Airbnb host scams traveler by making him pay $10 for parking fee on a public street, when he confronts him, homeowner says he "should've done more research", so traveler reports him to Airbnb: 'He said I ruined his only source of income'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 27, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Ahhhh, there's nothing like a little scam to wake up to in the morning. Whether it be $10 or $1000, being unfairly taken for a dime hits the ego like nothing else. When you know someone is so obviously taking advantage of your kindness, simply to make an extra buck or two! This traveler was ready for vacation and extremely excited about his accommodation…he wasn't going to settle on anything this trip, and even paid the $10 for his accommodations parking spot…It's the small things!

However, after arriving at the Airbnb, he quickly learned that his luxurious parking was actually just a spot on a public street near the house. Key word: public, Key message: free! He was annoyed by the homeowner's entitlement and confronted him for charging a parking fee on a free, public road. His response? 'Well, you should have done more research on the area before agreeing…' He was now fuming, and it wasn't about the money. It was about this homeowner's sly attitude…so he reported him to Airbnb, potentially ruining his "only form of income" over a $10 scam…

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  • Is jeopardizing someone's sole income a fair reaction to losing out on an Alexander Hamilton? ($10) We're not quite sure. However, he needs to be taught a lesson about stealing from innocent people. As it's not about the amount, but about the moral of scamming someone who is giving you business. If they'd prefer, upping the price of their rental would be more strategic than giving themself a bad reputation for basically nothing. 

  • Man confronting someone on a busy street
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Caught Airbnb host charging for free parking, I might have jeopardized their only income

    They said yes if I paid them an extra $10. I accepted the request and paid via the Airbnb app because I was still under the impression that it was a parking spot that was either on the premises as stated or at least needed some kind of guest pass or residence permit.
    via hookandladder3
  • Otherwise why would I need to pay him? So I arrive and notice there is no driveway it's just on the street.
    via hookandladder3
  • I parked and then asked if I needed a pass or permit to park. The host said I didn't need anything.
    via hookandladder3
  • This made me realize it was a public street that was free to anyone anytime of day regardless of where they stayed.
    via hookandladder3
  • When I confronted the host about this in the Airbnb chat he said he had to charge me because he has charged other customers for the same thing and "it wouldn't be fair" if he let me park for free when others have paid him.
    via hookandladder3
  • So he admits to charging multiple customers to park in a free parking spot that he has no right to charge for.
    via hookandladder3
  • Cars parked on a street
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • He made an offer under false pretenses. When I confronted him further he said I would not get a refund for parking and that he "didn't force me to pay" that he "just offered a deal that you accepted" and that I should have "done more research or asked more questions" about the street his house is on and realized I didn't need to pay.
    via hookandladder3
  • This is an outright scam if you ask me. He shouldn't be allowed to charge his guests to park in a spot that is public and free and that he has no control over.
    via hookandladder3
  • And then he blames me the guest for not questioning his scam earlier all while admitting to doing it to an untold number of previous guests.
    via hookandladder3
  • I reported this to Airbnb and while they are "still investigating the incident" over a week later and I haven't gotten any money back yet, they must've contacted the host and threatened him with some type of suspension or expulsion because he messaged me again and said I ruined his only source of income.
    via hookandladder3
  • Part of me wanted to respond by saying he "should've done more research" on the consequences of the little scheme he was running, but part of me feels bad for potentially ruining his supposed only income over the $10 scam he got me with.
    via hookandladder3
  • AITAH??
    via hookandladder3
  • ThrowingAbundance I wonder what would happen if you told him you were preparing to file a complaint with the city against him? It is not legal for a private party to charge a fee to park on a public street. This would be placing his business license at risk, assuming he even has one or that operating an AirBnB is even legal there. (AirBnB rentals are not legal in my small city.)
    via ThrowingAbundance
  • OP hookandladder3 Very interesting suggestion! Worth looking into thanks
    via hookandladder3
  • Bubble Gum Crash NTA. He has clearly misrepresented the property by putting 'free parking' instead of 'street parking' and, honestly, if he's charging for the street parking then who knows what else he's doing.
    via BubbleGumCrash
  • Old man putting 5 euros into his wallet
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • vongdong NTA. He got what he deserved. Only income my ass.
    via vongdong
  • NTA Wise_Session_5370 Scammers like this need to be called out.
    via Wise_Session_5370
  • Accomplished-Wrap800 $10 here, $10 there. It adds up. Man may have scammed hundreds out of people. You aren't ruining his income, he did that himself. You're saving countless potential people from losing their hard earned money to this man's schemes.
    via Accomplished-Wrap800
  • Background_System726 NTA. If the scammer is booted, it's well deserved
    via Background_System726
  • NTA. jiuclaw The host ruined his only source of income. He's just an AH so he can't understand that. Thank you for reporting him, this guy is a conman.
    via jiuclaw
  • Salt_Course1 Well played, his ignorance bit him in the ass. I wouldn't feel bad, FAFO.
    via Salt_Course1
  • NTA trashmailaccount00 Scammers are getting away with way too much
    via trashmailaccount00

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street free-parking scammed homeowner Airbnb money
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