A couple of travelers who couldn’t cancel an Airbnb reservation reportedly retaliated against the owner of a Seoul villa by leaving lights, electronics and faucets on for 25 days.
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In all, the Chinese couple reportedly wasted more than 120,000 liters of water during their stay to teach the owner a lesson after he refused to cancel their reservation, the South Morning China Post reported on Monday.
The couple reportedly attempted to cancel their stay, which had already been booked and paid for for three and a half weeks, upon realizing the villa was in the outer suburbs of the capital rather than downtown Seoul.
But instead of resolving the situation with Airbnb or maintaining their reservation, the couple would have preferred to turn on every light, electronic device, faucet, and gas valve they could find in the home.
According to a Hong Kong media report, the two travelers did not stay at the villa, preferring to return every 3-4 days to ensure their plan was still being carried out.
Ultimately, it was the gas company that contacted the owner to inform them of a significant increase in their gas usage as they feared a leak.
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In total, the two people’s crossing would have cost $1,570, which translates to more than $2,100 in water, gas and electric bills.
While Airbnb covers its guests for property or property damage, among other things, the company doesn’t cover utility bills, she told The Independent. The owner would have been asked to settle the situation directly with the travelers, but they had already left the country.