An Airbnb host, in a fit of rage over a bad review, allegedly sent a guest’s wife footage of him with another woman.
A Reddit user was shocked after reading Airbnb’s response to a thief stealing his credit card and booking a vacation.
On the subreddit r/mildlyinfuriating, someone named Jesse shared a screenshot of how Airbnb handled the situation.
It read, “Thank you for your patience as we looked into your question about a suspected, unauthorized charge on your credit card.
“As a result, we will not able to refund this charge,” added the Airbnb customer service representative.
Some suggested that Jesse should find out the location that the thief is staying and have police confront them.
“Can you get the dates they booked from the AirBnB? It would be really sad if a cop showed up and cut their getaway a bit short,” read a comment. Another person wrote, “Be cool to have the cops show up at the airbnb at checking and arrest the mofo.”
Sadly, in an update, Jesse said they were unable to get Airbnb to share the location.
In a new message, Airbnb replied, “Unfortunately, we’re unable to release any information regarding the reservation or the user accounts involved without a formal request.”
Though it appears Airbnb will not be able to refund Jesse, someone in the comments gave a helpful tip so others can prevent facing the same situation.
“I work at a bank, and AirBNB is one of the worst places to have a fraudulent charge. They tell people that anyone can use any card to book with them (even if the name isn’t on the reservation and they can’t provide verification), and they won’t refund anything.
Infuriating, indeed!
Part 1: The AirBnb Arrival
On a crisp autumn day in 2022, Shawn Mackey and his pals decided to take a trip down to Memphis.
They had scored tickets to a football game and needed a place to crash – enter Airbnb.
They booked a house, marketed as a “Little Bit More Country” that seemed perfect for their boys’ weekend.
Mackey even notified the host that he might have a few more friends over for dinner, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The house was rented at the rate of $567 per night. However, the drama began when the host, Pamela Fohler, slapped an additional $960 fee on Mackey.
She claimed he had broken two house rules and invited more guests than allowed. This is where our story takes a turn for the worse.
Part 2: The Dispute
After Mackey refused to pay the extra fee, Fohler retaliated in a way that could put any daytime soap opera to shame.
According to a lawsuit filed in a Mississippi District Court, she sent Mackey’s wife security camera footage of him with another woman.
Fohler had laid out a list of rules for Mackey’s stay, which included no smoking or vaping, excessive noise, unregistered guests, and parking in front of garage doors, among other demands.
She also highlighted the existence of security cameras on the premises, which would later play a crucial role in this tale.
Part 3: The Backlash
After his stay, Mackey penned a scathing review of Fohler’s property and asked for a $502 refund, which was denied.
This negative review apparently set Fohler off, as she was worried it would affect her Superhost status on Airbnb.
Mackey claims that Fohler began harassing him following the review. The climax of this drama occurred when Fohler allegedly texted Mackey photos of him with another woman, threatening to send them to his wife, Teresa.
Part 4: The Denial
In a twist of events, Fohler denied sending the email and claimed she had never corresponded with Mackey’s wife.
This information came to light in a counterclaim she filed in December. As of now, neither Mackey’s lawyers nor Fohler’s attorney have publicly commented beyond their court claims.
Part 5: Lessons Learned
This bizarre story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of privacy and the potential risks associated with sharing personal information.
Whether you’re a host or a guest, it’s crucial to understand and respect the boundaries of privacy.