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It is a tricky one though - yes, there can be bad experiences on there, but we have used AirBnB several times, both in the UK and overseas, and we've always had positive experiences and there are often much nicer places to be found on there compared to the usual places.
Can I ask what your customer rights are around using a booking site such as AirBnB or Booking .com?
If you buy a bike your contract is with the shop - not the manufacturer. You go via the shop.
Is this similar with booking via a site?
aberdeenlune
Free Member
You learn something new every day. Interesting post mashr I live almost next door to the air BnB you are talking about. I didn’t know it used to be a church. Very interesting in a good way.
It's a cracking building, can't imagine the work that went in to convert it. Funny location for a church though, and you dont get a good view from the road iirc, so I could see why you wouldn't have realised. If I remember correctly the family moved aboard, but only on a semi-permanent basis so wanted to keep hold of the house - would absolutely do the same if it was mine. I'm still trying to find an excuse to go back
Sorry to hear about your experience OP.
We've had a couple of similar but less extreme experiences witht AirBnB and it's a real challenge not to let it ruin your holiday.
I really hope you can manage to enjoy the rest of your time.
The Host has probably reported an abusive guest, which is pretty much the only thing that would cause them to ask the guest to leave (not sure if the host will still be paid but I’d expect so).
this is the problem with 'losing your shit', you also lose the moral high ground...
this is the problem with ‘losing your shit’, you also lose the moral high ground…
Whilst that's true it doesn't waive your other legal rights.
Ill bet these cheapskates have not registered the property properly and jumped thru all the right hoops. All the safety certificates etc. I'd report them to the local authority as non compliant
Whilst not difficult to do its time consuming to get all the correct certification. fire safety, legionella assessment, gas safety, electrical safety etc etc
Whilst not difficult to do its time consuming to get all the correct certification. fire safety, legionella assessment, gas safety, electrical safety etc etc
Hmmmm, I think I might do that with our Aberdeen house as it had bare electrical contacts in the ceilings and one cupboard.....
To get the certificates for my rental I had to remove the paper globe lightshades, put in a linked fire alarm system, have a full test and inspection of the electrical system, same for the gas. I had to change some spotlights. legionella risk assessment etc etc. My inspector was picky as anything but that reassures me he did a good job. cost me a few hundred quid
this is the problem with ‘losing your shit’, you also lose the moral high ground…
"losing you shit" while reacting to being treated like shit only loses you the moral high ground in the strange middle class STW passive aggressive fantasy world where every interaction is seen as a game to be won by unwritten rules of decorum.
Some of us actually have real emotions, not the pretend emotions rolled out for public display in RIP threads, and that does not make us in any way immoral or less deserving than the cold snobs.
MSP
Full Member
this is the problem with ‘losing your shit’, you also lose the moral high ground…“losing you shit” while reacting to being treated like shit only loses you the moral high ground in the strange middle class STW passive aggressive fantasy world where every interaction is seen as a game to be won by unwritten rules of decorum.
you misunderstood me. I'll happily **** over someone like the AirBnB host in the OP's post. but I'll do it calmly with a smile on my face.
By and large chancers IMHO. Never ever, been tempted to Airbnb. This just reinforces that opinion. Great idea in the beginning, but too many greedy unscrupulous gits jumped on the bandwagon and ruined the whole concept for the genuine few.
Its why this industry needs properly regulating.
Some renters are genuine, good people. Some are not...and some will try to price gouge when they find an event is on (like innome of the posts) and.cancel then try to treble the fee.
The Scottish Gov has started to get a grip on this to an extent (though with some unfortunate impact on the genuine good hosts - eg tje place weve stopped in the past ew year in tje highlands is not available next year, and the host said the effort to get a licence and the reqmts etc is too much for them to sort.
Only positive is that Booking.com is 100x worse than airbnb
you misunderstood me. I’ll happily **** over someone like the AirBnB host in the OP’s post. but I’ll do it calmly with a smile on my face.
swearing at someone isn’t losing your shit. This truly is the most magical middle class place on the internet. I swear at people I like!
Its no problem to get a a license in Scotland if you have a good suitable property in good repair. I have looked into it.
this is the problem with ‘losing your shit’, you also lose the moral high ground…
Sometimes ****s need to be told they're ****s in an unequivocally direct way without ambiguity. The 'moral high ground' is just some subjective crap that’ll means very little and usually cast in some sly judgement of others.
😂😂 Exactly! My "feedback" to estate agents has progressed from "Sorry, not for us" to "They're having a ****ing laugh".
I didn’t realise not losing your temper could be so triggering…
I'm assuming they didn't have a sign up saying abuse won't be tolerated...
I didn’t realise not losing your temper could be so triggering
Alright Shrek, calm yer green man-tits it's all jokes.
Also check you out thinking your synaptic diarrhoea has 'triggered' anyone. 😂
Sorry we're not all blessed with your deportment, we can't all be a Happy Shopper branded version of Laszlo Cravensworth like you.
I didn’t realise not losing your temper could be so triggering…
Not so much that as you just being a sanctimonious prick about it. I'm sure the OP was more than aware that his temper never helped the situation without you making a point of it.
