AirBnB host wants a call before my stay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey millennial, you can survive a 5 minute phone call with a stranger. Don’t pretend it’s about wanting a “record.” We know you are terrified to speak on the phone. It will be okay.

Lol. Born in 1972, hardly a millennial, and I’m an executive in a large company. My EA has every moment of my time scheduled the next few days so I can leave for this trip. We will be gone a week before the stay in question as it’s part of a larger trip. So yeah I don’t want to give a half hour of my evening time (or Father’s Day) to a host who can’t use the app - which seems to be recommended. There may be more to it but your snap judgment is wrong and rude.

just do the damn phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey millennial, you can survive a 5 minute phone call with a stranger. Don’t pretend it’s about wanting a “record.” We know you are terrified to speak on the phone. It will be okay.

Lol. Born in 1972, hardly a millennial, and I’m an executive in a large company. My EA has every moment of my time scheduled the next few days so I can leave for this trip. We will be gone a week before the stay in question as it’s part of a larger trip. So yeah I don’t want to give a half hour of my evening time (or Father’s Day) to a host who can’t use the app - which seems to be recommended. There may be more to it but your snap judgment is wrong and rude.

Busy exec has time for DCUM at 10 am on a weekday but can’t find five minutes for a phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ignore the PP.

with all Airbnb dealings, it's really important to have a written record of everything. I was a host for 3 years (rented out a bedroom in my house) and I needed to rely on written communication in dealing with Airbnb quite a few times. I would stick to my guns and just say that you prefer to have a written record. if you get a bad review, you can speak with Airbnb directly - they always encouraged me to stay off the phone as well.

Thanks PP. I just hope we don’t get there and find unannounced rules or limitations or that this is something sketchy. I got a weird vibe from the whole thing, he wants to make sure we will be happy with the house - he didn’t say what he wants to get from the call other than that. And it’s one thing to offer a call, but the follow ups makes it seem like he really wants that call. Further info is that he has a 5.0 rating but only 10 ratings so a newer listing it seems it’s not constantly rented out. It was an expensive listing - 700/night for two bedrooms. But downtown and nice.

Wasn’t the intent of AirBnB to get to know strangers / meet new people???

No, the intent was unregulated hotels. Like, what if all the rules we've developed for hotels over hundreds of years because of all that experience just...didn't exist? It would be so cheap! And so quirky! And then we'd just wait for bad things to happen and slowly re-install all the rules. The internet! Wooo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey millennial, you can survive a 5 minute phone call with a stranger. Don’t pretend it’s about wanting a “record.” We know you are terrified to speak on the phone. It will be okay.

Lol. Born in 1972, hardly a millennial, and I’m an executive in a large company. My EA has every moment of my time scheduled the next few days so I can leave for this trip. We will be gone a week before the stay in question as it’s part of a larger trip. So yeah I don’t want to give a half hour of my evening time (or Father’s Day) to a host who can’t use the app - which seems to be recommended. There may be more to it but your snap judgment is wrong and rude.

With the time you spent writing on DCUM you could have had the call

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ignore the PP.

with all Airbnb dealings, it's really important to have a written record of everything. I was a host for 3 years (rented out a bedroom in my house) and I needed to rely on written communication in dealing with Airbnb quite a few times. I would stick to my guns and just say that you prefer to have a written record. if you get a bad review, you can speak with Airbnb directly - they always encouraged me to stay off the phone as well.

Thanks PP. I just hope we don’t get there and find unannounced rules or limitations or that this is something sketchy. I got a weird vibe from the whole thing, he wants to make sure we will be happy with the house - he didn’t say what he wants to get from the call other than that. And it’s one thing to offer a call, but the follow ups makes it seem like he really wants that call. Further info is that he has a 5.0 rating but only 10 ratings so a newer listing it seems it’s not constantly rented out. It was an expensive listing - 700/night for two bedrooms. But downtown and nice.

Wasn’t the intent of AirBnB to get to know strangers / meet new people???

No, the intent was unregulated hotels. Like, what if all the rules we've developed for hotels over hundreds of years because of all that experience just...didn't exist? It would be so cheap! And so quirky! And then we'd just wait for bad things to happen and slowly re-install all the rules. The internet! Wooo!

