UPDATE — October 20, 2026: Airbnb banned my account, citing harassment and threats. It said it could not conclude that the host violated its camera policy. In my view, Airbnb is punishing me for raising the camera concern. Read Airbnb’s full message.

UPDATE — October 11, 2026: Airbnb Support canceled my reservation and refunded me. The matter is now resolved. As far as I know, the host was not involved, but I cannot confirm that. It is possible he would eventually have refunded me as promised.

Do not stay at No. 40, Shengli Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, through Airbnb.

Airbnb listing photo of the room, showing the bed and black leather sofa.

Hsinchu Airbnb — A guest review. Reservation: October 11–15, 2026.

Sequence of events

  1. After booking, I received instructions saying guest numbers would be verified by camera.
  2. I asked where the camera was and requested a full refund before check-in.
  3. Joe said there was a surveillance camera in the shared kitchen.
  4. He later denied there were cameras at this property, saying the instructions referred to another listing. He initially refused my refund request.
  5. I sent angry messages, said I would leave a negative review and publish the exchange, and said I would make sure he lost money.
  6. Joe acknowledged copying the wrong instructions, apologized, and offered to help request a full refund.
  7. I created this website to document the exchange.
  8. Airbnb Support canceled the reservation and refunded me.
  9. Airbnb later banned my account, citing harassment and threats. It said it could not conclude that the host violated its camera policy.

I do not trust this host. Joe did not disclose cameras in the listing. He only mentioned them after I booked. When I asked where they were, he changed his story multiple times.

I told Joe that cameras must be disclosed before booking and that I no longer trusted him or wanted to stay. He initially refused my request for a full refund.

I cannot confirm whether any cameras were physically present. The host's contradictory statements broke my trust. I recommend staying somewhere else.

Read the messages below. Listing and host. Full screenshot record.

What happened

1. Cameras were not disclosed in the listing. Then the host changed his explanation.

The listing I booked did not disclose any cameras. Only after booking did the host send instructions saying extra guests would be verified by camera.

Airbnb's policy: Indoor security cameras are prohibited in home listings, including shared indoor areas. Permitted exterior cameras and their locations must be disclosed before booking. Read Airbnb's camera policy. The messages below do not establish whether any cameras were actually installed.

These are three different statements. I was supposed to trust the last one and continue with the booking.

Combined message excerpts: camera verification instructions, Joe's kitchen-camera explanation, and Joe's later statement that there are no cameras.

Excerpts from screenshots 5, 10, and 14. Click the image to open it.

2. I requested a full refund. Joe initially refused.

I requested a 100% refund at 1:16 PM. I told Joe that cameras must be disclosed before booking, that his messages had broken my trust, and that I no longer wanted to stay.

At 1:58 PM, Joe said cancellations made less than five days before check-in or on the day of check-in are not accepted. He relied on his cancellation policy to refuse my request.

But I requested cancellation within 30 minutes of him telling me about the cameras.

I should not have to absorb the cost of the host's inaccurate information.

Respecting your guests' privacy is a basic expectation. Why should I have to beg for my money back after his mistake? Ridiculous.

He also said he would respond publicly if I left a negative review he considered untrue.

Combined excerpts from Joe's initial cancellation refusal and his response about negative reviews.

Excerpts from screenshots 16 and 17. The overlap between captures is preserved.

3. Joe admitted the mistake and offered refund assistance.

At 2:01 PM, I sent back a screenshot of his own camera instructions. He had already told me there was a camera in the common kitchen. His later denial did not erase those statements or restore my trust.

At 2:09 PM, Joe admitted he had copied instructions from another property with cameras. He apologized and offered to help request a full refund through Airbnb.

Accurate listing details and messages are his responsibility. I should not have to argue for a refund over his mistake.

Airbnb Support subsequently canceled my reservation and refunded me. The matter is now resolved. I do not know whether Joe contributed to that outcome.

Joe apologizes for a copied-template error, offers to assist with requesting a full refund, and says he will ask Airbnb how to handle it.

Excerpts from screenshots 24 and 25.

The screenshots do not prove whether a camera was physically present.

Conclusion

The main issue for me is honesty. The listing had no camera disclosure. Joe mentioned cameras after I booked, then gave contradictory explanations when I asked about them.

I believe a host should take responsibility for inaccurate information. I should not have to bear the cost of his mistake or argue for a refund after losing trust in the accommodation.

I cannot speak to how he acts in other circumstances. This is my own experience with Joe, and I believe I have a responsibility to share what happened so other guests can make informed choices.

Joe acknowledged the mistake and promised I would incur no losses. Airbnb Support subsequently canceled the reservation and refunded me, resolving the matter. It is possible Joe would eventually have refunded me as promised. The contradictory camera information still broke my trust. Based on my experience, I recommend staying somewhere else.

The listing and host

Listing: Home in East District / Train Station Hotel Style Bedroom. View the Airbnb listing.

Address: No. 40, Shengli Road, East District, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan.

The address comes from the reservation and host's check-in instructions. Address screenshot.

Joe — host

Joe's Airbnb profile image: a hand holding a red flower.

Joe sent the replies quoted above. This is the image displayed on his Airbnb profile. Profile screenshot.

Full screenshot record

The supplied captures are grouped into seven panels. Two repeated captures and the co-host profile were omitted, leaving 36 screenshots. My name, profile picture, and personal background are redacted, along with floor and unit details, co-host identifiers, door and lockbox codes, and the Wi-Fi password. The conversation remains in its original order, including my angry messages and the host's later correction.

The three images above are cropped message excerpts. These links open the complete combined screenshots:

  1. Booking and check-in instructions — screenshots 1–7
  2. Camera concern and first refund request — screenshots 8–12
  3. Changed explanation and cancellation refusal — screenshots 13–17
  4. My challenge and angry messages — screenshots 18, 19, 22, 23
  5. Admission and offer to help request a refund — screenshots 24–25
  6. Reservation, address, and host profile — screenshots 20, 21, 26, 29
  7. Listing photos — screenshots 31–39

The co-host profile in screenshot 27 is omitted. Screenshot 28 repeats profile content in 29; screenshot 30 repeats the conversation in 25. Times above are those shown in the conversation. Airbnb's interface shows “Translation on.” The screenshots do not include the pre-booking listing description or the later cancellation and refund by Airbnb Support.

This is my personal review. It is not affiliated with Airbnb.