There is hardly a soul who has not heard of Airbnb. Before Airbnb came into existence, the only option most travelers had was to search for options online and book hotel rooms. The experience while easy, offered a very “touristy” exposure to travelers. Airbnb took the hospitality experience up a notch by offering lodging arrangements, focused on homestays for a better tourism experience. What makes this experience interesting is that tourists or travelers get to stay with the locals. This allows them to mingle with the locals and therefore get fully immersed in a connate travel experience. It not only makes the travel more meaningful, but it also allows travelers to cut down on the costs.
Airbnb does not own these houses or homestays. They just earn by charging a commission on each booking, strictly acting as a broker. The basic idea of Airbnb came from two roommates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, who decided to rent out their living room after putting in a few air mattresses in the place. Formerly known as air bread and breakfast, the company shortened its name in the year 2009. As of today, a versatile host of options such as hotels, houses, and mansions are available for rent on Airbnb. It has a robust customer service that allow customers to file their grievances, complaints, or ask for information. There is more than one way to get through to Airbnb customer support if you do not get to enjoy a pleasant experience at the place of your lodging.
Use the messaging system
To do this, you will need to log in to your Airbnb account. You can message Airbnb support from here. However, you will need to gather relevant evidence to support your refund claim. When you arrive at your host’s home or guest house, you will have just twenty-four hours to look around and click pictures of whatever does not look well. For example, the place may not be as clean as expected, basic amenities such as beds or kitchen supplies may be missing, the place may be smelly, or in case you are allergic, pets are present even after you have communicated with the host regarding your allergies. Sometimes, the host may exhibit behavior that may be unacceptable, and you will be required to prove your case by pictures or videos. It must be noted that Airbnb may contact you for additional information. Their website asks its users to remain available for such follow-up. Airbnb offers a full refund in such cases. Therefore, the host can book a different Airbnb in the given window of 24 hours.
Reach out to support via phone
Another way of contacting Airbnb is by simply calling them. You may need to explain the issue on the phone. The customer care representative will follow-up on the issue, via an email or a call. You might be required to submit the evidence in the form of photographs of videos in reply to the email. Airbnb can be contacted directly at +1-844-234-2500. Most of the refunds arrive in ten days if the case is genuine. The refund window might be a little longer in some cases. The customer service center is available to reply to most of the queries in their standard turnaround time.
Make use of social media
If calling and writing did not help, there are social media channels you can approach for seeking support. Customers can solicit and receive customer service via Facebook or Twitter. Your comments and posts are responded directly or followed up if of critical nature. Expect to be surprised when tagging the company or person in your post.
