Unfair Host Cancellation Penalty

[Jillian115]

Last year, I had a troublesome guest and said I would never host her again in the review process. She recently requested a stay at my property again. (I live in a small town, and she has family here). I didn't respond to her request. It upset me that she could request the first place since I told Airbnb I would not host her again. Anyway, long story short, because I didn't respond, the dates remained blocked. When I unblocked them, I got penalized for a cancelation. I really hate how unfair Airbnb can be to hosts.

[Colleen253]

"If Airbnb blocked the dates, you wouldn't be able to unblock them". 

When you let a request expire, Airbnb automatically keeps the dates blocked. You can unblock them yourself. 

Expired requests

If the request expires, the dates remain blocked on your calendar, so you’ll have to open them back up if you decide you can accommodate them. 

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/article/28/respond-to-a-request?locale=en&_set_bev_on_new_domain=16135133...

[Dennise-Ann0]

This year I have had several guest that were truly terrible and stated I would not host them again.  I thought that made it so they can't booked my cabin.  How is it that she is able to book your listing?  This is concerning. I don't understand why Airbnb makes it so hard for the host to decline requests. 

[Colleen253]

"I don't understand why Airbnb makes it so hard for the host to decline requests". 

@Dennise-Ann0 Because Airbnb doesn't want us to decline requests. They want bookings. At any and all cost. They don't concern themselves with our pain points.

[Kelly251]

Can you not decline the request as it is not the right fit?

[Christine615]

Guests marked with "would not host again" aren't allowed to instant book anyone. And whether or not you decline or not, you shouldn't have been blocked so something isn't working. If you have a problem guest and you are worried about cancelling, then go manually block one of the dates in which case the issue is moot because they'll get notified that the reservation is not possible. Otherwise I'm told some hosts decline using a single period (literally a punctuation mark). Otherwise, just say "declined." It's not like the bots actually read the reason. 

I had someone who asked to break the house rules and bring an extra person. I told him I didn't think I could do that but wanted more information first. In the meantime someone else booked my space (i.e. it wasn't blocked of the first person). That made the reservation "not possible." But the braintrust still shows his wanting to book my place a month later.

Assume it's all automation and keep escalating until you get a customer service person who has some of their wits about them to get this fixed.