Just the usual for here though, wade in with a load of smug shite then act the victim when people react to it as you knew they would.
In such a situation, I'd expect Airbnb to not just refund me, but to cover the difference in accommodation costs - after all, it's not your fault you've been forced to book elsewhere at the very last minute.
Quick update and thanks for the words of support.
We managed to book a Travelodge in Maidenhead for a reasonable rate. Legoland wasn’t a washout, was quite quiet, no queues, we managed to do everything we planned, and didn’t get soaked.
We’re on a slow train to Paddington heading for the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
AirBnB have contacted The Wife, they are investigating, but reading between the lines, combined with what the host was shouting at me, it looks like he reported us for refusing to leave.
I think the father is the host, his son was a dogsbody.
I’ve now reach a level of zen about it really. It’s happened, we are dealing with it as best we can, I’ll get my money back either through AirBnB of through chargeback on my credit card.
Lesson learned is never use AirBnB. There’s too many shysters spoiling it for the good hosts and it’s no better value than a hotel or B&B.
Glad the Lego land bit of the trip was good 😀
Good luck with the refund
Agree totally on the eBay comparison - the interesting stuff is far outweighed by generic flats operated by multiproperty sharkes or unaccountable agencies.
Lesson learned is never use AirBnB. There’s too many shysters spoiling it for the good hosts and it’s no better value than a hotel or B&B.
I think you could generalise this too much and miss out accordingly - but I can see after your recent experience how you could feel like that. Over the years I've stayed in some epic places through airbnb - the sort of experiences that stay with you for ever (in a good way) that you'd never get in a vanilla travel lodge style of place. This place we stayed in Tenerife for example, converted from old stock buildings literally overhanging a cliff off a coastal foot path. How could a random clean n' tidy hotel in a built up area compete with that, not for me anyway - https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1644542?check_in=2023-11-24&check_out=2023-11-29&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=740eed78-31fb-4d7c-96b2-4c063d1b428e
Interesting difference with Airbnb guests to traditional holiday cottage guests though I think. We run a holiday let with bookings through Sykes and our friends have one up the lane they book out through Airbnb. Ours is 3 beds, 3 bath and big spaces. Theirs is one bed and a mezzanine and a pretty small living space. They get not dissimilar money for theirs and excellent feedback but.....not enough comfortable sitting space for 4, no microwave, no telly, they don't iron the sheets, they only make up as many beds as guests even though the cost does not change, no hairdryers, no washing machine no welcome pack. Sykes guests (mostly older or families) would do their nut in for that kind of treatment but airbnb guests seem to put up with it. Maybe we are the mugs - but Sykes guests are safe, have boring tidy holidays, seem to like cleaning up after themselves and are easy to manage.
There is perhaps something about the market and both users and hosts differing between Sykes and AirBnB....
I have similar with Booking.com now - they have finally responded, seen my complaint, asked for photo's of the issues, and understood some less than truthful information in the listing. The owner has been emailed and has 5 days to respond apparently...
On a related note, we're never using Vrbo again, after our booking was cancelled pretty much as we arrived at the property, and they shrugged off all responsibility.
With all these anecdotes around when things go wrong, other than a shiny website to book on I am left wondering what the big websites bring to the process of booking and using accomodation?
I am booking next springs Hebredean trip and have gone back to emailing places and using their own sites to book on, cutting out AirBnB and Booking .com etc.
Lesson learned is never use AirBnB. There’s too many shysters spoiling it for the good hosts and it’s no better value than a hotel or B&B.
Airbnb is a great resource for small and unusual accommodation - but it's not a hotel replacement, it just offers something different and shouldn't be compared to hotels. If your staying somewhere for one night, generally I'd say book a hotel.
I always find it frustrating when guests mark us down for value as our property is the cheapest in the area (generally cheaper than a premier Inn or travel lodge too), and you can't book anything similar for around 100miles in the same price bracket. Talking to other hosts about 90% of us think the value rating should be removed.
yep. I use booking.com to find properties, normally cheaper to then book direct & usually the properties prefer it especially smaller businesses!I am booking next springs Hebredean trip and have gone back to emailing places and using their own sites to book on, cutting out AirBnB and Booking .com etc.
Rescued it OP, bravo. Very glad the family day out worked out well.
I've never had a problem with Airbnb. Always been clean and tidy, no issues. Not always quite what I was expecting (especially abroad) but never a real problem.
Stayed at a couple of hotels that were very poor - vomit on carpet, public hair in bed, staff drunk, etc.
Glad you're seeing this as a lesson learned.
Sadly, there are lots of horror stories around. Just remembered what happened to friends of ours last year. They and their young son arrived at their Airbnb and all was well for a few hours, until late that night a bloke knocked on the door. Hubby answered and the bloke got proper shirty asking for someone. Hubby said he didn't know who the person was and asked him to leave. Bloke started getting proper aggressive, so hubby shut the door. Bloke tried breaking in so hubby called the police. Turns out the bloke was a dealer who was owed a lot of money by the landlord who was using the house for things other than letting.