AirBnB trying to charge me for damage

All I have to add was I had a crappy apartment in Trastevere with shady management also.

Your approach will get you banned from Airbnb, is that what you want?

Edit: I finally had time to read the whole post. Wow.
I hope some of the Italian posters can help you because this is way beyond my competence. There are specific procedures that need to be to be followed.

As a European resident, at least in France and Italy, vyep keys are gold and expensive. 500 to open a locked door is normal plus 150 and up for the key. They offered to pay half. Not many places would. It is very complicated in these countries to have keys made. We have to prove ownership of the apartment or designation.

An emergency locksmith does cost an absolute fortune but I’d still dispute the charge with Airbnb. Operators have mandatory insurance through Airbnb but as I understand it they have to attempt to claim damages from guests before they can claim on the insurance.

So I’d reply saying you don’t intend to pay and suggest they take it up with their insurance.

"You had to turn the key around multiple times."

This is standard for locks in many countries, including my own. The fee seems about right for an urgent job. You should have just accepted their offer to pay half. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's a scam.

I'm an Australian, and the last time I got a locksmith was years ago in Australia, and it was $500 to open a door. It took him five minutes.

This is such a good description of why I avoid Airbnb.

Key stuck in door.
Locksmith arrives. Who called him?
Property worker shows up on Vespa. Who called him? And he is not familiar with door?
You traveling for two days. So, is this the first time encounter with the door?
They are talking very fast. How had you communicated with the locksmith about the pricing? And why?
Who is “they” as in they will not honor the amount the host mentioned? The property had already offered to pay half.
Who it “they”, “host”, and “property”. Are they the same?

but it had no windows, no natural light, no fire exit, little hot water, almost no ventilation,

Did the listing not have photos of the unit? Were they accurate?

Why did you rent the place given all the 'greedy tell signs'

barely a tiny crack in the bathroom area and you had to hold a button for a few seconds to make it work

What does this mean?

AirBnB then sends me a bill for $629!!!

As you rented through airbnb, there is a contractual relationship. You will need to read all the fine print to determine your rights and obligations, and method of resolution.

Could airbnb report this to the credit agencies as an unpaid/defaulted debt? Any answer I could make would be a 'guess'.

I've got a metal gate on my entry door with a round pointed key that turns and turns and turns. I leant the place to a friend. He forced the key in upside down and the "Key ended up getting stuck in the door". Funny how keys do that. Cost almost 100€ to get a locksmith out at 8pm (drilled it out). I bought the replacement and installed it. Another 20€.

No point, just saying.

Well.. just for clarification. it was a 2 piece iron door with no handles, key you had to turn round and round. The key did appear a little bent. What happened was, temp travel partner arrived that day. I left the Vatican to go meet her. I was tired. For whatever reason I left the key in the other side of the door when we were outside and it lightly clicked shut, so we were stuck.
So.. yeah. Not good on my part.

1. It is the most ridiculous door I have seen in my life. I looked all around Rome, at neighbors, around France and Switzerland, nothing like it. Basic apartment doors everywhere most likely will have a "door handle" and not lock from "both sides automatically" any time it lightly closes.
   The door itself is so ReDonKulous! that part is irritating. They should not have that door in the first place.
   I feel like like I'm paying to upgrade their property. They have a better lock, does not lock from both sides now, they still need a new door.

2. The price kept changing, it was 275-375 in person. Early AirBnB emails I think it was 489, then eventually it became and stayed $629. That is the major reason I do not just pay it, if there were a consistency, I would.

I would pay $275 now but I feel like taking one of those usually eh prideful stands & say forget it, when it comes to the full balance they are asking for.

To answer questions..
I did not call the locksmith. I called the property host, he checked people in and handled maintenance. it seemed like he was running around to different properties constantly fixing their issues. He called the locksmith,
I should have taken a picture when the locksmith showed me his calculation, my fault (we were using voice translate for a few mins until host rep showed up.) I should have been more involved after he broke the lock, but I went inside and decided to let them talk and work it out.

Feels like they pretty much doubled the invoice on me, perhaps that is my big issue as I type this out.

Other Q's
Greedy tell signs.. well I did not know that until you book and have check in procedures and instructions.
No self check in, he had to meet you, so if it was at a later hour, after 10 and after midnight they charged more money. I arrived at a normal time.
In their description I think a basic key replacement it says is $100 which I'm sure they have extras, Basic making a copy of a key, feels like profit. They also did have a blurb about keys and locksmiths saying it can cost between 250 and 500... then it contradicts itself and says a locksmith fee is $200.
But I mean.. it is written to me like... is THIS is a common occurrence?!?
Get a new door!

I meant there were no windows and ventilation. In the bathroom section, you held a button and a section opened slightly into the alley letting shower steam out or air in, but that was it.

I was having a great time before and after this. The place had such a cool location it would have been fine... but yes, after this experience and getting all emo about it... it just made me think. AirBnB verifies property owner identities.. appears they do not inspect properties, seems like it would not be a rentable space.
Just a thought, I'm not sure or certain.

Thanks for taking the time to read. I'm pretty surprised how active these forums are.

But yeah. That is where I am at.