Oh help...what do I do!

From the moment they step through the door your bookings become guests, and their experiences determine whether they ever come back.
Margarita
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Oh help...what do I do!

Post by Margarita »

Second post, more advice needed if I'm not getting on everyone's nerves. (I promise this is not my normal style and that I intend responding to other people's posts and not just being a parasite allllll the time!).

I am such an idiot. Rookie mistake...

I advertise through Airbnb, and had an enquiry from a new member from the USA who wanted to stay. There would be two guests. I pre-approved him, and his money was paid (being held by Airbnb at the moment as per normal policy). He arrives in the first week of October for 8 nights.

I wish I had followed my gut that something was amiss with this one, but stupid me...

So this guest has a photo on his profile which looked like it came straight from men's fashion catalogue. I thought that was strange, so I googled the guest's name and find he is apparently a model registered with a modelling agency in the USA. The website shows this agency website is the same as his home location listed on his Airbnb profile so I thought he was an authentic guest and accepted the booking.

After I accept his reservation, he asks whether there are any shared facilities as he believes some other adverts are "misleading". I confirmed that he will have full exclusive use of the Cottage.

Then he asks whether the TV has a HTMI cable, which I confirm it does. Husband who works in IT guessed perhaps this guest wanted to hook his laptop up to the TV to watch movies or work on a bigger screen.

So last night whilst reading the Lay My Hat thread about how to identify potential scammers, I started thinking about this guest again. I took his mobile number and inserted it into google and the search results show this mobile number is linked to loads of porn websites for a female porn star. Her name kept coming up again and again.

I wonder if this is the second guest.

So now I am worried (in light of his other questions) that the guest is coming to the Cottage with the intention of filming some dodgy movies, or other adult entertaining in the Cottage.

I thought I might be able to get out of it by cancelling the booking and telling the guest that I had accidentally double booked, but upon researching this further Airbnb say in their advice articles that I will lose my Superhost status for a year, and that my advert will be marked with a notice informing guests that I cancelled a previous guest.

This issue does not seem to fall under the 'extenuating circumstances policy' either.

I am a bit stuck as to what to do. Maybe I need to chill out a bit, and open my mind, and let him crack on with his holiday, and hope there isn't too much of a clean up job.

Our internet policy in the Cottage states we will not tolerate use of the internet to access porn etc, but I don't think that will help me at this stage.

Any suggestions as to actions I should take would be greatly appreciated.

This week has been rubbish with guests. Why are we doing this again?!
Bunny
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Post by Bunny »

I've had exactly the same scenario happen to me through Airbnb, but I did not realise until they were here. Other than the evidence they left behind of their activities, they left the cottage in good clean order. Not that I would knowingly want such a scenario again. You can bet your life there will be more than two guests using the cottage.

You could try ringing Airbnb and explaining the situation. I'm sure they would take this type of activity very seriously. The problem is that you have no real proof of his intentions at the moment, other than circumstantial evidence. He could genuinely be planning a holiday. I think phoning Abnb is your only hope at this stage.

You could of course, evict him once here if you have any justification/evidence to do so.
Sam V
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Post by Sam V »

Is there anything in your T&Cs perhaps stating that your property is for the sole purpose of holiday rental and any business or illicit activity in your property without prior permission is not allowed and could be in breach of contract and their booking cancelled by you and they are asked to leave, you said in your other post your cottage is next to your house so you can keep an eye on things? Also, your T&Cs should perhaps say the property is only available to those named on your booking form; I assume you have one, and request the names and ages of everyone booked to stay in your property? That way if unknown extra people show up they would also be in breach of contract.

I would go ahead and just be prepared contractually from every angle.
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Ecosse
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Post by Ecosse »

Did I get it right from your previous post that you live on site? If so, and your not happy with his possible use of your place (I wouldn't be happy, either), could you send him a friendly email about his holiday in general - perhaps pointing out local attractions or the likes - and casually mention that you and your family with young children are right next door? It might be enough for him to have send thoughts about choosing your place for his holidays,without you having to go through the rigmarole of explaining the situation to ABB.
Margarita
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Post by Margarita »

I think I will give Airbnb a ring later to see what they say. I will let y'all know!

I don't know how I feel about chatting with the dude...can you imagine if he took it as a signal to invite us to join the movie production! Ha ha.

Yes, the Cottage is a converted granny annexe next to our home so we will be there to keep an eye on them so to speak, although there is a high level of privacy due to the fenced off courtyard and none of the windows to our house overlook the driveway or entrance, and we are in and out what with work (husband full time, me part time).

As long as they don't make a big mess and I don't hear moans of passion all week, it's just the worry of not knowing what kind of person is going to turn up, although suppose none of us really know our guests.

I like the suggested amendments to the contract - that thing is going to be heavily edited this weekend!!
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kevsboredagain
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Post by kevsboredagain »

You might be entitled to royalties
Sam V
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Post by Sam V »

kevsboredagain wrote:You might be entitled to royalties
Or perhaps a small part?
TA lurkers walk among us; the LMH Walking Dead

dont mess in the affairs of cats for they are subtle and will p on your computer.

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Dusty
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Post by Dusty »

As you say Margarita, none of us really have much control over what our guests get up to and, as you say, there is nothing he has explicity said that confirms your suspicions. Your suggestion of some early contact to ensure that they are clear that you will be around would let him know the situation. And as I understand it AirBNB allows you to review your guests after the let so if you're not happy then you have an opportunity to say so. Has he got any previous reviews that suggest any wrongdoings?
nealh
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Post by nealh »

Sam V wrote:
kevsboredagain wrote:You might be entitled to royalties
Or perhaps a small part?
Nobody likes to be described as having a small part :wink:
GillianF
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Post by GillianF »

My husband is always telling me size doesn't matter .......
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kevsboredagain
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Post by kevsboredagain »

If they turn out to be good guests you could ask them to come again
zebedee
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Post by zebedee »

In these circumstances, how exactly do you define "good"??? :oops: :oops: :oops:
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greenbarn
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Post by greenbarn »

zebedee wrote:In these circumstances, how exactly do you define "good"??? :oops: :oops: :oops:
I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue....
ManxRed1
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Post by ManxRed1 »

I've bookmarked this thread and have ordered popcorn. :shock:
Bunny
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Post by Bunny »

greenbarn wrote:
zebedee wrote:In these circumstances, how exactly do you define "good"??? :oops: :oops: :oops:
I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue....
A free copy maybe?
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