Michelle David Review of Airbnb
Recently made a reservation through Airbnb for a p...
Recently made a reservation through Airbnb for a property Atlanta., an area Im not familiar with. I booked less than 24 hours prior to check-in - after detailed conversations with the host. In addition to claims made conversing, the host listed as an entire house She said it was in a safe, family neighborhood . My child was doing a program at Georgia State.
The host said that the property would be perfect for us. She contacted my daughter many times making my daughter like and trust her and creating a frenzy that someone else was going to book before we could and how sad the host would be. Host said she really wanted to meet us and was excited about my daughter's studies. Just prior to arriving at our HOST"s house, we encountered the ATV/dirt-bike gang that congregates there (a fact that was left out of the ad soliciting renters) - antics of blocking traffic, weaving in and out of traffic. This well known group loves breaking the rules. It was frightening. However, after that fright, we entered the entire house to find it was only a portion of a basement. What put us over the edge, there are two locked interior locked doors. The space is only a small portion of the house, the doors seemed to lead to other parts of the basement. On top of that, there was an overwhelming stench of incense that triggered my daughter s asthma. Within 5 minutes of arrival we contacted the Host and she told us to cancel the reservation for a refund. But, it turns out what she meant by refund is only 1/3 of the $1,300 we paid for the entire house . As a result we contacted Airbnb to dispute the refund , and in doing so we learned that we should not have cancelled online, but instead contacted airbnb directly. In trying to work with the host offering $150, she declined, I did research discovering host is a realtor bound by ethics with Keller Williams. As I progressed in trying to find a resolution, I learned the Host changed the listing. Turns out that after misrepresenting the unit in the ad and misleading us, and being advised that we were disputing the refund and learned through research that she is a licensed realtor, she changed the listing to add that she is a realtor, that the entire house is really a basement, and that you will hear the renters above you from the upstairs unit that happens to be another Airbnb (another surprise when we got there), but the main part still says "entire house/apt. She still has not disclosed the motorcycle gang.
She did add some pictures that reveal a little more truth, but it s a basement with very little light and a low ceiling. Unfortunately, when we contacted the Host's broker to make sure he knew what a agent affiliated with the his brokerage had done, he took the position that host did not make any misrepresentations while referring to the content of the edited listing. So, either he was not told by her that she changed the listing, or he is not concerned about the hosts ethics. I was a first time user of Airbnb and host seemed so nice. Because the host has a "moderate cancelation policy" it seems there is absolutely no chance of getting a refund through airbnb even when your safety is threatened and the space is a health risk. I spent days on the phone with airbnb. Prior to that I tried working with the host offering her one night stay for any trouble. Her listing went right back up so she was already paid for 2 weeks from me and could have had another renter the same day. I made the reservation less than 24 hours prior to arriving and canceling. I MADE THE RESERVATION LESS THAN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO CANCELING, MY and MY CHILD"S SAFETY WAS AT RISK. THINKING AIRBNB WAS HELPING, I BOOKED ANOTHER AIRBNB 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM ORIGINAL BOOKING - THERE WAS NOT A ATC/DIRTBIKE GANG OF HUNDREDS STOPPING TRAFFIC AND RUNNING FROM POLICE. Everyone I have spoke to at airbnb is in another country following a flowchart of what to do and say.
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