Booking.com Complaint About Rubchaka Flat
I am writing regarding my December 2024 Booking.com reservation for 30 days at the property “Rubchaka” in Lviv, Ukraine, booked under the name Mariana. Although the reservation was later shown as cancelled on Booking.com, a payment was still taken to a private card, which already made the situation unclear and worrying. When I arrived at the flat, it looked completely different from the photos on Booking.com. The apartment was old, in poor condition and felt unsafe. The listing also stated that the property was near the bus station, but in reality it was about a 20-minute distance, which was misleading. Inside the apartment there was a strong smell of gas, suggesting a gas leak. The balcony doors had been literally bolted and screwed to the floor so they could not be opened, and the window in the room was also fixed shut with additional bolts and screws. The latch to open the balcony door was placed on the outside rather than inside, even though the flat is on the second floor, which raised serious safety and security concerns. The furniture and kitchen were very old, the elevator did not reach that floor, and the corridor and surroundings were very dark in the evening. Because of these conditions and feeling unsafe, I left the property before the end of my booking. I am very concerned that this flat is still being offered on Booking.com as it looked criminal and there were safety risks and the large difference between the listing and reality. I kindly request that Booking.com urgently investigate this listing, verify the safety and legality of the property, and take appropriate action so that other guests are not put at risk or misled in the way I was.