Having used “instant book” online my host then requested double the rate. I refused and was refunded the sum paid plus given a 10% discount on my next Airbnb booking. I made another booking immediately and paid £673… relatively onerous cancellation terms for me. Five months later that host then requested double the rate paid. I refused, and the host cancelled. Such hosts suffer a modest cost penalty imposed by Airbnb and that particular period booked for that property can no longer be booked through Airbnb. The guest receives a full refund and a 10% discount on their next booking. This is totally inadequate compensation for wrecked travel plans so long after the initial booking. Why does Airbnb not provide some financial compensation for holding a good chunk of money for so long? I have unsuccessfully sought some financial redress from Airbnb but keep getting the same standard responses. Airheads! Potential bookers: be aware of what might lay ahead. Hosts might cancel late in the day if they get a better offer.
Tag Archives: airbnb host scam
Airbnb Warning About Getting Refunds
Yet another cancellation story but also a warning to do things in the right order. I booked a three-bedroom apartment in Soho, New York City run by a lady called ‘Clodagh’. A month after the booking was accepted I received a message from her saying she had to cancel the booking. But Airbnb still showed the listing as valid. Only after I sent her a message telling her to handle the cancellation properly from her end did I receive an email from Airbnb. It offered me a refund or to use the money I’d paid, plus a 10% credit, on another property. I’d already booked another apartment, with great difficulty as it was getting close to the dates, so I chose the refund. I believe she sent me the cancellation message expecting that I would then request a refund and the cancellation would then have been instigated by me and I’d have probably lost my money under the VERY STRICT cancellation policy imposed on guests ONLY. If you receive a cancellation message directly from a host, wait until you receive a message from Airbnb before you do anything. I’m not going to use Airbnb again until they offer some kind of security for booking or sufficient compensation to cover hotels for the cancelled period.
AIRBNB IS NOT A RELIABLE WAY OF TRAVELING AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL!
Host Scam
I have just experienced a nightmare on Airbnb. I had never used them before and was very impressed by the dubai properties they had listed. We found one we liked and messaged the host, while doing so we also asked about the possibility of a childs cot being provided. We late received a message with a telephone number to call to arrange this. We called the host who was called Melissa {who is not a host at all but a guest who had used airbnb earlier in the year and who’s profile had been hacked and used as a host !!!)
10 minutes after speaking to the host we received a perfect abnb e-mail confirming our reservation including dates, booking reference, time, guarantee etc etc. Also provided were payment details by bank transfer which had to made within 48hrs to secure and finalise the booking. I was unaware so therefore sent the cash.The next day i contacted abnb to check funds arrival, and guess what ??? thats right, abnb knew nothing about it !!!!! goodbye £1800
I contacted my bank to try & reverse the wire, and while they are investigating the fraud i doubt i will ever see the money again.
I have contacted airbnb every day now of 3 days and am still awaiting an explanation from them.
I some how think i won’t be taking my family on holiday this year !!!
MY ADVICE ON AIRBNB….. AVOID THEM LIKE A RABID DOG !!!
If any body does have any advice i would be grateful to hear you thoughts