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O__________O parent
AirBNB runs this scam all the time. Say AirBNB because they’re actively part of the scam in my opinion based dealing with similar situations and them intentionally not offering guests insurance, guarantees similar to those they offer hosts, have guest cancel policies, etc; even their current marketing to guest called “AirCover” to me intentionally misrepresents what they actually offer and they removed the clause about actually covering guest costs if a host cancels the booking.

Thought about starting simple AirBNB guest insurance company, but if it was successful, AirBNB would just offer it as a service and business would be dead within days.

If you’re going to book on AirBNB only use super hosts, since odds of them canceling a stay is significantly less, especially compared to new listings.

In my case, hosts cancelled the booking with less than 24-hours prior to the month long stay starting; Host messaged me via AirBNB’s system asking me to cancel it and saying they would refund me off platform (which I obviously didn’t do and is against AirBNB’s terms of service); AirBNB cancelled the stay for host; AirBNB told me to pay the host 3-4x more to rebook the stay, then when I told them that’s bait-and-switch and fraud, they told me to take them to arbitration; AirBNB allowed the host to relist the booking for 2-3 times more and rebook the stay; AirBNB refused to let me leave a review on the listing and/or post an automatic review saying my listing had been cancelled; they funds tied to the booking for the month long stay were paid upfront and not refunded in week after booking was cancelled; AirBNB made no effort to find a like or similar stay, they basically said using their website was identical to them helping find a stay; etc.

Do NOT trust AirBNB as a guest - always have a backup plan and funds available to cover it.

Nextgrid
FYI, AirBnb "insurance" and "guarantees" for hosts is just as bad, there's plenty of horror stories around it. Why commit fraud on one side of the marketplace if you can double-dip and screw both sides?
achempion
I think misconception here is expecting hotel experience from renting flats on private market.

AirBNB is not the one to blame here, this problem is extremely hard to solve and all you can do is minimize the risk by renting well vetted apartments from superhosts.

AirBNB left Russia and friends told me that private renting experience went downhill. You can't expect AirBNB to solve all problems and edge cases, only to minimize them. You should prepare to eventually get screwed anyways.

There are bunch of additional issues here, like having hidden cameras in your rented place. How you expect AirBNB to solve this?

They're charging very high premium for what they offer and this creating wrong expectations in the beginning that they will solve all sorts things for you if something goes wrong, but at the end you realize that you have to deal with it by yourself at 10pm when you arrive, in foreign country.

O__________O OP
AirBNB is knowingly violating their own terms and allowing hosts to intentionally do so too. Bait-and-switch is fraud and a criminal offense. AirBNB refuses to allow guests to set there own cancellation policies, allow hosts to agree to them manually/automatically, and enforce them on behalf of the guests like they do for host. AirBNB deletes blocks & deletes reviews.

Yes, AirBNB is possible to blame. US state attorney general should investigate them.

slackwaredragon
So what you're thinking is if the US AG gets involved with AirBNB all these issues will magically disappear? It sounds like what might be needed is different housing policies. Our area bans short term rentals period (AirBNB, Vrbo or even private) and the issues have decreased significantly. It's also freed up more housing in our area alleviating the housing crisis (a little).

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