An Airbnb host allegedly tried to get revenge on a guest who gave his place a bad review by threatening the married tenant with a security camera photo of him with another woman and then accidentally hitting send.
Shawn Mackey, who lives in Mississippi, was the guest who rented a house advertised as ‘A Little More Country’ in Memphis for a weekend get-together with old friends and tickets to a football game in the fall of 2022.
He booked the Sept. 9-11 stay for himself and three other guests, although he notified that he might have some other old friends over for dinner. Mackey rented for $567 a night.
Mackey, who lists her own home on Airbnb, refused to pay an additional $960 fee for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom rental run by “superhost” Pamela Fohler, who also cited that she had broken two house rules and invited to more guests. than promised.
Fohler allegedly responded by emailing Mackey’s wife with a photo of him on the security camera with another woman, according to a lawsuit filed by Mackey in Mississippi district court.
An Airbnb host attempted to get revenge on a guest who gave his accommodation a bad review by threatening the married tenant with a security camera photo of him with another woman and then accidentally hitting send.
The ‘country’ is confined as a place to ‘forget your worries in this spacious and serene space!’ He told potential renters about the “beautiful home located on the outskirts” of town in his listings, which add that it can sleep up to 12 guests.
Fohler told Mackey to “register” anyone who might show up that weekend, whether they planned to stay the night or not, to which Mackey agreed, and Fohler said he could update the guest registry at any time.
The rules Fohler presented called for no smoking or vaping, excessive noise, unregistered guests, parking in front of garage doors and several other questions, including things like “no urinating in the pool” or swimming naked.
He also warned about the unfortunate security cameras outside the premises.
“Rest assured, we will take great care of your home,” Mackey emailed Fohler.
When Mackey arrived on September 9, he offered Fohler a list of dinner guests, a total of nine plus “maybe a few more,” of whom four or five would spend the night.
Fohler responded 10 minutes later: ‘Hi Shawn, we will be able to accommodate a maximum of 8 guests. This is due to city restrictions and capacity in our house. “I apologize for not having talked (sic) about tripling the number of guests.”
He added that there would be “a cost for each guest,” even those who do not stay overnight.
Shawn Mackey, who lives in Mississippi, is the guest who rented a house billed as ‘Little Bit More Country’ in Memphis, for a weekend get-together with old friends and tickets to a football game in July 2022.
Mackey, who lists her own home on Airbnb, refused to pay an additional $960 fee for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom rental run by “superhost” Pamela Fohler, who also cited that she had broken two house rules and invited to more guests than promised
Fohler contacted Mackey again 45 minutes later and reiterated his request.
‘Hi Shawn, I ask that you add additional guests now or leave immediately. We have also received reports of disturbances, shouting and swearing in the parking area. “Our house is in a quiet neighborhood and we have to maintain it.”
Fohler, upon learning of more complaints, messaged Mackey once again 15 minutes later.
‘I’m so sorry, but you’ve violated the no-party rule, you’ve bothered my neighbors by cursing and yelling in the parking lot, and you’ve had unauthorized guests. I ask you to leave now. I can’t let you stay, I’m sorry.’
“None of this was true,” Mackey claims in his lawsuit, adding that only one extra guest had shown up, leaving five people in Fohler’s home to deny the party, the noise or the profanity.
Mackey decided to call Fohler and received a response from her husband Jamie. After explaining what had happened, Jamie stated that Mackey could stay.
Pamela Fohler contacted Mackey again the next morning through the Airbnb app, confirming that she would be checking out the next day and instructing him to remove the beds and load the dishwasher, wishing him “safe travels.”
Mackey claims, according to the lawsuit, that he did exactly that.
The ‘country’ is confined as a place to ‘forget your worries in this spacious and serene space!’ He told potential renters about the “beautiful home located on the outskirts” of town in his listings, which add that it can sleep up to 12 guests.
Fohler, upon learning of the complaints, sent Mackey a message saying he had broken “the no-match rule.”
“By the time he left the property, (Mackey), who had not broken any rules and had spoken to the host, thought all issues had been resolved simply as a misunderstanding,” he says.
However, he decided to leave a negative review and requested a partial refund of $502.46, which was denied.
The lawsuit alleges that Fohler “began harassing” Mackey after the review, concerned about her status as an Airbnb “superhost,” and the app went so far as to remove the review.
An Airbnb representative contacted Mackey on September 14, saying they would investigate his claims and temporarily suspend Mackey’s account, with the threat of permanent termination.
Mackey attempted to explain himself in an email to the representative on September 15, insisting that he had done nothing wrong.
“If my issues, concerns, hostile treatment, or discrimination are not of concern to Airbnb, then please suspend or cancel my account by all means,” he concluded.
Mackey claims Fohler sent her a text message on Sept. 17 with photos of Mackey with another woman.
‘Hi Shawn, I hope you’re okay. I’m sorry it took so long to put together the photos he requested to show his stay at our home. But I had faith and my integrity drove me, so I committed to publishing them for you and Airbnb. The 3:16 am photo is especially notable. Should I send the photos and videos to Teresa (Mackey’s wife), or will you?
Airbnb still issued rule-breaking fines to Mackey, despite saying he had not broken the rules and was being harassed by Fohler.
Fohler then threatened to email Mackey’s wife a video of him on the security camera with another woman.
He then allegedly threatened to upload them to YouTube because the file was too large to send via text message.
On Sept. 19, Mackey received a bill from Airbnb for $960, which included a $160 fine for additional guests, $250 each for violating rules against local guests and excessive noise, and another $300 for “moderation.” of your review.”
Mackey said he would not pay the charges and says Fohler allegedly responded by harassing him, creating a fake email account in his name with the innuendo-laden handle ‘Shawn69@outlook.com’ as ‘retaliation for his noncompliance.’
On September 20, Fohler allegedly emailed the photo to his wife with the subject line “nice bag” in reference to the photo. The copy said: “I love your bag, where did you get it?”
Mackey then claims that Airbnb wouldn’t stand behind it, “instead reacting like any decent person or even a decent corporation would to such illegal and abhorrent conduct.”
“Plaintiff’s marriage has suffered as a result,” the lawsuit states, saying Fohler has caused her “extreme emotional distress,” “public humiliation” and “mental anguish.”
Fohler denied sending the email and said he never corresponded with Mackey’s wife in a countersuit filed in December.
Mackey is suing for ‘economic damages and harm to his marriage,’ as well as emotional damages as a result of (sic) the defendants’ invasion of his privacy rights.’
The email sent to Mackey’s wife under a false name, along with the latest of Mackey’s complaints to Airbnb
In a text message seeking comment, Mackey said The daily beast: ‘I would love to speak with you, but my lawyer has informed me that it is not appropriate now.’
Neither Mackey’s attorneys nor Fohler’s attorney have made public comments beyond their legal claims.
Fohler filed a motion to dismiss and Airbnb filed one to force the parties to arbitration, with Mackey facing a Feb. 21 deadline to respond.