AirBnB host wants a call before my stay

[Anonymous]

Back in the olden days (12 years ago) my husband and I were staying at an expensive Airbnb in the south of France and Airbnb actually recommended that we call and speak to the host to confirm our booking I think because it was both in a different country and expensive? Not sure. Anyways I did call the guy and he was super nice and said he hoped we enjoyed our honeymoon. I dunno. I just did what the site told me to! And I did feel better about not being mysteriously without a place to stay honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Got an automated email about details for stay and it says contact host for check in details. I asked that we communicate through the app as recommended and he only said OK, after initial notes that said he wanted a call. I’m definitely getting bad vibes at this point. I worry about flagging him - is that going to get me a bad review? He hasn’t done anything wrong, except insist on this phone call. I also have 12 5 star reviews so if he wants to see that “I’m not a total jackass who will trash the house” then use the system he participates in. People saying “but it’s his house” - yes that’s exactly how Airbnb or any rental works. So if you want to engage in something then platform recommends against, and insist on a call when all this could and should be done on platform where there’s a record and where I don’t have to take notes as it’s all conveniently there in the app, maybe being a host is not for you!? I’ve never once had any issues with Airbnb. I’ve used that and VRBO. this is a first.

I would reply that airbnb policy specifically notes that communication should be through airbnb approved channels and not off-line communication channels. If he is going to insist on using communication modes outside of the airbnb documented communication channels and he would consider canceling your booking if you will not do so, then you will be forced to report him to airbnb for violating their communications policy and trying to bypass their auditing mechanisms for communication.

And I would include a link to the airbnb policies:
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2799/airbnbs-offplatform-policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to maintain a record, then if the host tries to push for a phone call, ask them if they consent to a recorded call so that you can maintain your record of communication in case you need to contact airBnB for any issues. Most cell phones will allow you to turn on voice recording of calls, so you can do this on your cell. Make sure that when you start the call, you start with "Hello. Just a reminder that this call is being recorded. Just verifying that you consent to have this call recorded." If the answer is not "yes", then hang up and reply via the app that you are disappointed that the host wants to have an undocumented call with you and that you will be reporting them to airBnB.

I have rented on airBnB about the same number of times and I have never been asked for a voice call before hand. For me, it's less likely that a voice call would be used for racial profiling as i have a very distinctive Chinese surname (think like Chen or Wang) that pretty much lets the host know my race.

In my experience, we both exchange cell phone numbers before check-in and the host usually says to contact them if there are any problems. If there are problems (rarely), we start by communicating via the app, but if there are extended problems (like one time the automatic door lock was not working correctly), I ended up calling the host. Fortunately, in that case, the host lived about 5 minutes away and he hopped into his car and was there in 10 minutes to help us sort out the issue. But most of the time, I've never spoken to the host outside of the app.

You must be a lawyer.

This is the stupidest suggestion on this thread. All it does is escalate things. OP did the right thing by just saying "no thanks, let's talk through the app." I've rented dozens of places all over the US and the world through Arbnb and never once has anyone asked me to call them on the phone. It's weird AF, and OP handled it appropriately.

No. A minority whose been discriminated against and had businesses violate fair housing laws to do so.

[Anonymous]

This seems weird, but not *that* weird. The guy could be a racist, but he could also just be on overly anxious host who is new to the business and wants to make sure everything is to your liking. If it were me, I would put it out of my head and just go forward; it sounds like you have lots of other more important things to spend your time on anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Got an automated email about details for stay and it says contact host for check in details. I asked that we communicate through the app as recommended and he only said OK, after initial notes that said he wanted a call. I’m definitely getting bad vibes at this point. I worry about flagging him - is that going to get me a bad review? He hasn’t done anything wrong, except insist on this phone call. I also have 12 5 star reviews so if he wants to see that “I’m not a total jackass who will trash the house” then use the system he participates in. People saying “but it’s his house” - yes that’s exactly how Airbnb or any rental works. So if you want to engage in something then platform recommends against, and insist on a call when all this could and should be done on platform where there’s a record and where I don’t have to take notes as it’s all conveniently there in the app, maybe being a host is not for you!? I’ve never once had any issues with Airbnb. I’ve used that and VRBO. this is a first.

I would reply that airbnb policy specifically notes that communication should be through airbnb approved channels and not off-line communication channels. If he is going to insist on using communication modes outside of the airbnb documented communication channels and he would consider canceling your booking if you will not do so, then you will be forced to report him to airbnb for violating their communications policy and trying to bypass their auditing mechanisms for communication.

