When faced with a refusal from Airbnb to cancel their booking, a Chinese couple took their grievance to an extreme level, choosing a form of revenge that could easily be dubbed as childish, yet costly.
A Plan of Petty Proportions
The couple, after being denied a cancellation for their Seoul apartment reservation, traveled to the South Korean capital not to enjoy their stay, but to enact a petty revenge. According to a report by the South Morning China Post, their retaliation involved visiting the apartment just to turn on all the taps, leave the lights and electronic devices running, and even leave the gas on.
The Cost of Revenge
To ensure their plan was carried out thoroughly, the couple returned to the apartment every three days. Their actions led to an enormous waste of over 120,000 liters of water and racked up a bill amounting to $1,570 (approximately 1430 euros) for gas, water, and electricity combined.
The gas company, suspecting a gas leak due to the unusual spike in usage, uncovered the couple’s vengeful act. Interestingly, Airbnb’s policy does not cover public utility bills, leaving the apartment owner to deal with the aftermath and attempt to settle the hefty fees directly with the couple, who had by then left the country.
A Reflection on Revenge
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how anger and a desire for retribution can lead to wasteful and harmful actions. While the couple may have felt momentarily satisfied with their revenge, the environmental and financial repercussions of their decision are far-reaching. Such stories underscore the importance of resolving disputes amicably and responsibly, especially in today’s interconnected and resource-conscious world.
