[FlorianRappl]

If all the other warning signs here in the comments are not enough - this one should be.

I only booked via AirBnB once, but I am quite convinced now that this will be the only time. I don't want to rely on a system that can just do what they want without transparency.

Reality is that a platform like AirBnB should care about both sides - sellers and buyers. Sure, sellers generate the revenue, but without buyers nothing is sold and the platform is not interesting.

[lotsofpulp]

Reality is these middlemen tech companies want to do away with quality control, and pocket the savings as profit.

As a customer and hotel guest, it never made sense for me to not pay for quality control. So I will continue to pay Hilton/IHG/Hyatt/Marriott/Choice/etc. Not that all those brands have amazing quality control at all times, but at least there is some effort to use human labor to do something.

[woutr_be]

Similar experience with VRBO, booked an apartment in Munich, on arrival, turns out it was completely different than advertised (even the photos were different). We only stayed a single night, because the room situation just wasn't suitable for two adults. VRBO and the owner refused to refund us. After pointing out the discrepancies, and providing proof that the owners were using the same listing for different properties, VRBO only refunded their fee to us, claiming the transaction was really between us and the owner...

Yet there's plenty of stories of buyers getting banned for trivial TOS infractions. But when a host is essentially scamming people, nothing happens.

[data_maan]

If you can, threaten to sue them (or actually sue them) and post your review on every rating site out there.

Unfortunately, many companies only understand the language of threats and lawsuits.