5 ms·

The apartment above mine is listed on AirBnB. Guests are often causing nuisance and the rest of the residents decided to intervene after we had to call the poli

The apartment above mine is listed on AirBnB. Guests are often causing nuisance and the rest of the residents decided to intervene after we had to call the police. Turns out, the complaints of that sort are outsourced to the company who doesn't have access to the AirBnB database and are trained to make you go away. They requested photos of the inside of the property and other proof that it is listed on AirBnB. We couldn't provide them so AirBnB "support" closed the case.

pydanny 2y ago
We had a similar thing with a malignant AirBnB host next to our living place. Plus issues with water leaks on their side. The host company and AirBnB made it clear their business was rentals, not taking care of the property or community on which they profit. I used to be happy with AirBnB as an option when I travel, now it is my last resort if I can't find a hotel room.
- surfingdino 2y ago
  I haven't used them since 2012. It's unlikely I will use them again.
  - imp0cat 2y ago
    I wish there were more people like that.
- gryn 2y ago
  I don't understand why either you or the parent comment had to deal with AirBnB in any way to begin with. Shouldn't your talk be with the owner of the property ? or more likely the shared building property manager (syndic is the word I'm looking for an english equivalent for, I don't know if this is the right one here, maybe HOA is the right one ?) + a complaint the local authority if need be ? I'm not from the US but surely it's not that different around the world ?
  - chucksta 2y ago
    I don't know if this is the case here but it can be difficult to track down property owners through loop holes in the US. You can use different things like ownership trusts to obscure. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.assetprotectionplanners.com/strategies/hide-real-estate/&ved=2ahUKEwjytrH5nIOGAxUZhIkEHSjiDTYQFnoECA4QAw&usg=AOvVaw3n4pdSig4Vn_X76FqvJ3_p https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=8997844...
    - lostmsu 2y ago
      You can always sue the entity if there's no one to talk to.
      - chucksta 2y ago
        Yeah but that's not going to be a normal first step for people, its also not straight forward either Whom Do You Sue? You may not realize it, but suing the right person is very important and not as easy as you think. Before you sue, you must determine the nature of the entity you are filing your claim against. Basically, there are three ways a person may do business. First, as a sole proprietor, second, as a partnership, third as a corporation. To sue a sole proprietor, you file against the person running the business, no matter what name he or she is using. Suppose that Sara Smith opens a dress shop called "The Dress Shop." Who do you sue? The answer is Sara. To find out who "The Dress Shop" really is, check with the "assumed name" department in the county clerks office. To sue a partnership you should get the names of the partners. Under the law, each of the partners is responsible for the obligations of the partnership. To sue a corporation, on the other hand, you file against the corporation. A corporation is a separate legal entity. To properly sue a corporation you should first contact the secretary of state and find out who the "agent for service" is so that you know who to serve with the papers. Visit, http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ http://www.sos.state.tx.us/, andf look at the "Business Filings" section to see if the business is listed. If it is, get the proper name of the business and the name of the registered agent. This is the person you will serve with your legal papers. Once you have determined the proper legal entity to sue, make sure to get the full name and address. A small error in spelling or an incorrect address could cost you months when your papers cannot be served. http://www.peopleslawyer.net/legal-topics/smallclaims/whom.html http://www.peopleslawyer.net/legal-topics/smallclaims/whom.h...
TeMPOraL 2y ago
Reminds me of the phrase OpenAI used in their recent Model Spec release - to make the user feel heard[0]. Your story is exactly what it means in modern customer support - making the complainers "feel heard", so they go away, but remain customers. -- [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40301601 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40301601
- surfingdino 2y ago
  I did not feel heard, I felt treated like an idiot and it convinced me to never use AirBnB.
  - TeMPOraL 2y ago
    It's sad to hear that. Unfortunately, dirt-cheap labor in "customer service" outsourcing companies are only so good at pretending they care. Let it be of some consolation that LLMs are getting better at this job; next time, you will still be treated like an idiot, but in a way you'll thank us for it.
    - surfingdino 2y ago
      I felt heard until you mentioned LLMs... LLMs will not fix the process designed to pretend the company cares, or designed to wear you out.
      - TeMPOraL 2y ago
        You misunderstand me. From companies' POV, they will fix the process, because they'll excel at tricking you into feeling like you achieved something, without actually achieving it.
        surfingdino 2y ago
        It's something proponents of AI ought to oppose, but it's too late. My bank deployed an AI bot for the purpose of processing loan applications. Three weeks later I finally managed to speak to a real human who questioned all advice and info given to me by AI and another person and I was finally approved. The future is shit.
sidewndr46 2y ago
If you actually sent them "proof" like that couldn't they just immediately have the homeowner file a criminal complaint against you?
- avh02 2y ago
  I guess at the worst case you could book the property for an evening to get the photos, then what are they going to say? it's illegal to take photos inside the place you rented? (though i guess they get a day of rent this way :( )
- surfingdino 2y ago
  I pointed it out to them, but they insisted I do it.
dilyevsky 2y ago
People swear hoas but this is exactly the kind of issue an hoa is well equipped to deal with. I also haven’t seen newly formed apartments hoa that allows short term rentals at this point so airbnb is slowly killing its golden goose here

pydanny 2y ago

We had a similar thing with a malignant AirBnB host next to our living place. Plus issues with water leaks on their side. The host company and AirBnB made it clear their business was rentals, not taking care of the property or community on which they profit. I used to be happy with AirBnB as an option when I travel, now it is my last resort if I can't find a hotel room.

