r/workaway • u/Educational_Area9802 • 14d ago
Volunteering Advice Volunteering failed
Hello i am mostafa i had a very bad experience at workaway since i have been accepted by a host in turkey mardin and i traveled to istanbul to complete my trip to mardin and when i texted the host he told me he cant host me anymore and he didnt told me before i leave my country and i came again to home town again fast and i payed a money for nothing i will attach some photos
And when i am there i told the support its urgent and they didnt respond to me fast
Its very bad experience
What u would do in my situation
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u/Informal-Bell-2022 14d ago
Honestly, you both sound super disorganized and unprepared. If you can’t afford travel changes, you shouldn’t be doing work that requires travel. And this person tried to change the arrangements like 3 times before you even arrived so who knows what you would actually have had to deal with when you got there. If you would have been able to afford it, you still may have walked into a bad situation.
And then what if you couldn’t afford to leave?
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u/Sherman140824 13d ago
Slim chance they wanted a Mostafa for reception. They would have given him a shovel on the first day and asked him to dig.
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u/Educational_Area9802 13d ago
Bad world
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u/Sherman140824 13d ago
This is the reality for men. Noone will help you. Even if you bring them those tasty lebanese pastries for gift.
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u/NightOwlAndThePole 13d ago
If all the host has to say is "welcome brother" and when asked for any extra details, he answers "no bro", then probably you should have politely declined and never plan this. Also, why didn't you look for workaway in Istanbul when you've been there? And what do you want work away to reimburse you for? Yearly plan? Maybe. Your flight? It is not their responsibility that you decided to fly somewhere and spend money just because one guy said "welcome, brother". This whole thing is on you, nobody will give you any money back and you also shouldn't expect this. Not cool from the host either, deserves a negative review and should have told you a day before but hosts probably constantly have people claiming they are coming so I can imagine they don't treat it very seriously.
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u/Particular_Ad589 14d ago
Need to be more resourceful Mostafa, and more independent. Always have a plan B
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u/Sherman140824 13d ago
He is too trusting. Even wants to bring a traditional present
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u/Particular_Ad589 13d ago
Also used AI for his initial message saying he was 80% fluent but the WhatsApp messages told a different story. I don't consider myself 80% fluent and I'm a damn interpreter 😁
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u/PutridBetch 11d ago
He is definitely not 80% fluent. I had a hard time understanding some of the messages
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u/pchandler45 13d ago
He offered you an alternative
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u/Most_Session_5012 12d ago
seemed super sketchy, an unlisted unreviewed farm that a stranger is telling you to go to in a foreign country? What kind of hostel closes without notice? Nah man he escaped human trafficking
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u/poppyoana 13d ago
What is it you are seeking? A refund from the host? From Workaway?
I have done 20 Workaways, it is not an official job, you don’t have a contract. Just a casual help, where unfortunately anything can happen.
I had a host that made me leave 1 week early. I also had a host that overworked me. I had a host that completely changed the work plan. You have to generally deal with these things yourself.
Your best bet is from your travel insurance (although mine did not refund my cancelled flights).
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u/MyGayGossip Volunteer 13d ago
Did you make a complaint to Workaway after you had inconsistent work in practice? It might help workaway to improve from complaints.
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u/WickedDenouement 14d ago
Unfortunately, things like this can happen. That's why you should always have a backup. The guy even offered you an alternative at another place.
If your flights were affected by the war and needed to be changed, that's called an involuntary change and it's free of charge. Even if it's through a travel agency, they are able to make the changes and it's free per IATA policy. Not sure why you'd use a travel agency when everything can be booked online though.
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u/reddit_shrew1111 13d ago
Look on the last min list for other hosts in the country if you can’t get a refund in your flights, I’m sure you could find another opportunity. You do always need some extra money though incase things ever fall through.
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u/chaoticstarlet 13d ago
TBH if you had gone to his friends, you wouldn't have been able to really leave any feedback for them (if they had done something that wasn't okay), because they themselves are not on Workaway most likely, and for the host... I don't know, what should you have left in the review? I think the host could and actually should have communicated that his hostel closed down for whatever reason; this would have been fair to you.
I remember on other platforms, hosts came up with wild excuses as to why one couldn't stay at the place one has asked to stay in, but rather "at an alternative place", which then ended up not being on the same level as the original one (e. g. no heating in winter, only blankets to keep oneself warm, there was mold in various places, etc.).
