DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently paid for an Airbnb rental for four days. The host was extremely attentive and accommodating leading up to my check-in date.
When I arrived, the place was not what I was expecting at all. It looked nothing like the pictures. I immediately contacted the host and requested a refund, then canceled my reservation through the app.
The host apologized profusely and was very kind. He said it was a big misunderstanding, and I believe him. A few days later, I received my money back from Airbnb directly, not the host.
The host wrote me an email explaining that he is now banned from hosting because I took my complaint to the company and didn’t allow him to handle it himself. I feel guilty. Was I wrong?
— Misunderstanding
DEAR MISUNDERSTANDING: You were not wrong. The host is not your friend, even though he was kind. He is the one who used the app. That’s how you connected with him.
The host knows that the space you got is different from the one he advertised. While it is unfortunate that he got banned, it is not your fault.
What you could do is write to Airbnb to tell them how gracious the host was to you, even though the space wasn’t up to par. Your follow-up note through the app may soften the repercussions, but please remember that you did nothing wrong and the host certainly did.
DEAR HARRIETTE: A few months ago, I gave a referral to a former classmate for an opening at the company I work for. A mutual friend of ours had asked if I would help her out, and I did.
She got the job, and she’s been with the company for almost two months now.
Since she’s been hired, she barely acknowledges me. She thanked me for my help but hardly says anything to me at all at work. I’m lucky if she says hi to me on certain days.
While we weren’t particularly close before, I feel that she should at least be friendly toward me. I barely knew her, and I did something extremely nice for her. What should I do or say?
— Ungrateful
DEAR UNGRATEFUL: You acknowledge that this woman thanked you for the introduction to the company and for your help. If she is someone you did not know before and had no relationship with, there really is not much more you should expect. You should not be looking to her for anything.
Would it be wise on her part to befriend you? Sure, but it is not required by etiquette. You did a nice thing for her, and that’s that. Move on. Live your life. Don’t look to her for any type of acknowledgment.
She was a stranger and still is. You don’t have to feel any way about it.
I will add, though, that when you refer people for jobs, you should make sure that you review their credentials and feel certain that you want to endorse them. Why? Because your word counts. Referring someone you barely know for a job comes with risks.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
#didnt #Airbnb #host #banned
