A Romanian tourist claims he had an unpleasant experience with an Airbnb accommodation in Turkey. The location and conditions did not correspond to the description in the ad, so he requested a refund. After a few days, he got the money back, but two weeks later the host claimed damages for cleaning.
A Romanian tourist claims he had an unpleasant experience with an Airbnb accommodation in Turkey. PHOTO Pixabay
325 euros is the amount that the host claims to clean up what the Romanian tourist would have left behind, although initially he insisted that he had the wrong location and would not have shown up at the accommodation.
After discussions with Airbnb Support, they sided with the host. The tourist is now looking for advice to resolve the situation.
“The accommodation did not correspond. My money was refunded, but I was asked for 325 euros”
“I had an accommodation in Turkeytaken on Airbnb. When I got there, it didn’t match the location or the pictures at all. I took some photos to prove that it doesn’t match, for reimbursement”the Romanian tourist started his post on a Facebook group.
All sorts of discussions with Airbnb Support followed which resulted in: “I received the refund after a few days. The host claimed that I had the wrong location, that I had never been there before, etc.. I got the money in the end”. Moreover, they also gave him a bonus: “I received an extra 20 or so euros for the inconvenience, as mentioned in the email received from them”.
After more than two weeks, news fell like a bolt of lightning: “After 17 days, I get (a request) that I have to pay 325 euros for cleaning, that I left hair in the shower, dirt on the toilet and things like that. Which is not true. We didn’t even use the toilet, let alone shower. I’m still talking to Support Airbnb who give the host justice”.
“It seems unreal to me. He was insisting that I made the wrong house and now he claims that I did damage”
The change of attitude of the host, who initially supported something and later contradicted himself, should have given Airbnb Turkey suspicion. In the comments on the post, the tourist also attached evidence of discussions with the Support Service – from accepting the refund, to claiming for damages (SEE PHOTO COLLAGE below). And he mentioned: “I arrived at the accommodation around 15:50, I saw what there was to see, and at 16:07 I had already left. I called, I sent a message that it doesn’t correspond”.
Airbnb Discussions Support for a refund and claiming damages in Turkey Mihai Nedelea FB
Now the Romanian wants to know what he can do in such a case: “It seems unreal and ridiculous to me. She kept insisting that we didn’t show up for the accommodation and that we were at the wrong house and now, suddenly, that we actually went and did some damage. I have the reservation from that day, from the other accommodation, which I took later. I sent a message to see if they had anything to do with it. What advice do you give me?”.
However, he was determined not to be intimidated: “I’m not paying anyway, they’ll sue me if I prove it’s my hair or I don’t know what.”
“It’s absolutely mind-blowing. Don’t pay”
In unison, netizens who commented on the post were shocked by the high amount of the cleaning fee requested: “A cleaning fee cannot be at such a price of 400 euros. It’s absolutely hallucinatory.” In the context in which “in Turkey a cleaning woman receives 120 – 140 lei per day”, as noted by those who know the labor market in the country from two continents.
They advised him, instead, not to pay anything, to expressly request to speak to a manager, in Romanian, to keep all the evidence and to close or empty the money from the card used for registration and payment on Airbnb platform: “Call them, they are more efficient on the phone. Maybe it’s a communication problem. Ask to speak with support in Romanian. And request manager and over manager if needed”.
Those used to accommodation through Airbnb or Booking also emphasized the importance of reviews given by other tourists: “Not one, not ten, but hundreds. This is the only way we can form a correct opinion about the location, surroundings, owner, etc. Maybe in this way I miss out on cheaper accommodation, but I think it is preferable”.
“That’s exactly the pattern, that’s exactly how many owners do it”
“On Airbnb, if you have a problem, it’s a disaster” remarked another netizen. “I went through an ordeal with them. Don’t be intimidated, threaten to sue them, pay nothing, cancel your card and let them sue you if they want money!”, he also recommended it.
Others noted that the incident sounded more like a case of harassment and advised him to bring this matter to the attention of Airbnb and also ask for a future discount as “non-pecuniary damage for nuisance”.
Commenters on the post also noted that the scheme is often practiced these days: “That’s exactly the pattern, that’s exactly what many owners do. The problem is that Airbnb has zero control over them and that’s why scams flourish on this platform. Airbnb, it kind of depends on the owners, because they have more to gain from them, than from the tourists”.
“Airbnb is a scam”
Some have also noted that it is very possible to be the victim of a scam: “It’s Airbnb scam. i read adventure to one, the poor man, who found himself having to pay 4,000 euros because he had damaged an antique chair that had antique value… I also suffered the same, being made to pay for some towels that I had not even received due to that I stole them. After I refused, they started accusing me of leaving the accommodation dirty and sent me a picture of a magnet that I had bought as a souvenir (on a whim) and left on their fridge. I ended up canceling the account and never used Airbnb again. You can’t get along with Support, you have to have nerves of steel. This with cleanliness is classic! Google Airbnb Scams, you’ll find stuff that will amaze you how inventive some people are!”.
What a former employee of Airbnb Support says
And a former Airbnb employee noted that since he received the refund from Airbnb for the non-compliant location it’s case closed: “There’s no way they’re going to claim your cleaning fee after a month. According to the procedure, complaints from the host are registered within a maximum of 48 hours, if he has no other reservation in the meantime, and if he has one, he must report it before the check-in (registration – ed.) of the others. I worked at Airbnb Support, so I know the procedures. Check that the email you receive is not spam, and only pretends to be from Airbnb. I don’t see another option, if it’s as you say”.
The conclusion of those who used to go through Turkey to this post was that: “In Istanbul anything is possible… I don’t think there’s anyone who’s been there and hasn’t been tricked, one way or another… But that’s how it is in the East”.
