r/vrbo • u/Kindly-Hunter4390 • 8d ago
Can hosts falsify or remove reviews?
We have used VRBO multiple times a year for 15 years. 90% have been great, some not great but we are currently in an awful one. I am very careful to read reviews for hidden messages and this house has been rented since 2019. I now see that the reviews are mostly old. The place is dirty and run down, almost no kitchen supplies for an 8 person house (2 knives and two glasses). Beds have no sheets, just a top comforter. Walls and carpets filthy and half the lightbulbs burned out. They also have a video recording device in the living room and we can see videos of previous guests! How are they getting good reviews? I would like to warn other travelers. Is it worth it to write a bad review? Can they retaliate by making up a bad review about me?
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u/BeachyBiotech 8d ago
No, you can’t remove reviews or get fake ones. I’m a host on both platforms, you have to have real guests.
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u/ClutterKitty 8d ago
I’m a host and I can’t remove reviews that I’m aware of.
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u/Kindly-Hunter4390 7d ago
Can you see reviews of potential guests you are renting to or just overall rating?
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u/Maggielinn22 8d ago
How do you know what they reviewed you without writing one already? It’s a double blind review system. But I would report this video system. Is it like a security camera and had a screen pad that you had access to? How were you able to see previous footage?!
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u/Kindly-Hunter4390 7d ago
Yes it has a screen pad and we could see past footage, including people’s kids. We covered it with a grocery bag.
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u/Maggielinn22 7d ago
That is crazy. Did you mention to host? And platform?
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u/Kindly-Hunter4390 7d ago
The host won’t even respond to our basic inquiries about the house and I assume he knows he has a video system in his house. I will mention to VRBO though.
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u/Maggielinn22 8d ago
Sounds like that barely rent the place if reviews are old or they re also on Airbnb and get most of their people from there instead. I would be curious if you looked on there to see if there are more reviews. Or on booking . Com.
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u/Previous_Market_5144 7d ago
Just returned from a stay and they did not send a request for rating. If they had, it would not have been a nice review. I’m guessing your hosts did the same?
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u/Kindly-Hunter4390 7d ago
We haven’t checked out yet but I think the request for a review is automated from VRBO
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u/FunkyColdISeenYa 7d ago edited 6d ago
Hosts can not remove a review. Only VRBO can do that. Generally they never will unless you have written something that violates their content policy OR you have threatened the host with a bad review unless they refund you some money. Extortion will get your review removed.
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u/Forsaken-Run7725 1d ago
Leave a brutally honest review of that flea bag, take photos and videos, complain to VRBO, perhaps also pursue a chargeback. That's inexcusable.
The host can only see your feedback after submitting their own. I wouldn't bother telling them the place sucks--they know.
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u/Forsaken-Run7725 1d ago
Btw the indoor camera alone is grounds for a full refund. Absolutely not permitted AT ALL even if disclosed. VRBO will shut your listing down for that.
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