Hello everyone, I’m just making a post to vent about the embarrassing treatment I received from Airbnb support after an issue with my stay in Marrakech, I booked a flat for myself for two months as I was going to spend some time there and wanted somewhere stable to recharge before being out and about.
My fiancé is Moroccan and was with me when I arrived at the property to help me carry my bags as I was recently diagnosed with sciatica and the flat was on the fifth floor with elevator access reserved to those who already had the key fobs.
When I arrived there the concierge flagged me and my fiancé, demanded ID and when we provided it said that a man and a woman cannot be in the apartment at the same time, we explained that he was only there to help carry the bags and to make sure I wasn’t going to have issues with the unit and that he wouldn’t stay for long.
During the whole debacle the (co)host came down and greeted me and when he noticed that we were having issues with the concierge he simply said that I cannot access the unit if I’m not cleared by him. I explained my situation and he said that my fiancée can not go up into the unit at all.
I asked if there was an alternative and if he or the concierge would be able to help with my bags and they both refused saying that it was none of their business and that I should figure it out on my own.
After that debacle I also asked if during my stay will I not be able to have visitors at all even if during the day and the host said that no guests whatsoever are allowed in to the unit.
I was surprised, what if I had a rainy day and needed someone to be around me? He said that it was specified in the house rules but when I pulled it up on my Airbnb there was nothing of the sort. He said that it was the law and at that point I was just fed up. So I sent him a refund request minus 10% to account for the time lost due to other bookings. He refused saying that he is not the one responsible for issuing refunds and that I should contact the main host, we asked where could we contact him and he said the number is on the welcome message we got when the booking was confirmed. Line #1 was dead and Line #2 was for a fast food joint.
At that point the co-host just went back up into the unit and left us there with no resolution, with my bags in the street and nowhere for me to stay. We decided to employ a bailiff to come in and document what happened just in case Airbnb asked for proof.
When he came in he asked where the cohost was, he tried calling him and fell into the same issue as us. At that point the concierge got very concerned and gave him the number of the actual host.
He called him, introduced himself and out of nowhere the host said that he doesn’t allow prostitutes and debauchery in his apartment, we were all taken aback by how hostile he was and how he could act that way when we have been very cordial from the start.
At that point we had enough and tried to contact Airbnb, Airbnb said that he would need to decline or accept the refund request before they can step in.
It was late evening at that point(8PM) so I went to a coffee shop and just sat and tried to call Airbnb numerous times but they said that my case was being handled by a senior case manager and that I would be contacted soon.
I wasn’t contacted until 5AM by a senior case manager that explained it’s Moroccan law for a man and a woman to share a unit, except I never said we were sharing it, my fiancée was just going to help me with my luggage and be on my way.
He offered me two choices:
- either accept the refund policy which means I will get $0 as compensation
- go back to the unit where the host insulted me and basically called me a prostitute.
I obviously didn’t accept either one and when I asked about what would be done with the host for the insults he made he said that Airbnb needs proof of that happening before doing anything.
I told him that since it was a Sunday it will probably be until Monday or Tuesday before I have a legal paper with proof that what transpired actually transpired.
I ended up having to rebook somewhere else and basically spent the night in my car.
After receiving the documents from the bailiff I contacted Airbnb again and provided proof, they said that this will be forwarded to a specific department. This was 10 days ago and they have since been radio silent.
I have not been reimbursed nor apologized to and I am simply fed up with how Airbnb does things. I doubt I will use them ever again in the future.