That is terrifying accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ignore the PP.

with all Airbnb dealings, it's really important to have a written record of everything. I was a host for 3 years (rented out a bedroom in my house) and I needed to rely on written communication in dealing with Airbnb quite a few times. I would stick to my guns and just say that you prefer to have a written record. if you get a bad review, you can speak with Airbnb directly - they always encouraged me to stay off the phone as well.

Thanks PP. I just hope we don’t get there and find unannounced rules or limitations or that this is something sketchy. I got a weird vibe from the whole thing, he wants to make sure we will be happy with the house - he didn’t say what he wants to get from the call other than that. And it’s one thing to offer a call, but the follow ups makes it seem like he really wants that call. Further info is that he has a 5.0 rating but only 10 ratings so a newer listing it seems it’s not constantly rented out. It was an expensive listing - 700/night for two bedrooms. But downtown and nice.

Wasn’t the intent of AirBnB to get to know strangers / meet new people???

No, the intent was unregulated hotels. Like, what if all the rules we've developed for hotels over hundreds of years because of all that experience just...didn't exist? It would be so cheap! And so quirky! And then we'd just wait for bad things to happen and slowly re-install all the rules. The internet! Wooo!

That is terrifying accurate.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ignore the PP.

with all Airbnb dealings, it's really important to have a written record of everything. I was a host for 3 years (rented out a bedroom in my house) and I needed to rely on written communication in dealing with Airbnb quite a few times. I would stick to my guns and just say that you prefer to have a written record. if you get a bad review, you can speak with Airbnb directly - they always encouraged me to stay off the phone as well.

Thanks PP. I just hope we don’t get there and find unannounced rules or limitations or that this is something sketchy. I got a weird vibe from the whole thing, he wants to make sure we will be happy with the house - he didn’t say what he wants to get from the call other than that. And it’s one thing to offer a call, but the follow ups makes it seem like he really wants that call. Further info is that he has a 5.0 rating but only 10 ratings so a newer listing it seems it’s not constantly rented out. It was an expensive listing - 700/night for two bedrooms. But downtown and nice.

Wasn’t the intent of AirBnB to get to know strangers / meet new people???

No, the intent was unregulated hotels. Like, what if all the rules we've developed for hotels over hundreds of years because of all that experience just...didn't exist? It would be so cheap! And so quirky! And then we'd just wait for bad things to happen and slowly re-install all the rules. The internet! Wooo!

Kinda like unregulated cabs. Like, what if all the rules we've ever learned about getting into a car with a stranger just... went away? It would be so cheap! And so quirky! And then we'd just wait for bad things to happen...

[Anonymous]

OP here. He’s now texted again asking for a call. I again said I was happy to chat but wanted to communicate thru the app as AIrBnB recommends we do, and he’s said he “is reluctant to rent his home to someone who will not talk and he must insist on a call.” I’m not refusing to communicate and am only asking that he keep comms on the app. And yes I’m busy and can text this in a few moments between meetings more easily than a call but that’s entirely beside the point. It’s weird and AGAINST the Airbnb guidance which repeatedly says communicate in the app for your protection. So especially as I think it’s fishy that this guy wants a call, I don’t want to do that. Correct that this is now taking more time than a call would have, but again that is not the only or biggest point. If I lose this reservation without canceling it’s a 2,800 hit. Will it bankrupt me? No. But we are in an economic downturn and my 401k is on fire and I keep a budget - this trip is in budget but not cheap. And enough that I’m not going to double spend. So that’s that - we’d have to be crazy to stay there. I’ve suggested that if he is asking to break the rules and I don’t want to and he’s said it’s his house not airbnbs. So I’ve just said he needs to cancel the reservation. He said I’ll approve the full refund. But is refusing to cancel on his end. I now plan to get Airbnb to intervene at this point. While it may be true that 9 times out of 10 a host doesn’t want to be sketchy, but after being reminded a few times of the rules, to outright insist on breaking them and calling tells me something’s off.