And I would include a link to the airbnb policies:
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2799/airbnbs-offplatform-policy

I think you made a mountain out of a molehill. Now you need to find a new place to stay.

[Anonymous]

Agree it’s weird and annoying he wants a call. But maybe have a call and then contact him via AirBNB and write a summary for your call. “Per our call, the bathroom door handle can jiggle a bit.” But he seems anxious at best.

[Anonymous]

So we are vrbo hosts and have never done this. However, one time we rented a dog friendly condo on Cape Cod and the owner wanted to do a phone call. He wanted to make sure that we would like the place and knew what we were getting, it was older, a bit outdated, etc. we were happy because we just wanted to take our dog. We’re not fussy on the accommodations. I appreciated the conversation though.

[Anonymous]

I so want an ending to this saga.

Thanks to the Black people who shared their experiences. I probably just would have called but this info changes my mind if ever I am in this situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So we are vrbo hosts and have never done this. However, one time we rented a dog friendly condo on Cape Cod and the owner wanted to do a phone call. He wanted to make sure that we would like the place and knew what we were getting, it was older, a bit outdated, etc. we were happy because we just wanted to take our dog. We’re not fussy on the accommodations. I appreciated the conversation though.

But all of that should have been on the app and description. Keep in mind I paid for this “luxury home” in advance and had he been trying to tell me “actually the place is less nice than described” that is exactly the kind of thing he should NOT be calling and taking off app! The time to do disclose quirks would be before my non refundable booking. Otherwise it’s a bait and switch and exactly the kind of thing one wouldn’t want a record on. “So there’s actually construction and the pool is closed” etc. nope!

[Anonymous]

OP back with the final update. The host slow walked the cancel for a few hours - during which he kept telling me it’s his house so he expects we can talk, he’s going to insist, etc. Super pushy. I complained thru chat ( ironically I had to have a phone call with their customer service! 😆). The agent was helpful, reviewed the conversation and agreed the host was out of line. He said some hosts just feel better with a call but it’s their guidance not to. He said that given how the host communicated with me, being so persistent and aggressive about the call including three messages on Father’s Day and 6 since then about a call including after I politely stated my preference to communicate within the app, that they would flag his account. He can still rent but if he gets more flags they’ll suspend him. I wish they would actively reach out to tell him not to do that. They are refunding me and they canceled the reservation. There aren’t more options that will work for the weekend, so we are in fact now booked in a hotel, which is a far less desirable option.

I’m glad for this thread because it also gave perspective on the experiences of Black People who deal with this sh8t all the time.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update, in the end the hotel will be a much better and more relaxing option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update, in the end the hotel will be a much better and more relaxing option

Certainly better than staying at this guy’s house. But we had several reasons we wanted a house including family in town we wanted to see while our kids slept and not all sit there silent in the same room, and a dog we don’t want to walk a block for grass. We will live, but we had good reasons for an Airbnb vs a hotel. The hotel will be a harder trip. But now there are limited dog friendly options this close in on VRBO and/or Airbnb. So hotel it is! Soured me on the Airbnb experience. But poster upthread is right that you do take on risk that you’ll get the crazy host.

[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???

perhaps originally, but now AirBnB has driven property speculation as investors buy properties to rent them out at high rates short-term to tourists, leading to a smaller, more expensive rental market for regular folks. Kudos to DC and Barcelona, among other cities, for banning Airbnb!

Please - it should be a free market. Instead Dc bowed to the hotel lobby who pushed to ban short term rentals so they could keep their rates high. This is actually detrimental to dc bc tourists can just stay in va or md so the city is losing out on tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Will the hotel be cheaper than $2800? Can you get connecting rooms at the hotel? So the kids can sleep in one and you can entertain in the other?

[Anonymous]

I think it is odd that you won’t call him on the phone.

I have rented often from vrbo. I remember I emailed a host and she didn’t respond for days and then called me. She was super friendly. She sounded older. Some people are just phone people.

The last time we rented, we were given poor instructions. They kept writing via the app but there was a delay. It was so annoying waiting for responses. I wish they just called me.

Dh is a physician. He always talks to people on the phone. Whenever I text him, he never responds. He just calls. Some people are just phone people.

I would not have cancelled a reservation over the host wanting to talk to you. As weirded out as you were, he probably thought you were equally odd for trying to avoid talking on the phone.