A group of teenagers, celebrating their recent graduation during the notorious schoolies week on the Gold Coast, have found themselves embroiled in a hefty dispute over alleged damages at their Airbnb rental. The host, Amanda, issued the schoolies with nearly $5,000 worth of damage claims for what they insist was both falsified and inflated.
Samiya and Charlize, along with their four friends, were thrilled to spend their hard-earned savings on the high-rise apartment, fully enjoying their end-of-year festivities. "We saved up for months for this trip and were just so excited to celebrate, especially after finishing school!" exclaimed Charlize. Their group spent around $4,100 for the week-long stay, pooling their resources to secure their perfect location on the famous Gold Coast glitter strip.
The girls, fully aware of the reputation surrounding schoolies, took it upon themselves to keep the apartment immaculate throughout their stay. "We kept the apartment spotless... we vacuumed every morning," Samiya proudly stated, mentioning how she felt responsible as she booked the place under her name. To document their experience for memories - and, it turns out, potential disputes - they filmed their arrival and daily activities.
After what they felt was the perfect trip, their enthusiasm took a hit when Amanda sent them a damage bill totaling $4,815 post-checkout. This bill included charges of $1,395 for the TV, $3,000 for the couch, $325 for the showerhead, and $93.29 for three coffee canisters. Despite Amanda's glowing review of the girls as "amazing guests" and "neat and tidy, highly recommend[ed] to other hosts," the unexpected expense cocktailed their spirits.
Samiya was quick to react to the damage claim, asserting, "It's a lot of money for young girls to cough up." They decided to appeal the claim, providing Airbnb with detailed video evidence showing the condition of the rental upon arrival and during their stay. "I made a whole vlog of the apartment!" said Charlize, showcasing the necessity of documenting everything as they navigated schoolies blissfully unaware of the impending turmoil.
Upon reviewing the claim documents sent by Amanda, the girls noticed inconsistencies. For example, the TV shown to be damaged was entirely different from what they had during their stay; it had been on a black stand, not the silver one depicted in the photo Amanda shared. "The couch already had the hole before we even arrived, and we only saw one coffee canister during our stay," Samiya highlighted, showcasing their compelling evidence against Amanda's claims.
Despite their proactive measures, Airbnb initially concluded there appeared to be reason to believe the group might still be responsible for the damages. This setback left the girls feeling frustrated and taken advantage of due to their young age. "We’re being taken advantage of because we're young," Samiya adamantly stated, reflecting the strong emotional toll the situation imposed on them. "Airbnb has done nothing to help us, which is even worse!"
When contacted for comment, host Amanda insisted she had accurate information. "Well, I haven't got the wrong apartment and I haven't mixed up the guests because that's my apartment and that's my furniture," she stated during the inquiry. Despite her claims, the girls remained confident about their evidence, arguing they had extensive documentation to counter her accusations.
Subsequent developments led to A Current Affair contacting Airbnb, prompting them to re-examine the evidence. Shortly thereafter, Samiya received notice from the Airbnb executive team acknowledging the discrepancies. The message declared, "Based on all the evidence and facts, it is clear you are not responsible for the damages; hence we have canceled the card on file recovery initiated earlier." This change of heart prompted joy for the group, who felt validated.
After conducting their investigation, Airbnb confirmed the temporary suspension of Amanda's account and assured the girls they would receive full reimbursement for their stay. "Make sure you take photos. It’s always good, so I just stuck to this and thank God I did," Samiya advised future renters, confident their documentation saved them from financial folly.
The conclusion of this ordeal not only highlighted the importance of documentation during rentals but also brought attention to the potential challenges faced by young travelers. With the suspension of the host’s account, Samiya, Charlize, and their friends can finally enjoy their schoolies memories without the weight of unwarranted claims hanging over their heads.