[Anonymous]

Kind of a related note. When I book a reservation on open table and they want me to call to confirm. That’s double the work. Annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He’s now texted again asking for a call. I again said I was happy to chat but wanted to communicate thru the app as AIrBnB recommends we do, and he’s said he “is reluctant to rent his home to someone who will not talk and he must insist on a call.” I’m not refusing to communicate and am only asking that he keep comms on the app. And yes I’m busy and can text this in a few moments between meetings more easily than a call but that’s entirely beside the point. It’s weird and AGAINST the Airbnb guidance which repeatedly says communicate in the app for your protection. So especially as I think it’s fishy that this guy wants a call, I don’t want to do that. Correct that this is now taking more time than a call would have, but again that is not the only or biggest point. If I lose this reservation without canceling it’s a 2,800 hit. Will it bankrupt me? No. But we are in an economic downturn and my 401k is on fire and I keep a budget - this trip is in budget but not cheap. And enough that I’m not going to double spend. So that’s that - we’d have to be crazy to stay there. I’ve suggested that if he is asking to break the rules and I don’t want to and he’s said it’s his house not airbnbs. So I’ve just said he needs to cancel the reservation. He said I’ll approve the full refund. But is refusing to cancel on his end. I now plan to get Airbnb to intervene at this point. While it may be true that 9 times out of 10 a host doesn’t want to be sketchy, but after being reminded a few times of the rules, to outright insist on breaking them and calling tells me something’s off.

So why don't you cancel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He’s now texted again asking for a call. I again said I was happy to chat but wanted to communicate thru the app as AIrBnB recommends we do, and he’s said he “is reluctant to rent his home to someone who will not talk and he must insist on a call.” I’m not refusing to communicate and am only asking that he keep comms on the app. And yes I’m busy and can text this in a few moments between meetings more easily than a call but that’s entirely beside the point. It’s weird and AGAINST the Airbnb guidance which repeatedly says communicate in the app for your protection. So especially as I think it’s fishy that this guy wants a call, I don’t want to do that. Correct that this is now taking more time than a call would have, but again that is not the only or biggest point. If I lose this reservation without canceling it’s a 2,800 hit. Will it bankrupt me? No. But we are in an economic downturn and my 401k is on fire and I keep a budget - this trip is in budget but not cheap. And enough that I’m not going to double spend. So that’s that - we’d have to be crazy to stay there. I’ve suggested that if he is asking to break the rules and I don’t want to and he’s said it’s his house not airbnbs. So I’ve just said he needs to cancel the reservation. He said I’ll approve the full refund. But is refusing to cancel on his end. I now plan to get Airbnb to intervene at this point. While it may be true that 9 times out of 10 a host doesn’t want to be sketchy, but after being reminded a few times of the rules, to outright insist on breaking them and calling tells me something’s off.

So why don't you cancel?

Because it is non refundable and I’m not planning to rely on this person keeping his word to refund after all this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He’s now texted again asking for a call. I again said I was happy to chat but wanted to communicate thru the app as AIrBnB recommends we do, and he’s said he “is reluctant to rent his home to someone who will not talk and he must insist on a call.” I’m not refusing to communicate and am only asking that he keep comms on the app. And yes I’m busy and can text this in a few moments between meetings more easily than a call but that’s entirely beside the point. It’s weird and AGAINST the Airbnb guidance which repeatedly says communicate in the app for your protection. So especially as I think it’s fishy that this guy wants a call, I don’t want to do that. Correct that this is now taking more time than a call would have, but again that is not the only or biggest point. If I lose this reservation without canceling it’s a 2,800 hit. Will it bankrupt me? No. But we are in an economic downturn and my 401k is on fire and I keep a budget - this trip is in budget but not cheap. And enough that I’m not going to double spend. So that’s that - we’d have to be crazy to stay there. I’ve suggested that if he is asking to break the rules and I don’t want to and he’s said it’s his house not airbnbs. So I’ve just said he needs to cancel the reservation. He said I’ll approve the full refund. But is refusing to cancel on his end. I now plan to get Airbnb to intervene at this point. While it may be true that 9 times out of 10 a host doesn’t want to be sketchy, but after being reminded a few times of the rules, to outright insist on breaking them and calling tells me something’s off.

So why don't you cancel?

Because it is non refundable and I’m not planning to rely on this person keeping his word to refund after all this.

Sounds like your gut was right. Can't trust someone that wants to break rules/processes. They will end up flouting other boundaries too, no doubt. He's entitled and he wants your money and good graces, nah.

[Anonymous]

This whole crazy thread is one reason I prefer renting through local real estate agencies. I have rented through VRBO but did my own vetting of the property and the owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he’s screening by voice to make sure you’re not Black.



Signed, a Black Person.

This was my first thought.

Or to make sure you're not an 18 year old with plans for a party.

[Anonymous]

I think you should respond back that you're worried he is trying to pull something by refusing to communicate thru the app. Would it be helpful to complain to airbnb now?