Airbnb problem

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irishpaddy

Bronze
Sep 3, 2013
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I rented a villa in Las Terranas for 3 nights ...it was overlooking Playa Coson .
Paid through my credit card and when I drove to it on Monday it was impossible to get access to the property because it was up such a steep hill .
My ford explorer was not able to gain traction ...the road was wet .
I had to find another place to stay .
I contacted Airbnb support ...they reached out to the Host and he is refusing to give a refund .
Ive never had a problem with Airbnb before ...should I just lodge a complaint with my credit card company
Anyone had problems before with anything similar ?
 
G

Glenn Burke

Active member
Sep 12, 2023
351
223
43
Santo Domingo
irishpaddy said:
I rented a villa in Las Terranas for 3 nights ...it was overlooking Playa Coson .
Paid through my credit card and when I drove to it on Monday it was impossible to get access to the property because it was up such a steep hill .
My ford explorer was not able to gain traction ...the road was wet .
I had to find another place to stay .
I contacted Airbnb support ...they reached out to the Host and he is refusing to give a refund .
Ive never had a problem with Airbnb before ...should I just lodge a complaint with my credit card company
Anyone had problems before with anything similar ?
Click to expand...
Was it a newer all–plastic Ford Explorer? Can't imagine such a problem with the old one with metal bumpers and proper 4x4.

Usually hosts of places like that mention in the listing that 4x4 vehicle is necessary to reach the property. I've seen it mentioned in numerous listings in Constanza and some eco-lodges in other places in DR. Check the description of the listing, if it was mentioned there, then your chance to get a refund is zero.
 
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2020

2020

Active member
Apr 10, 2012
586
203
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Las Terrenas
irishpaddy said:
I rented a villa in Las Terranas for 3 nights ...it was overlooking Playa Coson .
Paid through my credit card and when I drove to it on Monday it was impossible to get access to the property because it was up such a steep hill .
My ford explorer was not able to gain traction ...the road was wet .
I had to find another place to stay .
I contacted Airbnb support ...they reached out to the Host and he is refusing to give a refund .
Ive never had a problem with Airbnb before ...should I just lodge a complaint with my credit card company
Anyone had problems before with anything similar ?
Click to expand...

was it a dirt road going uphill?

Airbnb won't do much, if anything, I bet. Our friend rented a villa in Coson via Airbnb that was home base to a cockroach colony. Host said too bad and Airbnb didn't do anything.

If you can't get a solution, give the host a 1-STAR review
 
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Trainman33

Bronze
Dec 11, 2009
1,155
61
48
You need to document stuff. I had an Airbnb that was on the second floor over a drug "punta" in Barahona and left early because of this. I was able to get a 50% refund because I had photos of the untrained Pitbull down there and people going in and out wearing firearms.
 
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irishpaddy

Bronze
Sep 3, 2013
1,233
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Glenn Burke said:
Was it a newer all–plastic Ford Explorer? Can't imagine such a problem with the old one with metal bumpers and proper 4x4.

Usually hosts of places like that mention in the listing that 4x4 vehicle is necessary to reach the property. I've seen it mentioned in numerous listings in Constanza and some eco-lodges in other places in DR. Check the description of the listing, if it was mentioned there, then your chance to get a refund is zero.
Click to expand...
It said 4X4 is advisable ......big difference between advisable and compulsory
 
G

Glenn Burke

Active member
Sep 12, 2023
351
223
43
Santo Domingo
irishpaddy said:
It said 4X4 is advisable ......big difference between advisable and compulsory
Click to expand...
If it said 4x4 is advisable, the owner will say that it's advisable because it may be needed on a rainy day, and on sunny days a normal car will do it. Not a big chance for refund, in my opinion. But you can try, if you have something documented (photos or video).
 
G

Glenn Burke

Active member
Sep 12, 2023
351
223
43
Santo Domingo
Trainman33 said:
You need to document stuff. I had an Airbnb that was on the second floor over a drug "punta" in Barahona and left early because of this. I was able to get a 50% refund because I had photos of the untrained Pitbull down there and people going in and out wearing firearms.
Click to expand...
Drug selling point is something you can't prove to AirBnb, people carrying firearms is a normal thing in DR (I carry a gun all the time). But a pit bull terrier downstairs, trained or untrained, is a danger to guests and should be enough reason for 100% refund, honestly.

Did you read any reviews before renting it? :)
 
J

jose949

Member
Oct 29, 2016
34
6
8
irishpaddy said:
In my opinion ...the place needs to be removed from Airbnb .....it is a danger to guests
Click to expand...
You may need some type of video evidence, perhaps the vehicle struggling to get up the hill. If you can get someone to record that as you drive and include a view of where the property is directionally with voice over commentary that may make it easier to prove your case. If you do a credit card chargeback, you may get a ban. Video makes for less back and forth on issues etc. Let support know you want to send a video they will send you a way to upload or send it in.
 
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windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
43,047
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113
If the listing said 4X4 is advisable, I would say you are screwed despite the fact that AIRBNB normally takes the side of the customer.
 
M

MariaRubia

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
2,826
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I had a big problem with AirBnB when I rented a place that had no working A/C. All that AirBnB does is to reach out to the host and say "xyz wants a refund do you want to give one" and when they say they don't, they just pass on the messsage. Completely useless. I would suggest that you a) call AirBnB again and say that you want to complain, be very firm, and say that you consider the property is unsuitable for AirBnB to be listed and that you will be making complaints to the authorities unless a refund is given. Again they will probably do nothing and pass this on, but the threat of being reported to the Dominican authorities may worry the owner particularly if foreign and not legally renting (ie not declaring rental income on the IR2 tax return, not registered with DGII).

Second step when / if nothing moves is to contact your bank and say that you want to do a chargeback on the payment. AirBnB will then hit you with an email saying words to the effect of "Oh you're nasty, we are all this wonderful community and now you're not playing fair and we may ban you" b/s. Ignore it, even if they do ban you you can open another account with a different email and cellphone immediately. In my experience as a hotelier, 99% of chargebacks were approved by credit card companies. It's your company that decides and most of the time they don't want to lose a customer so they will just agree with you. It's also hassle for the property owner and, you've guessed it, AirBnB won't get involved.

The advantage of the chargeback is that you'll also get AirBnB's "Service fee" (commission) back, which they say is never refundable in the event of a dispute between you and the owner. Which is crazy, given that if they had been doing their job properly and had inspected the property before listing it (as most other websites do) they would have realised that it was too steep to be safe and not listed it. They are a horrendous company in my opinion.
 
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windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
43,047
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At the start, Airbnb was OK. As they grew, they became horrible. Keep in mind they also provide some really horrible clients that end up screwing over hosts as well. That is not the situation here, but that 4 X 4 advisable comment in the listing would preclude a refund in this situation.
 
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MariaRubia

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
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Even if they did mention 4x4 advisable, just do a chargeback with your credit card. 99% of the time they ignore all the evidence.
 
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irishpaddy

Bronze
Sep 3, 2013
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Advis
windeguy said:
At the start, Airbnb was OK. As they grew, they became horrible. Keep in mind they also provide some really horrible clients that end up screwing over hosts as well. That is not the situation here, but that 4 X 4 advisable comment in the listing would preclude a refund in this situation.
Click to expand...
the word "advisable " is a lot less than " essential "
 
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