An Airbnb guest in Toronto has been hit with an unexpected and huge price increase on her lodging. You’ve accepted a five-month advertised internship where everything once sounded locked in. Then, the bombshell dropped after the host accepted the reservation and asked for an additional payment.
A young Iranian woman secured her spot in Toronto with her parents’ credit card. She needed a comfortable place to live while working on her summer internship. After I completed the Airbnb reservation, the host sent a friendly email. She contacted the guest in question to let her know that the unexpected surge pricing would increase the total cost of her stay by £4,000. This increase is a whopping 39% increase from the price they initially contracted for when the reservation was made.
So when the time to book came, and the email landed in the guest’s inbox after booking, the guest was certainly shocked. The abrupt price increase was a significant cost burden for numerous users. It raised further concerns on whether the booking process is rigged for consumer protection on sites like Airbnb. The visitor is often taken aback by the surprise increase. Now, she needs to make sense of this turn of events and determine what she should do next.
The host then asked for additional payment, prompting a discussion on the platform’s users. Now, what they are currently arguing over — the issue of pricing transparency and consumer rights. Millions of people rely on Airbnb as an alternative to hotels where they can save money. Surprises like this one can erode their faith in the service.
Our guest is still considering her options. She could decide to send a counter-offer to the host or contact Airbnb’s 24-7 customer service squad for help. What’s truly shocking is how this situation even developed, and it serves as an important reminder that the complexities of home-sharing can land you in hot water.