u/Desperate-Pie5084

I am hoping this stays anonymous. I really need some help/advice bc I am simply lost on what to do I have been subjected to such insane anxiety inducing scenarios I cannot even believe this is my life right now. Basically, I live in New York and I was so lucky enough to land a job three months post graduation from my masters degree and worked my ass off to save money since I was in middle school to be able to come live in the city as it has been my dream to pursue living there and work in the field I chose.

That being said, I worked so hard to get where I am today and I’ve been dealt a really crappy situation. My job is only temporary, so it required me to be working for only around three to four months in one place. It certainly doesn’t pay enough for living lavishly, far from it, but I found a lovely temporary spot in Brooklyn.

I reserved the Airbnb for temp housing two months in advance and was approved no issues. The day before my move in was supposed to happen, I get a notification that Airbnb support cancelled my housing due to a safety concern. I thought, that’s crazy okay it’s for my safety I can work with them to find somewhere else/a solution. No. Airbnb support refused to refund me until 15 business days later so my first month‘s rent was gone. What was the crazy part? There was no safety issue. The host owned another property in Connecticut whose house flooded due to heavy torrents of rain (thanks climate change) and had to evacuate the residents the week prior! So there was no safety with the place in Brooklyn at all and the host had tenants whose contracts were instantly violated due to Airbnb’s customer support mixing up the houses. When I spoke with the representative, they confirmed it verbally that they had it mixed up and the host was correct in it was safe. I thought okay whatever, I’ll just rebook same host no issue. But the support agent informed me that if I tried to rebook, the automation system would auto reject my application and basically “eat” another month’s rent for the next 15 business days! So I would’ve been out of double the rent!!!

My first day of work at this new job was the following Monday (I was supposed to move in on a Friday for extra wiggle room for moving stuff <im a big planner>) and realized I had nowhere to live bc of airbnb’s mistake. I asked them for assistance in finding somewhere else and for possibly helping me get my money back quicker bc as a recent grad, the amount of money I paid upfront was absolutely nothing to sneeze at. They refused and had me on hold on and off, hanging up on me constantly, all day long. By the time it was 1 am, I knew it was too late. (btw I was notified at 9 am of the cancellation) I would be homeless. I begged the place I was currently staying at (student housing) to allow me to stay two extra nights so I could figure it out and they charged me $300 and told me I had to check out before noon of the move out date (impossible for me because that day just so happened to land on my first day of work at my new job).

I was told by customer support the next day that I would be compensated $100 in a voucher toward the next place that could only be used one time on a new reservation and could not be used if the place was already booked (so it couldn’t go toward anything reserved). I finally found a place to live on the Saturday. It was $1k more per month but I was desperate and willing to pay my entire new month’s rent with my job and sacrifice eating/not using the subway for a while. Whatever, I’d crunch the numbers to find a way. The host approves me and then asks me to switch the dates for the reservation because she couldn’t get cleaners on the weekend. okay cool, I’ll pay for one extra night again at my current place. Then 24 hours goes by. No response. No approval. My coupon? Gone. The host? Never heard from again. And to top it all off? The host owned most of the housing in the city.

so I get back online with the support team. I’m on the phone with them for two hours. They finally talk to me like I’m a human being. I’m typically an incredibly nonchalant, calm person who hears out others first (people pleaser in all honesty). The support pretends not to hear me any time I bring up having an issue with not finding a place to live again. My friend, who only listened to thirty min of this whole charade, made me mute and yelled at me for not standing up for myself and being pissed off at the guy actively pretending like he couldn’t hear me, but that’s just not something in the moment that I had in me emotionally to do. I was calm as I unmuted, and my friend grabbed my phone and screamed at the guy for me. Seconds later the manager was talking to me and saying I could get a $395 voucher instead and helped me find this new place way farther of a commute, but better priced than the extra $1k place (still worse pricing than og place). I booked it instantly and realized that with Airbnb booking fees, it actually only took off half of their hidden fees that they couldn’t removed entirely on top of me paying the rent but whatever. I took it. The host approved. I was finally in the clear right?

wrong. The day of my move was right after my first day. I was so stressed I couldnt sleep properly and only got around four hours. I still didnmy absolute best and made it through the day. I packed all of my things and moved it all downstairs to make it easier on the moving guys helping me. Turns out they had hidden fees and a $120 move turned into a $250 move. They looked me dead in the eye and said meet you there. I was in disbelief, I was not informed anywhere that I would have to meet them there! I thought I could ride with them especially since it was so expensive! So he waved to me goodbye and drove off with all my things. I booked it for the subway and transferred twice. Somehow by sheer luck, and a shit ton of sprinting, I made it there within seconds that they did. I get up to my new apartment.

They charge me a late fee for having to move my things right after my first day of work. Fine whatever. I have a hard time paying it and Airbnb cancels all of my payments. What???? I am on with support again. I call my bank, it’s not them. I talk to the agent until finally finds the problem. Of fuckinf course it was their fault again. The movers break my bin. Whatever. The room is waaaaay tinier than anticipated or pictured. I actually barely fit all my things in (there’s no walking room at all). And the rooms??? Pigsty in the kitchen. absolutely filthy. They have policies, very strict mind you, about the state all residents have to leave the place in. It is so disgusting there’s a rancid smell. My assigned section of the fridge is filled with moldy, rotting foods left by previous tenants. No pantry space. it’s violating every single kitchen policy the host implemented.

I cry. I sit in my room alone and cry from the stress . the crying makes me thirsty. I go to the kitchen sink and there. Skittering around are three cockroaches. I scream. I book it to my room and start sobbing again. I have dealt in the past with god awful roommates, theft, breaking and entering, etc. but cockroaches?????? I dry heave. I have nothing in my system to throw up because oh yeah I don’t have any money for food. I spent it all on a place with cockroaches and filth and mess and stench. I took photos and sent them to the host asking him to please fix it. He doesnt respond. I contact customer support. Guess who’s suddenly a ghost now??? So here I am now. Crying in my room. Alone. Terrified beyond belief that a roach is going to find its way into my bed while I sleep. That it’s going to get into my room and my things. I can’t take it anymore I’m so exhausted and mentally drained and cant stop crying. What do I do??? I know I should go back and take pics of the cockroaches but every time I step toward the door I cannot stop shaking violently and crying. I have severe trauma from cockroaches from when I was a kid and I’m trying to get the courage but I simply cannot go back out there. Please some advice or legal advice on what I can do?? I have pics of the kitchen policy mess violations. What even can I do. I am so tired of being shit on.