THIS LISTING AS DESCRIBED. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITH AIRBNB. DECEPTIVE/INNACURATE LISTING AND CLASSLESS COMMUNICATIONS BY THE HOST.
My original reservation at another location in a different part of the city was cancelled the day I arrived. I had internet access and accepted the offer by airbnb to assist with a new booking in the same location as the previous one that was canceled. I booked this place assuming the airbnb host followed my request for a private place/room in the same location. I found wifi access within 30 minutes of sending the booking request and realized this place was not in the part of town that I had requested from the airbnb host. I immediately called airbnb to advise them of the error and to see if i was able to cancel. Airbnb agreed to contact the host and ask if they would allow me to cancel because I/they had made a mistake. The host declined and said I requested instant booking and everything went according to the guidelines and it was too close to the check in date to cancel. We were ready to accept the mistake and stay in a location that I did not request because the photos looked really nice and seemed private from the pics and description. When I arrived I noticed there WAS NOT 100% PRIVACY. THE STAIRWELL IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED WHICH IS NOT PRIVATE. IT FEELS MORE LIKE A PUBLIC SPACE BECAUSE OF NOISE TRAVEL FROM BELOW AND I IMAGINE THE HOST COULD HEAR EVERY MOVE OR NOISE FROM ABOVE. THE LOCK ON THE (PRIVATE) ENTRANCE DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED BY PUTTING A HAND THROUGH THE STAIRWELL. The listing does not clearly explain this detail. I don't know the host, who the host has living with them or visiting. I didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling when the host initially declined my request to cancel the booking so we had all this in the back of our minds while we explored the space. We noticed THE BATHROOM CONSISTS OF A SINK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEDROOM WITH A SHOWER ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM AND THE TOILET ON THE OTHER SIDE. THERE WAS A TEMPORARY PARTITION TO ACT AS A BATHROOM WALL BETWEEN THE SLEEPING AREA. THE BALCONY WAS NICE BUT ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY CLIMBING THROUGH THE WINDOWS. (this might be normal in the area). The lack of privacy and security was a problem so we decided to abandon the airbnb, take the loss and check in to a hotel. I did not take pics or notify the host because I never intended to request a refund. I left the keys in the lock box as if we had checked out. Upon returning home I decided to review the listing completely for the first time and noticed the description and photos left out some key details which really didn't sit well with me after the host so strictly adhered to the booking guidelines. I decided to request a partial refund of the fees for lack of security and privacy. The host declined the request and followed with a response confirming her door was secure and completely ignoring the guest door that was not secure.
*******Langestraat declined your request
FROM THE HOST: "I am in shock receiving this request from you since you check in as per normal and you did not indicated anything to me that something was wrong. You already started to involve Airbnb before even stepping foot in my house since you claimed that you booked by accident. You did a valid instant booking which was as well confirmed by the Airbnb support team that it was vaild. Now just finding some random staff, throwing some hard allegations regarding my place is just outrageous. Your space was the 2 upper floors of the house which is privately accessible through a separate door from the staircase. Myself I have my private space which can be again separatly accessed my a door which you do not have access to. So saying that you did not feel safe is just again finding some reason for canceling this reservation for free which you wanted to force it via Airbnb support before. This behavior is just not right and has really a wrong taste to it. As you can check as well on my rating I never had any safety issues or others, your private door can be closed from the inside from your side so you can actively close your private space. I also the main door downstairs is a massive entrance door which also does not have any safety issues. Also you did not inform me at any point that you checked out nor that you had some problems. I even wrote you a follow up message which you did not answer. So I will not accept any refund requests.
I PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WITH DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED JUST IN CASE THE HOST WAS NOT COMPLETELY IN THE LOOP AND I RECEIVED THIS RESPONSE....
******FROM HOST:
"Dick begging for money, what a reply. I hope we win asshole
Met vriendelijke groet / kind regards,
V.J. Dekker.
Mar 30, 2019 · Langestraat
I involved airbnb who is saying their hands are tied and can only try to convince the host to consider refunding my money. The host has now changed the posting to remove a "private entrance". I'm currently waiting for a response from airbnb but wanted to finish this review before the deadline expired.