A group of girls have responded to an Airbnb host who accused them of causing $4,815 worth of damage to the apartment they stayed in for Schoolies celebrations.
High school graduates Samiya, Charlize and four other friends spent months saving for Schoolies celebrations.
The six girls decided to rent a high-rise apartment on the glittering Gold Coast strip to be in the heart of the Schoolies action.
The week-long stay cost the girls a total of about $4,100, which Samiya booked in her name through Airbnb.
‘We kept the apartment spotless. When I tell you, we vacuum every morning,” Samiya told A Current Affair.
‘I think it was the biggest cleanup I’ve ever done in my life… because I knew everything was in my name.
“If this turns on anyone, it turns on me, so I wasn’t going to take any chances on Schoolies.”
After their stay, Airbnb host Amanda wrote a positive review, describing the girls as “clean and tidy” and “amazing guests” who she would “highly recommend” to other hosts.
Samiya (left) and Charlize (right), along with their four other friends, stayed in an apartment on the Gold Coast during the week-long Schoolies celebrations.
However, despite the glowing review, Amanda sent Samiya a bill for $4,815 for apparent damage to items in the apartment.
Samiya and Charlize immediately refuted the refund invoice and claimed that photos sent to them by the host showed that the damaged items did not match the furniture in the apartment during their stay.
The bill included $3,000 for the couch, $1,395 for the television, $325 for the shower head and $93.29 for three cans of coffee.
Charlize explained that she immediately started recording on her phone the moment she entered the apartment.
“I did a whole vlog of the apartment,” Charlize said.
—Well, obviously she didn’t think we’d have proof of anything.
‘But as young girls we love vlogging, we love taking pictures of everything. “It’s great that we did that because I’m sure she wasn’t expecting it.”
Samiya said he read the refund claim and noticed that the television, which the presenter said he had damaged, was completely different.
The television in his apartment was completely black and sat on a black stand; however, the photo provided in the claim showed a television on a silver stand.
When Samiya told the host that the TV was different, the host argued that there were multiple TVs in the apartment.
The Airbnb host provided an image of the damaged TV (right); However, the girls’ video showed that their apartment had a different television, all black and situated on a black stand (left).
The Airbnb host also charged the girls for three canisters of coffee (right), but the video they took upon entering the property showed only one canister on the kitchen bench (left).
The host claimed the couch was damaged, but a photo taken just 45 minutes after Charlize and her friends arrived shows the hole in the couch’s fabric was already there.
The Airbnb host charged the girls for three canisters of coffee, but a video they took upon entering the property showed only one canister on the kitchen bench.
The girls attempted to appeal the bill and sent their evidence to Airbnb, but were told there was still “reason to believe you are responsible for the damage.”
Samiya said she believed she and her friends were being “taken advantage of” because of her young age.
The Airbnb host refuted allegations that she had mixed up the apartments and remained adamant that the girls had caused the damage.
“Well, I didn’t have the wrong apartment and I haven’t confused the guests because that’s my apartment and that’s my furniture,” Amanda said.
“I got the pictures from my cleaner and stuff, so, you know, that’s what I have.”
Airbnb changed its decision after a journalist from A Current Affair approached them on behalf of the girls.
Samiya received an email from the executive’s team explaining that the claim had been cancelled.
Samiya said she felt like the host and Airbnb were trying to take advantage of her and her five friends because they were young (pictured, Schoolies 2024).
“Based on all evidence and facts, it is clear that you are not responsible for the damages, which is why we have canceled the file recovery card that was previously initiated,” the email said.
In a statement, Airbnb said it was investigating the matter and had temporarily suspended the host’s account pending its final decision.
“Our team works diligently to ensure our community has positive experiences in every part of every trip, and our ground rules for hosts and guests help make clear our expectation to treat each other, homes, and neighborhoods with respect, and consequences for violations,” the statement read.
‘We are currently investigating the issues that have been raised and, pending a final decision, have temporarily suspended the host account.
“Our customer service team is in contact with the guest and continues to provide support.”
Following Airbnb’s investigation, the host was removed from the platform and the girls received a refund for their stay.