My girlfriend and I checked into this “cottage” in Corona, California. We met the host, and things were cool. The host talked at length about her ex-husband who was a professional drug courier/dealer, and her last boyfriend, the permanent drunk. She indicated that her last Airbnb guests were four Muslim men. She said she did not like the way they smelled and talked. So what did she do? She cooked bacon to antagonize them. She said she tried to evict them because they were in their room.
The host had a guest after our booking who reserved the room for thirty days (as it was open) but this was unacceptable to her. She wanted different guests each day so they could go to the beach, not one consistent guest. On the morning after check in, having stayed at the property for over eighteen hours, my girlfriend was called home to check in on her mother.
The host’s ideal guest is someone who checks in, then departs from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM for the beach. Since I was waiting for my girlfriend, the host wanted to photograph my identification. I asked her to show me the Airbnb request for such a thing. She called the Home Owners Association (HOA) security. Then the sheriff was called. The host told the sheriff lies. Total lies. The host claimed that there was sexual harassment. That is crazy; I was with my girlfriend. This from a woman in a bikini. In a house full of sexual fetish and weird objects. The host lied for no reason. I packed my bags and departed the property with no problems. The host stole my original Airbnb receipt along with other items to minimize my leverage.
Once a complaint was made to Airbnb, management sat on it for seven days, then they wrote a message saying this:
“We are contacting you regarding your Airbnb account. We regret to inform you that we are no longer able to support your account due to violations of our Community Standards & Expectations. As a result of this determination, we have taken steps to permanently deactivate your account. Additionally, we are unable to provide further account support.”
There is no proof. The sheriff has no report. The HOA has no report. My attorney can take no action because the sum involved is so small. However, because the host is a woman who claimed sexual harassment, and the guest is a man, Airbnb has sided with the host.
Yes Alicia, I can understand his reluctance to show her his ID if he was fearing that her companions “might come back to settle whatever it is she was complaining about.” That was a good observation.
You really think the woman was being reasonable? First she tells her guests all her personal baggage about drug-dealer husbands, drunk boyfriends, and her personal bias against middle-easterners and their “smell”… Then she comes over in a bikini to ask for a copy of his ID (ID should definitely go through the secure settings of Airbnb) accuses him of sexual harassment, calls security (NOT Airbnb), and you think the guest should just trust her? Yes, she doesn’t know him, but he doesn’t know her either! She could copy his ID and give the info to her drug-dealer/ courier ex-husband or her newer ex, the drunk. I am a woman and I wouldn’t trust her or her taste in companions (who might come back to settle whatever it is she was complaining about). Calling Airbnb should have been his first step, not the last. The only good thing is that she will absolutely do this again, and now she has a track record. This Host is obviously out-there, nuts, Loony- toons, and bat shit crazy!
Why was it unreasonable for a woman living by herself (the host) to request to see the ID of an unknown male guest staying at her place after the registered guest leaves early? She was likely initially concerned for her personal safety and wanted to have a way of holding you responsible in case you damaged her house. Then, after you refused to comply with such an understandable request, she got scared and called for help.