Anyways I’ll state my story. I was going to London on holiday, both my sister and sister in law live there. We decided to pay them a visit and I was travelling with my parents and my two year old son. Both of my sisters live in a two bedroom apartments and far from each other, so I choose the location based on being easily visited by both of them. We picked what it seemed a lovely flat apartment with a small backyard, perfect for the kid. It was actually cheap, considering the area I thought…
We took our flight and as soon as we arrived there was a huge delay at the airport. Instead of arriving around 10 we were only able to reach half past twelve. My sister was there waiting for us.. as soon as we arrived we were horrified. The bedsheets were dirty, one had what it looked like blood. The stains on the carpet were pretty disgusting as well. Well it was to late to get out with my baby boy, so we stayed there for the night. I did exactly the same thing you describe: used towels as sheets to be able to rest.

As soon as I woke up I contacted the owner. Tried to bring him to reason but he kept saying that he left the house to go on vacation and the maid was there and all was fresh and clean. So I thought it was pointless. I told him I was leaving and wanted to leave on good terms. He had a flexible cancellation policy, but at the time I fought I could only cancel before our stay. I didn’t know very well how to use the app and he tricked me to believe he would refund him back half of the money and to provide him a UK bank account. So around 10 we went for breakfast, we returned to the house and locked up, delivering the keys to the neighbour as he suggested. We then moved to one of my sisters and my parents checked in a Hotel across the road. I believed all would be well.
The following day I asked him when he would deposit half of the money and he said he couldn’t pay yet, because only at the end of my stay the Airbnb would pay him and suggested I requested the fund through the app. I was naive enough to to it. So instead of cancelling the following day I requested the money through the app and two days later he refuses and starts with a series of lies towards my family and I, we broke some items, left the place a mess. Well you name it.

Only then I knew I was being conned and a person actually told me to cancel. I still am being refunded for one night. Anyways, I sent a message to support and after two managers, they are basically stating that the guy is very difficult and won’t return the money back. So I feel I’m also being punished for not knowing the app well or my rights.

I wrote him an honest review. The place was dirty and I didn’t even think about subjecting my son to this crap. He wrote a revenge review stating I was unethical and made false claims..I reported that comment. I still have hope that I might get proper assistance from costumer support. Else I will ask for legal support on this matter. So he doesn’t deceive other people, at least!