Update: Dillon tried to settled with his credit card, but the chargeback was settled in my favor. Sorry (not sorry) Dillon, but you were wrong!
Ohhh.. I have eagerly awaited this review. Before diving into the details, I highly recommend reading one of Dillon's reviews from July 2024 on a different platform-AB. In that review, he requested a full refund due to window treatments not being dark enough, a kitchen infestation, and a malfunctioning AC. Sound familiar? Surprisingly, he was dissatisfied when his refund request was denied. It's quite possible that other hosts challenged his claims, I even contacted them. But let's not jump to conclusions; allow me to explain the situation from the beginning and provide some context.
To start, the guest contacted me through an AB site and requested to bypass the platform. However, I politely declined and insisted on using the platform for our interactions. Dillon then asked for a government discount, followed by a request for a first responder discount. Eventually, we moved to VRBO due to its lower rates. Out of kindness, I offered him a 10% discount, which turned out to be my first mistake.
In my initial message to Dillon, I emphasized the importance of reading all the house information and rules, which included a requirement for guests to pay $42 in gate fees to enjoy the community amenities. I always strive to ensure my guests' happiness by promptly responding to messages, providing welcome gifts, and even leaving chocolates on their pillows. However, it seemed that Dillon's primary focus was on securing more and more discounts, pushing the limits of hosts.
Dillon's first message requested assistance with the gate fees, claiming that it had not been mentioned before (which was untrue). He then asked if I could waive the security deposit, to which I explained that it would be against the law. Within 15 minutes of their arrival, the guests reported a power outage, requesting to locate the main electricity panel. It's puzzling how a switch could trip within such a short timeframe, considering that we had recently upgraded the main panel with brand new lines.
Thirty minutes later, they discovered a few ants and asked if I had any ant traps, which I promptly provided. Next, they complained about the AC, stating that the temperature inside the house was only 80 degrees. I explained that the general rule for AC usage is that it cannot be set more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature, which was 110 degrees at the time (you can verify this with a quick Google search). I offered alternative cooling options such as ceiling fans, floor fans, and even a portable AC unit. Additionally, I had warned the guests about the extreme weather conditions in California and advised them to stay hydrated and be cautious.
Then all of a sudden I received a call from VRBO, informing me that the guests had complained about my delayed responses, the faulty AC, the ant infestation, and the lack of window treatments in the bathroom. They even demanded a full refund. I immediately messaged the guest, as I couldn't comprehend why he claimed I was unresponsive. Moreover, I had personally inspected the house the evening before their arrival and had not noticed any ant infestation. We had an HvAC professional looking at our unit, the night before, because we are in the process of installing the generator and need to make sure that everything is working how it should be. In the event that a few ants were present, it is possible given our mountainous location and extreme heat, as ants are naturally drawn to water sources. This issue can easily be resolved with ant spray or a simple use of a thumb. Regarding the window treatment in the bathroom, I explained that the window was positioned higher than the toilet and overlooked a beautiful view of Yosemite's towering native trees. There were no neighboring structures, making it unnecessary to cover the window. Dillon insisted that I was mistaken and argued that most of America would disagree with me. He even said that there is some creeps in the woods that can easily use a ladder to peer through the second-floor window. However, it is highly improbable to find a ladder in the middle of the woods, let alone carry one to my property for the purpose of peering into windows, only to look how someone is going to bathroom on the high second floor.
Unfortunately, on the second night of their stay, the coils on our AC froze, causing it to stop working. I immediately called for emergency HVAC repair at 9 pm, and the technician assured me that he would arrive within two hours. I informed Dillon of the situation, and he expressed his agreement with the timeframe. The technician explained that due to the extreme weather conditions, setting the AC to its maximum cooling capacity would cause the coils to freeze and eventually malfunction. That's precisely what happened. The technician resolved the issue within two hours.
On their departure, Dillon mentioned a cockroach, which angered me as I take great pride in maintaining a spotlessly clean house. Cockroaches cannot survive without a food source, so it was perplexing to hear this complaint. It can be easily mistaken with the regular beetle, that you can easily find anywhere near the woods. Dillon then went on to mention a spider, but by that point, it had become more amusing than anything else, spiders can travel from outside on your clothes or backpacks, so thank you Dillon for bringing one to my place. He requested a 50% discount for ALL the inconveniences he claimed to have experienced. I must apologize for the AC issue, even though I offered several alternatives, including a portable AC unit. If I hadn't discovered the same review on another platform, I might have considered reimbursing him for that night, but after that other review I felt that everyone needs to know about this particular guest. If anyone has made it through this lengthy explanation… I had hoped that Dillon would have mentioned something positive about the cleanliness of the house, its beautiful design, the fully stocked kitchen, or the welcome gift I personally prepared for my guests. Perhaps even a mention of the delicious chocolates left on their pillows. Unfortunately, it seems that these aspects were overshadowed by Dillon's persistent requests for discounts. I firmly believe that this is unfair, as I work tirelessly to ensure my guests' satisfaction. Dillon even offered to write a positive review in exchange for a 50% discount, but I felt it was important for everyone to know about both his and my experiences. In all honesty, I believe that Dillon should be banned from both platforms.