Bad experience with Airbnb and Umdloti Prime Beach apartment

Airbnb Complaint After a bitter experience with Airbnb, I feel I must report on our unfortunate experience. In January 2018, we came across and booked the Umdloti Prime Beach Apartment, for the period 23 December 2018 to 6 January 2019. We paid a 50% deposit of the total cost to Airbnb and was notified that the final debit would be presented for payment to my account 10 December 2018. During the year I had ongoing contact with the Host through the Airbnb website, as they require you to do. The last communication I had with the Host was on 4 December when she agreed to assist us in purchasing some fresh seafood for Christmas and keep in it her Freezer, until our arrival on 23 December. On 18 December I accessed the website for a final check, and to my utter shock and disbelief found that my booking had been cancelled and that “Part” of my 50% deposit paid in January 2018, had been credited back to my account. After trying to contact the Host, as well as Airbnb, I was informed that their 10 Dec debit to my account was rejected! This was clearly some unexplained glitch on their side, but they did not seem interested in investigating the matter at all. I found it astounding that neither the Host nor Airbnb tried to contact me personally via my landline or mobile number to inform me of the situation, before summarily cancelling my booking. Had I been informed, I would certainly have corrected the matter with immediate effect. We had booked fights, as well as Car rental for that period, and my kids were meant to join us for Xmas and I certainly had no motivation whatsoever to cancel my accommodation! Airbnb, as well as the Host, claim to have sent emails to me, which is yet to arrive in my Inbox. I was severely traumatised and embarrassed by this event and I will never use Airbnb again and would not recommend this Host to anybody!