There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their favor and automatically charged my credit card for the amount.
I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
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Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#22There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their…
Wow, I would absolutely charge that back. Which I guess would end my use of Airbnb, but I’d probably be ok with that.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#23Does this article really contain a referral link for "overstock.com barstools"? I'm not sure if I should be appalled that they inserted an ad into a journalistic piece, or respect them for doing it despite how negative the reference is.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#24Well, this certainly makes me want to never book an AirBnB again. You'd think AirBnB would be more alarmed about the reputational and consequent business hit of this sort of thing. Maybe they will be after this article?
> You'd think AirBnB would be more alarmed about the reputational and consequent business hit of this sort of thing. Maybe they will be after this article?
AirBnB is/used to be cheap. People want cheap. They don't want to pay $200 a night for a hotel room when they travel to Paris, AirBnB knows that so I think they are much more concerned about the size of their inventory than the satisfaction of the guest or their reputation.
What fascinates me is the ability of most of theses "start-up" to successfully straight out ignore local laws, with very little consequences, and manage to put all the burden of legality onto their users.
They must have very good legal teams that exploit the flaws of legal systems. Talking about Paris, the great majority of listing are outright illegal, or at least used to be. If I were to set up a similar operation on my own, in France, I'd be shut down in a heart beat for providing illegal hotels and rentals and go straight to prison.
These people seem truly untouchable.
That's the strength of these services.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#25I'll ask the dumb question (I don't use AirBnB): why not dispute the charge via a credit card?
Presumably AirBnB would ban the user and the user still wants to be able to use the service in the future.
I issued a chargeback to Qatar Airways/Expedia for $1700 and they tried to fight it. Bank of America told them to go to hell, and that I was getting a full refund.
I can still use Qatar and Expedia.
Airbnb should not be allowed to ban me for this reason.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#26I was in Chinatown (NYC) about a month ago helping at a event when this German woman walks over asking for help (very poor Spoken English). Three German tourist with their luggage dead tired and long story short their host canceled on them one hour before their flight was scheduled to land. They phones did not work in the US so they could not jump on expedia to look for a hotel. The best we could do was hail a cab for them to take them to a hotel where they would be charged $400 a night. Now they did not book through AirBnB but it was through some other similar service. I think they had paid about $1500 for a week. Really makes me not want to use services like this and just go to a hotel. Yes it is more money but I rather not deal with the hassle.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#27There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their…
Try calling your Credit Card company and flag it as fraud. That's what I would do. That failing I'd submit a police report.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#28Why don't companies like AirBNB who have a lot to lose (reputation wise) from a (small?) number of scammers sue those scammers into oblivion? Not only are they violating the TOS but they are committing fraud, and likely breaking a few other laws. AirBNB must know who they are as those scammers are getting paid, right? It would be expensive for AirBNB (they would certainly lose money) but it can't cost more than the r…
They get a cut of whatever the scammers get away with.
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#29There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their…
Try calling your Credit Card company and flag it as fraud. That's what I would do. That failing I'd submit a police report.
That doesn't work well b/c then Airbnb just bans you from the platform
Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
How on earth is that the card issuer's fault? The chargeback is for the exact fraudulent type of activity described in the article, and the business who allows it should be punished. Heck, that is the primary reason I use my credit card, for this type of protection.
The card issuer could easily institute a "no retaliation" clause in their contracts that forbids deactivating a user's account for a sustained chargeback.
> The card issuer could easily institute a "no retaliation" clause in their contracts that forbids deactivating a user's account for a sustained chargeback.
On the contrary, AFAIK some banks or at least payment processors now clearly state than some "sharing economy" services cannot be subject to charge backs, or payment reversals, like if you use Paypal for a Kickstater. So it's basically the opposite of what you wish.