Guest Integrity Policy

The Original Barkside Bungalow has been welcoming guests since 2018. We take great pride in our home and in doing right by every guest. We expect the same in return.

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This policy exists to protect both our home and the overwhelming majority of guests who behave with honesty and respect. Thank you for being one of them.

What Are "Airbnb Pirates"?

There is a well-documented pattern of bad-faith behavior in the short-term rental industry. A small number of guests intentionally exploit platform dispute systems to obtain free or heavily discounted stays.

Here is how it works: a guest enjoys their full stay without raising any concerns. Then, at checkout — or even after departing — they photograph minor, everyday dirt or trivial imperfections and submit an exaggerated complaint to Airbnb claiming the property was unacceptable. The goal is a full or partial refund for a stay they already enjoyed.

Common Tactics We Have Seen

  • Photographing minor dust, pet hair, or normal household dirt after a full stay
  • Filing a complaint only after checkout — never raising concerns during the stay
  • Claiming conditions were uninhabitable when no contact was made with the host
  • Submitting misleading or out-of-context photographs to the platform
  • Attempting to leverage a refund threat to avoid paying for damages

This behavior is not a misunderstanding — it is deliberate fraud. It harms small property owners, raises prices for honest guests, and is taken very seriously by us.

Our Zero-Tolerance Policy

We have a strict zero-tolerance policy for fraudulent complaints and bad-faith extortion attempts. This is not negotiable.

This Will Not Be Tolerated

Any guest who submits a fraudulent complaint — photographing trivial dirt or minor imperfections at the end of their stay in an attempt to obtain a free or discounted stay — will face immediate consequences.

We document the condition of our property thoroughly before and after every guest stay. We will dispute every bad-faith claim with our own evidence.

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You Will Be Asked to Leave

If a fraudulent complaint or extortion attempt is identified during a stay, the guest will be asked to vacate the property immediately. No exceptions.

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Full Market Rate Will Be Charged

Guests who attempt to extort a free stay will be charged the full market rate for their booking — not the Airbnb discounted rate — for every night stayed.

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Claims Will Be Disputed

Every fraudulent claim is disputed with timestamped documentation and evidence. We have a strong track record of successfully countering bad-faith complaints.

1-2 Star Ratings Are Highly Discouraged

Leaving a 1- or 2-star rating without ever raising a concern with us during your stay is highly discouraged. Any low rating left without prior communication will be closely scrutinized against our documented property condition and in-stay messaging records, and disputed with Airbnb where it is inconsistent with the facts of the stay.

Our Track Record

We have been operating as a short-term rental since 2018. Our guests love us — and we love them back.

4.88
Star Average Rating on Airbnb
2018
Hosting Guests in Minneapolis
100%
Fraudulent Claims Disputed with Evidence

The vast majority of our guests are wonderful people who treat our home with respect. This policy is not directed at them — it is a firm boundary for the rare bad actor who believes they can take advantage of small property owners.

Have a Genuine Concern? Here Is What to Do.

We Welcome Honest Feedback

If something is genuinely wrong with the property during your stay, please reach out to us immediately through the Airbnb messaging platform. We want every guest to have a great experience and we will do everything we can to address a real issue promptly.

Legitimate concerns raised in good faith — during the stay, when there is still an opportunity to fix them — are always welcomed and taken seriously.

What we will not accept is a guest who stays for the entire duration, says nothing, then manufactures a complaint at checkout to get their money back.

The Right Way to Report a Concern

  • Message us through Airbnb as soon as you notice an issue — do not wait until checkout
  • Give us the opportunity to address it during your stay
  • Be honest and accurate in any photos or descriptions you share
  • Understand that a home used by guests will have normal wear — this is not grounds for a refund

Property Disclosures

The following are known conditions of the property that are disclosed upfront to all guests. Complaints about these pre-disclosed conditions will not be considered valid grounds for a refund.

Basement

The basement is not livable space and is not part of the guest rental. It is not available for guest use. Any complaints about the basement being inaccessible or not suitable as living space are not valid — this is fully expected and disclosed in advance.

Backyard Garage

The garage in the backyard is not available to guests and is not to be used during your stay. Guests should not enter or store belongings in the garage. This is a known and disclosed condition of the property.

Yard Conditions

As a dog-friendly property, there may be dog droppings present in the yard. Guests are advised to be aware of this when using the outdoor space. This is a disclosed condition of the property and is not grounds for a complaint or refund request.

Known Fraudsters

The following is our list of known fraudsters:

Name: Jon Doe