Airbnb removed my negative review

#1

Post by luminaobscura » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:05 PM UTC

I recently had a bad airbnb experience. During check in the host requested a cash deposit. this wasn't explained in the listing or prior to arrival. i couldn't check in and went elsewhere. Then i posted a review* giving these details.

Airbnb removed my below review because "The review didn’t have enough relevant information to help the Airbnb community make informed booking or hosting decisions."

The rating of the place went back up after removal. The host still have "superhost" status.

Needless to say, i no longer trust airbnb reviews.

*my full review was:

I wasn't able to check in because [Host] requested 300 USD security deposit during check in. I told her - I don't have that much cash on me. - That is against AirBnB rules. - This should have been explained in airbnb listing. She can't just surprise guests with this at the last minute. She didn't listen. She said: "my house my rules", "you can't tell me how to run my business", "if you don't like it, you can cancel". I told her if i cancel, i don't get full refund so she should cancel. she said she won't cancel and me not getting refund is not her problem. I think she counts on the fact that guests typically wouldn't want to cancel in the last minute. you can see in some other reviews people had to agree to paying her this deposit. But i didn't want to cave in and called AirBnB. Thankfully, airbnb fully refunded the payment and i was able to find another accomodation in the last minute. I don't recommend this host unless you want a stressful start for your vacation.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#2

Post by raincom » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:16 PM UTC

Any platform that extracts money from X has the incentive to get rid of any negative reviews about X. Reviewers are not the revenue source. That's why AirBnB, Yelp, Glassdoor, etc will get rid of bad reviews for the right price.

Read all bad stuff about AirBnB on reddit, you see where airbnb is heading. People should stop using that platform, whenever you find an alternative.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#3

Post by europeanguy » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:18 PM UTC

Name and shame.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#4

Post by LegitShady » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:23 PM UTC

Now you know for sure you can't trust AirBNB to make ethical decisions on reviews, so you know for sure you can't use AirBNB without opening yourself to these problems. That something was against their rules but the operator is still a "super host" is further evidence any AirBNB designated statuss is worthless.

So take your money elsewhere.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#5

Post by IronWolve » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:25 PM UTC

Censoring to protect the income stream.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#6

Post by raydiatian » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:26 PM UTC

I had the same experience with VRBO. My "hosts" decided to come home at midnight and fuck loudly in the room next to me while I was trying to sleep, so I left. VRBO first told me I couldn't get my money back, but that I could leave a negative review if I was unsatisfied. The host denied everything, even though it was pretty obviously coming from inside the house, I even had to walk right past the window where they were moaning and boning, it's like okay, yep. It's not like it's illegal to fuck while you have guests in your home or something, it's just low class. Fucking Los Angeles.

Then when I left the review, I get a message a day later that VRBO took down the message. Cool, last time I ever use your service.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#7

Post by antb123 » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:28 PM UTC

In france they often add sheets for 30 euros per bed.

Airbnb doesn't treat the hosts great either... They auto set new listings to auto approve...

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#8

Post by elmerfud » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

Airbnb removed my positive review and accused me of being in cahoots with the host to leave positive feedback.

They said they have found an existing relationship between me and the host. Mind you have no social media accounts, this was my first stay at an Airbnb, I'm from USA and this was in Medellin Colombia, I usually stay at Marriott hotels and I only went with Airbnb because the girl I traveled with suggested using it because it was cheaper.

It was awesome place, host was great, so left a fantastic review. It was taken down and I was called a liar. When I asked to speak with someone about why I'm accused of being a liar in my review customer support promised me many times I would get a call back. Never once did I receive a call back from anyone at Airbnb instead I would get an email that they had conducted a thorough review and their position still stands that I am a liar. I'm not sure what thorough means in their mind but since they asked me zero questions or confirmed no information with me directly it's impossible that they conducted any kind of thorough review.

Airbnb is a horrendous company along with all of these gig economy companies. They need to be regulated in the same manner as they're non-gig counterparts are. I can't imagine that any Airbnb executive actually stays at Airbnb places not with the kind of customer service that Airbnb offers.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#9

Post by medellin » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

Airbnb most recently has continued to ignore requests to remove houses that violate the building’s HOA where i live.

People have been turned away when they show up by security as it’s not allowed but the people just try to sneak them in. When reporting this to airbnb they refuse to do anything. I’m getting fairly sick of the laissez faire stances these companies are taking. It’s not just that we don’t want airbnb its that people in this area regularly rent airbnb with false names and rob the apartment and the ones next to it once in the building. Airbnb could care less about our safety though.

It would be nice if the companies could stop hiding behind stupid corporate policies and actually care about people.

Edit: to make things more sad when the building was sold as it’s brand new it was sold as no airbnbs and family only. Several couples moved in because they have been previously robbed in other buildings in the city and in nearby ones all from Airbnb rentals with false names.

Re: Airbnb removed my negative review

#10

Post by awb » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 4:29 PM UTC

I think they might have a policy that you can’t review a place that you didn’t stay at.

That policy falls short in instances like this where a guest cannot or will not check in due to issues with the host.

You might also try calling AirBnB again and see if you can convince them to put the review back up.

BTW, $300 cash deposit is absurd. AirBnB already has a security deposit mechanism that the host could use.