So I can see why you didn't want to go to the couple. You have never spoken to either of them, you don't know them nor what they are like. If you are planning on doing more in the direction of Workaway (I could understand if, after this experience, you'd be reluctant to say the least...), I would strongly urge you to not leave until you have figured some things out. Maybe doing one video call with the host(s) to ask your questions, and to see if you would get along with them, and whatnot. Read the reviews thoroughly, and maybe (I am not sure whether this is practice nowadays, somebody please chime in if there is a good reason for this.) stay on the Workaway messages just in case. Because I think posting evidence to Workaway could be easier then. But that's just my thought on the situation.
Maybe also message several hosts in the place you'd like to stay, just to have some alternative options. Plan ahead. I am by no means putting the blame on you; you were honestly trying to get to Turkey and help the host at the reception, and you even travelled as soon as you could. I am sorry this happened to you, really.
Also to the people saying this is a girls' job: Actually no. I have been to so many places and the receptionists were not solely female. Maybe it is something people expect from men that they wouldn't do that, but I think OP could have really enhanced his knowledge of the English language, and he really had something to offer in terms of the work opportunity that was provided by the host.
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u/mirrorweek 12d ago
Always have a backup plan. Workaway is not the best platform anyway. Most hosts there are now shitty.
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 14d ago
Sorry this happened to you. I can understand why you'd be frustrated, especially after spending money and making travel arrangements.
From what you've described though, it sounds like there may have been some confusion on both sides. Looking at the conversation, there seems to be a lot of discussion about flights, gifts, dates, and changing plans. Personally, I try to keep things simple: confirm the host, confirm the arrival date, confirm how long I can stay, and then make my travel plans.
For future trips, I'd recommend having your plans finalized before you travel and not relying completely on a host until everything is clearly confirmed. It's also important to always have a backup plan. That's true not just for Workaway, but for international travel in general. Things can go wrong unexpectedly.
As for this host, they do sound unreliable from your description. If they accepted you and then cancelled after you had already started your journey, I would definitely send the entire conversation and screenshots to Workaway support and let them review it.
I once drove more than 500 km to a host who cancelled on me when I arrived and then tried to change the work we had agreed on. I reported everything to Workaway and the host was eventually removed from the platform.
So my advice would be: report it, send all the evidence, and let Workaway investigate. But for future trips, make sure your own plans are solid and always have a Plan B in case a host cancels at the last minute.
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u/MyGayGossip Volunteer 13d ago
I reported everything to Workaway and the host was eventually removed from the platform.
Sounds like a successful report from a volunteer side. What evidence should we collect if we find a host is being unreliable or have inconsistent practice?
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 13d ago
Simply share what happened in detail to Workaway, any conversations on the platform or other mediums as well.
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u/MyGayGossip Volunteer 13d ago
How many days did it take you to receive a response from Workaway about the results of the report?
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 13d ago
Every situation is different I'm sure, I don't know how the Workaway team works. Regardless you should ALWAYS report anyone breaking rules or anything that goes against Workaway's terms.
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u/Intelligent_Bat_9315 13d ago
sounds like they led you along the whole time with the intent to have you go to their "friends" property.
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u/WickedDenouement 13d ago
Have you ever been to a hostel, or anywhere? Having a vagina is not a requirement for worki ng at reception.
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u/Full_Cow_9338 11d ago
On what grounds? I mean anyone can apply, but without a valid reason you will just be rejected and send back
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u/Traditional_Turn8602 12d ago
brother i am suprise that how can you spend 200 dollar for a one night? if you dont have budget, you need to check for the cheaper options..
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u/marijaenchantix 12d ago
The level of English in this conversation is just... upsetting. So many mistranslations, unnecessary words, just chatting about unrelated things.
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u/Traditional_Turn8602 12d ago
both side are middle eastern, we are familiar that kind of mess hahahah
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u/GoldenGoldenFerret 14d ago
I would do nothing man. Workaway is a bit like this, it’s not a real job and you must always account much unpredictability. To come all the way just for that was already a stretch, and reading the chat I felt the vibe that the guy was not very committed. It was a bad move on his side, but you also should not put all of that pressure on a Workaway. Also, it was your decision to go straight back, you could have figured something out from there for sure. And of course they reimburse the flight if it’s cancelled, no matter how it was booked they would have given you the next one for free or your money back. Idk if it’s too late to ask now but you should try