surfingdino 2y ago
I haven't used them since 2012. It's unlikely I will use them again.
- imp0cat 2y ago
  I wish there were more people like that.
gryn 2y ago
I don't understand why either you or the parent comment had to deal with AirBnB in any way to begin with. Shouldn't your talk be with the owner of the property ? or more likely the shared building property manager (syndic is the word I'm looking for an english equivalent for, I don't know if this is the right one here, maybe HOA is the right one ?) + a complaint the local authority if need be ? I'm not from the US but surely it's not that different around the world ?
- chucksta 2y ago
  I don't know if this is the case here but it can be difficult to track down property owners through loop holes in the US. You can use different things like ownership trusts to obscure. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.assetprotectionplanners.com/strategies/hide-real-estate/&ved=2ahUKEwjytrH5nIOGAxUZhIkEHSjiDTYQFnoECA4QAw&usg=AOvVaw3n4pdSig4Vn_X76FqvJ3_p https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=8997844...
  - lostmsu 2y ago
    You can always sue the entity if there's no one to talk to.
    - chucksta 2y ago
      Yeah but that's not going to be a normal first step for people, its also not straight forward either Whom Do You Sue? You may not realize it, but suing the right person is very important and not as easy as you think. Before you sue, you must determine the nature of the entity you are filing your claim against. Basically, there are three ways a person may do business. First, as a sole proprietor, second, as a partnership, third as a corporation. To sue a sole proprietor, you file against the person running the business, no matter what name he or she is using. Suppose that Sara Smith opens a dress shop called "The Dress Shop." Who do you sue? The answer is Sara. To find out who "The Dress Shop" really is, check with the "assumed name" department in the county clerks office. To sue a partnership you should get the names of the partners. Under the law, each of the partners is responsible for the obligations of the partnership. To sue a corporation, on the other hand, you file against the corporation. A corporation is a separate legal entity. To properly sue a corporation you should first contact the secretary of state and find out who the "agent for service" is so that you know who to serve with the papers. Visit, http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ http://www.sos.state.tx.us/, andf look at the "Business Filings" section to see if the business is listed. If it is, get the proper name of the business and the name of the registered agent. This is the person you will serve with your legal papers. Once you have determined the proper legal entity to sue, make sure to get the full name and address. A small error in spelling or an incorrect address could cost you months when your papers cannot be served. http://www.peopleslawyer.net/legal-topics/smallclaims/whom.html http://www.peopleslawyer.net/legal-topics/smallclaims/whom.h...

TeMPOraL 2y ago

Reminds me of the phrase OpenAI used in their recent Model Spec release - to make the user feel heard[0]. Your story is exactly what it means in modern customer support - making the complainers "feel heard", so they go away, but remain customers. -- [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40301601 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40301601

surfingdino 2y ago
I did not feel heard, I felt treated like an idiot and it convinced me to never use AirBnB.
- TeMPOraL 2y ago
  It's sad to hear that. Unfortunately, dirt-cheap labor in "customer service" outsourcing companies are only so good at pretending they care. Let it be of some consolation that LLMs are getting better at this job; next time, you will still be treated like an idiot, but in a way you'll thank us for it.
  - surfingdino 2y ago
    I felt heard until you mentioned LLMs... LLMs will not fix the process designed to pretend the company cares, or designed to wear you out.
    - TeMPOraL 2y ago
      You misunderstand me. From companies' POV, they will fix the process, because they'll excel at tricking you into feeling like you achieved something, without actually achieving it.
      - surfingdino 2y ago
        It's something proponents of AI ought to oppose, but it's too late. My bank deployed an AI bot for the purpose of processing loan applications. Three weeks later I finally managed to speak to a real human who questioned all advice and info given to me by AI and another person and I was finally approved. The future is shit.

sidewndr46 2y ago

If you actually sent them "proof" like that couldn't they just immediately have the homeowner file a criminal complaint against you?

avh02 2y ago
I guess at the worst case you could book the property for an evening to get the photos, then what are they going to say? it's illegal to take photos inside the place you rented? (though i guess they get a day of rent this way :( )
surfingdino 2y ago
I pointed it out to them, but they insisted I do it.

dilyevsky 2y ago

People swear hoas but this is exactly the kind of issue an hoa is well equipped to deal with. I also haven’t seen newly formed apartments hoa that allows short term rentals at this point so airbnb is slowly killing its golden goose here