I had a big issue with the L'Ambassadeur booking and with Tim, 1 week before arriving.
From the beginning, I told him that we would be 24 people. Tim said that the house would be big enough for 24, and gave me a price, which I paid.
6 months later, and just 1 week before arrival, he demands an extra GBP1,680, because he said that additional guests over 16 pax are chargeable!
This extra charge was not written on his listing, and he did not inform this to me when he quoted to us. I asked for a price for 24 pax, and I should be entitled that the price he gave me was for 24 pax.
Of course, I had no choice but to pay-up, because there was no other large-enough accommodation in London at such late notice.
To add insult to injury, these 8 extra beds that we had to pay extra for, were all in the 2 lounges! This left us with no other common space, except the small kitchen. How can 24 people gather in a small kitchen?? Even the table had only 8 chairs! Are we expected to eat in our bedrooms? The house was not suitable for more than 18 pax, and he should not have said it was, much less charged us for the extra beds!
In the end he agreed to GBP1,050 in extra fees, but his action is still wrong and unethical. Not even an apology.
It's wrong to demand extra money 1 week before arrival, when you know your guest will be stuck with no other choice. And it's wrong to charge for 24 guests, when your house is much too small for it!