Yes, I notified them about the first and third hosts, about whom they didn’t do much from what I know. It always took a long time to get in touch with them. I think the drug-addled psychic left Airbnb of her own accord, but I doubt Airbnb would have done much to address the situation if she hadn’t. Good luck with your travails!

Victim? I mean, it was a bad experience as far as airbnb goes, but I wasn’t a victim and neither is the next person. Not disclosing that they have kids is bad but they were clearly a family struggling to make ends meet who were inviting strangers in to live among their children because they needed the money. This falls on Airbnb to better vett their hosts.

From speaking to them, they were actually getting off Airbnb because of the taxes imposed in Chicago (which are substantial) and instead looking for a long-term renter. They aren’t a menace – certainly the two in between them were and I made serious attempts to get Airbnb to remove both from the site. What’s wrong with the process is not that I left a “good” review (I typed a sentence or two about the accommodations, it wasn’t anything glowing), but that when you have a really bad experience, you have to cancel and then can leave no feedback. So in truth, the really bad hosts (and I guess guests) get away with whatever they want. Just. Wow. Is. A. Bit. Dramatic. Don’t. You. Think. Of all the things in the review, that’s what caught your eye? Not the woman on painkillers ejecting me from her apartment late at night leaving me with no recourse (and of course her profile with no indication of what she’d done). That’s what makes it a cesspool. That Airbnb is a financial exchange for an almost entirely unregulated rental market and there is absolutely no review of the people they allow to enter into rental contracts through them.

The bottom line here, though, I think, is that the traditional rental market is too restrictive and prevents many from finding housing. Airbnb has been able to exploit that market deficiency and is up to now mostly unregulated. A regulated Airbnb that takes responsibility for the contracts it facilitates might be a very good thing for renters in general. Right now it simply enables more exploitation of potential renters without any proper recourse.

From speaking to them, they were actually getting off Airbnb because of the taxes imposed in Chicago (which are substantial) and instead looking for a long-term renter. They aren’t a menace – certainly the two in between them were and I made serious attempts to get Airbnb to remove both from the site. What’s wrong with the process is not that I left a “good” review (I typed a sentence or two about the accommodations, it wasn’t anything glowing), but that when you have a really bad experience, you have to cancel and then can leave no feedback. So in truth, the really bad hosts (and I guess guests) get away with whatever they want. Just. Wow. Is. A. Bit. Dramatic. Don’t. You. Think. Of all the things in the review, that’s what caught your eye? Not the woman on painkillers ejecting me from her apartment late at night leaving me with no recourse (and of course her profile with no indication of what she’d done). That’s what makes it a cesspool. That Airbnb is a financial exchange for an almost entirely unregulated rental market and there is absolutely no review of the people they allow to enter into rental contracts through them.

The bottom line here, though, I think, is that the traditional rental market is too restrictive and prevents many from finding housing. Airbnb has been able to exploit that market deficiency and is up to now mostly unregulated. A regulated Airbnb that takes responsibility for the contracts it facilitates might be a very good thing for renters in general. Right now it simply enables more exploitation of potential renters without any proper recourse.

My first prospective client immediately and rudely inquired about a lock on the bedroom door before asking anything else about myself or the place.

I told her there was no lock and ended up asking her why she’s so paranoid? I’m nearly 50 after all and have owned this house for 17 years and have rented a basement mother-in-law apartment here to mostly university students.

Anyway, she responded, “So I don’t get raped, how dare you question my right to inquire about my personal safety.” Honestly I thought whoa – but politely suggested she might be a brainwashed victim of mass media propaganda, crony capitalism after all profits through greed and fear. Yes, I can be a bore and over-intellectualize.

The woman was pushy and manipulative and still wanted to rent the place. Eventually I decided not to rent to her and at the end of our interaction she claimed that I would fit right in where I live (Rockies) as “an ignorant asshole”.

I looked up this woman’s history with Airbnb and noticed someone had given her free room and board due to some scheduling issue and gave her a poor tenant review. Her four other reviews were positive. She complained about the free place calling it “dank”. I also noticed the party that had given her the poor review and free rental had had their account removed.

I know that hosting tolerance of customers means more revenue for management and corporate anonymity can mask profit motives through boutique politics like political correctness (more customers due to less discrimination). I also believe in less tolerance to the intolerant and that parties should try and resolve disputes outside of the bureaucratic expensive legal system.

Anyway several months later I’ve tried restarting my account in case I ever try airbnb as a renter. I have tried appealing through account.inquiry@airbnb.com and their customer service number. I apologized in an email similar to this story for having a personality conflict with someone and that I’d appreciate a chance to show that I’m fair, balanced, pleasant, and conscientious since Airbnb only gave me one circumstance to reveal my character. Through appealing for reconsideration I have also requested a corporate self-reflection without any expectations and have only been ignored.

Since Airbnb has never responded to that one final decision a Vincent sent me Airbnb seems to be cowardly, unjust, and bullying in their policies and tactics. I do know that being ignored is a horrible form of abuse and that corporations are allowed to hide behind anonymity and anonymous discrimination (e.g. does Vincent even exist since he left no last name with his email). I’ve felt the decision made against me was one-sided and heavy handed.

Currently I’m supporting competitors: tripping.com, flipkey, homeaway, vrbo, housetrip, vaystays, vacayhero, roomorama, and couchsurfing.

I’m also pursuing a legal resolution. Airbnb seems to be allowed to treat people any way they want while requiring their hosts to not discriminate and to behave to their mandates related seemingly only to profit wrapped in the marketing of community. Anyway, regards and happy travels.