our place...
This is clearly a scammer's behavior. The guests just booked our place as a backup plan and cancelled it last minute.

Cancellation was done behind our back and AIRBNB would not hear anything from us, denying a fair treatment of the parties in the matter.

We rented our place via Craigslist several times before and it always went well, as we fortunately dealt with trustworthy people.

My advice is to avoid AIRBNB as a host. Obviously I will not try it either as a guest.

My home is fraudulently posted on Airbnb. After 7 days contacting Airbnb and the person who posted my home my address is still listed along with the exact location of my home on the map. Homeowners beware I have NEVER listed my home on this site and NEVER been a host. The code enforcement officer of my city contacted me stating I illegally have advertised my home on the website. Airbnb protects the host not homeowners. I question the period they require of a host before listing a home, my address should have never been posted let alone the exact location. This makes me so nervous for my home and my family's safety. Homeowners keep an eye on your property on Airbnb!

I booked a reservation on airbnb based on a location, date, price, etc. I then booked my airfare for me and 3 other family members. Later that same day, the airbnb host canceled my reservation. This may have been racially motivated or profit driven because later that evening while looking for a new accommodation, I noticed the original place and dates I booked were available again and the price per night had doubled. I contacted airbnb to see if they could do something about my original reservation or help me with a new one. After 23 minutes on the phone, I was told there was nothing they could do. Now I am stuck with airline tickets for 4 people and no accommodations. Hotels aren't allowed to operate this way. They would have resolved this issue. Why is airbnb allowed to operate without the same rules and ethics? They are a huge corporation and need to be held accountable like everyone else. I have non refundable airline tickets and airbnb does not care.

I made a "reservation" only to find out it was pending a response from the owner. I arrived to the location, but no confirmation= nowhere to stay. I tried to get a hotel in the meantime with no luck. And I can't cancel my ABnB reservation for fear of losing $500 for cancelling! This is terrible!

I attempted to book a vacation through the site, and was quoted a price. When the owner contacted me, he said "that's the off season price. The in season price is double". When I cancelled, Airbnb kept there $111 service fee. This site is misleading and a total rip off. BUY BEWARE!

We stayed a weekend and then got billed $265 in extra expenses, saying we had extra guest and we used bikes etc which we never used and never had anyone over. We tried to tell them we did not have anyone over or use the items mentioned but they said we should read the contract and they can bill for what ever they like.
Very dishonest company

After a couple of previous satisfactory experiences with Air B & B, we booked and paid for bed and breakfast in Manchester, and with no communication from host arrived to find host not there. Booked into a nearby hotel and told Air B & B online and asked for a refund of NZ$66 paid. My Visa account was refunded within one day, and upon proof of what the extra hotel costs were, they also offered to reimburse me the additional cost of the hotel I had paid for, which was most unexpected!
We cannot speak highly enough of their exceptional service.
Richard and Christine Amery
Richard Amery.

After reading review after review of AirBB extorting people during the pandemic, I shouldn't be surprised that they unethically kept my money. I just wish I had read these reviewers sooner. I booked the wrong night for a house, and realized it in less than 20 minutes. I immediately notified the host and AirBB and they would only issue a partial refund. I ended up paying over $600 for clicking the wrong button. Pretty expensive mistake.

For the rest of my life, I will tell people about my experience and warn people against using AirBB.

I rented a place through Airbnb and right before the trip I saw a couple new reviews stating that people had issues with cockroaches. I contacted Airbnb and they told me they were false reviews and I had nothing to worry about. They assured me that if I saw any when I checked in that they would move us.
We checked in and we started seeing them everywhere! I contacted them and no only did they not move us but they only refunded $120 of the $950 we paid! We had to spend the trip in a cockroach infested place. I called, asked to speak to a manager and they did not care. They closed the case and told me it was my choice to stay there. I have used Airbnb for years and I cannot believe how they treated this situation.

I wrote an honest review regarding an Airbnd stay in June of 2022. It was factual and honest. I did not include any foul language. However, Airbnd said it was not factual. I rated the place a four but said the windows are single pane (which they are), the trim has holes in it (which it does) so the noise was loud which makes it difficult to sleep if you are a light sleeper unless you are OK with earplugs. The last sentence I guess could be opinion, but the rest is factual. They said I violated their policy. They would not allow me to amend they just took it down. The place we stayed was a Sextant accommodation and they have a lot of listings. Thus, they complained, per Airbnd, and Airbnd took down the review.

Airbnb helped us out in a big way. My husband booked a reservation for me on my behalf since I was on a flight rushing to get to my son who was in a Boise emergency room (the initial diagnosis was a potential virus surrounding his heart likely a covid carry over). I didn't have time to book so he was doing on my behalf. He unfortunately used his name when booking instead of mine. No big deal right, just change the name when I land? The agent handling the property said no changes to the reservation so we could only get back $160 of the $600 reservation to change to my name. Wow, just terrible in general but as well given the situation. We called the head Airbnb office who immediately issued the credit. I'm now staying at a hotel.

It was my first time and will be last. I had the worst experience I ever encountered. We saved up for the yearly vacation to Miami and booked a home to rent out. They took our money and gave us the wrong address. 2k was gone! I was so devastated. I called the Airbnb and they did nothing.

I did my India booking 6 months in advance and after I landed they cancelled my reservation. Did not pay the booking amount. You cannot imagine how awful they are. I have sued them in the court of England.

I booked my first stay at Airbnb. The host offered a space with a patio near the airport. When I tried to book I was given a different address in a dirty house in a sketchy neighborhood. When I tried to get it resolved Airbnb support kept closing my case and then sent me a claim resolution link where I had to request my money back from the host that scammed me. Beyond ridiculous and totally unsafe. I have said goodbye to my money and goodbye to Airbnb.

I just had a nasty surprise and got 1/3 less income from my vacation rental than I thought.

When I created my listing I made the mistake of trusting AirBnB's suggested pricing. It wasn't as much as I had wanted but I settled. When my week was rented out I was OK with the amount they said they were going to send. But when the guest checked in they sent me 1/3 less than what they said I would get! AirBnb is quite deceptive in that it doesn't disclose up front that they will be taking 30% off the top of any rental for US Tax Withholding. This is double taxing for foreigners as we need to declare that income in our home country and pay tax on it again!

BE forewarned - if you are a foreigner but are renting property that is in the US you are going to lose 30% off the top. Price your unit accordingly or better still use VRBO or other sources who do not withhold.

I have tried for 7 days to get my $744 back and have been getting the run around. Host only refunded $90 and I am now fighting for the rest even though my cancellation is covered under the COVID cancellation policy. Never again will I use or recommend this company, as they are taking advantage of people in the worst global pandemic ever. Thievery is the worst kind of evil in this scenario.

It's a crap shoot on both the guest and hosting side. I have done both. If you're looking for a place to stay just call a real hotel or an established B&B. If you're thinking of renting out rooms then open a hotel or establish yourself as a real B&B and get your personal items out of the guest areas. AirBnB is amature hour for the hospitality industry.

Airbnb is like no other. They did do hotels, what Uber did for the taxi business. They protect both the renter and owner - most sites favor one over the other. Not these guys. Money is in escrow until renter enter property and is satisfied. Owner is protected by a 1million insurance policy over damage of theft. I have only positive experiences with them.

They are, indeed, a nightmare. They have screwed me over so many times I can't describe all of them on here. I have a feeling they are extremely arrogant and disrespectful, they think they can do anything and not be responsible.