We had a nightmare guest who after 2 weeks of a 4-week booking I caught with yet ANOTHER guest (making 5 instead of the 2 – then 3 – then 4 I allowed). There could have been more but I just stood in the doorway, feeling uncomfortable about entering the space.

When I told her there would be an extra guest fee at this point (she had a massive discount) she stopped replying, then when I pushed through Airbnb that she would have to pay or get out, retaliated by falsely reporting me to both the police and the platform for having ‘cameras in all the bedrooms’. There were no cameras, the police agreed, but I was suspended (and all my incoming bookings for 4 units cancelled) and then banned after a decade on the platform with all happy guests in 3-5 units throughout this time.

This has been going on for a month now. I have managed to appeal, but am on about the 4th or 5th case worker, have had to remove guest myself, and Airbnb treated me like a criminal.

I only had a handful of bookings but I look like a jerk to those guests, who could well have become long-term repeat business.

I am disallusioned with Airbnb and going to severely limit my bookings on the platform, only opening the calendars up 3 months maximum in advance and raising my prices. I will never discount again. I get much better quality guests through Homeaway – now VRBO. Luckily, my original properties get 80% of their bookings directly or through repeat guests. LSI – Listing Site Independence (see Matt Landau’s page http://www.vrmb.com) – is an acheivable goal, but this house is new so hasn’t the momentum.

Good luck, keep the pressure on, and get a website out there, you can do it yourself for very little.

we had a ‘youth hostel ‘ style listing and got a privacy violation complaint. they did not say name of which guest where how ( i had other units on same land listed to), told me they d call me at 2 pm next day ( i was doing eldercare at that time, a priority), and when i wrote them later that i figured out that 1 young lady had asked the other young lady if she could peek in her room, by invitation when they were both home , had chatted, shared facilities as in youth hostel, etc), they said the 1 young girl had filed violation of privacy complaint and that she got her money back ( at end of 4 day stay(, and that they had cancelled my next 2 guests ( in other units), and permanently blocked me from airbnb after a year of superhost and making them tons of money.
I was immediatley nable yo access my acct. I managed to contact the 2 canceled guests who i had seen thought i had cacelled them and were in great distress over it as ‘i had sounded so nice’ ( yeah, airbnb as a corporation ‘sounded so nice, thoo:)), and luckily found them thru much online search, , and explained to them they were welcome to come.

the only thing that is harming me still, now, is that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get ahold of airbnb now. My county TOT has been charging me late fees on not providing the last 2 mos, june, july of 2020 of gross rental income statements, which normally showed on my acct in portal. the TOT taxes did, presumably, get paid to county, as i had it set up to be paid by airbnb, but my county charges late fees bc they want an exact accounting from me, plus proof from airbnb, end each month.

if anyone knows how to get ahold of them for such when acct was closed by them, i’d appreciate to see comment in here. My county ( as bureacrats should) , says this is on me as i am the rental operator.

As for my ‘loss’ after a year of airbnb, THANKS AND PRAISES…
I felt immediate relief from all the guests abusing my kindness, not reading what my listing said and then complaining, crazy reviews i had to suffer thru and retort, ( while still maintaining between 4.5 and 5 starts, another weird judgment from complete strangers i was so happy to be releived of!)playing motelmaid alth this is a friendly, rustic , rural community in very touristy west marin co CA.

Airbnb is def a nice weather friend, and their system for violating privacy, giving the host no more credibility against guest as a dog has against animal control in a dangerous dog hearing ( the dog is not even allowed in courtbuilding!), meaning, THERE IS ZERO RECOURSE.

So my advice is, thank the gods for this great relief. they have sold their soul if they ever had one. Fall on your knees in gratitude first, then go online and sign u to all the other platforms at once, to see which ones works out for you.

for me the past almost year, this has been, unequivocally, HIPCAMP.COM, who, contrary to what i assumed, also does pricey cottages besides campspots. And mostly, they have excellent and fast customers service, and the guests are 100% wonderful and grateful.
They are up and coming.. in new areas all the time.. check them out..