Altering a reservation

[Renda1230]

I’m hoping someone can help me. We have a reservation for October that we want to move to September.  The new dates are open on the website. The property is managed by a management company. They are refusing our request to change our dates. We are willing to pay the same price even though the new week is cheaper but they are not budging. I think they are trying to steal the 10,000$ deposit. What can we do ? 

[Emiel1]

@Renda1230 

A host is not obliged to accept a change request.

A 10,000$ deposit ?

Where is this deposit made or mentioned ?

[Renda1230]

You are required to pay 50% to secure your reservation.  We want to go a month earlier now ( September ) there seems to be no policies for altering a date. This should not fall under cancellation since we are not canceling. 

[Mikki0]

@Renda1230 

Instead of changing, just cancel the October and rebook for September. Problem with changes is that it invalidates the original bookings cancellation policy. Therefore, hosts don't like to do it. 

[Renda1230]

We would lose 10,000$. If it was a small amount we wouldn’t care 

[Lorna170]

@Renda1230  You went on Airbnb and paid more than $20k for a rental property?  O M G. Money to burn.  Why did you not go through a reputable realtor?   If you have paid 50% down, and the company that you have rented from refuses to change the booking, contact your credit card company.  Airbnb is just an advertising venue, and they are not going to help you.

[Renda1230]

We have never had an issue and have never had to change our dates. I didn’t even know that this was a thing ! I don’t even know how it’s legal especially when they have nothing in their policies about altering dates. This is supposed to be an amazing family trip and has turned into a nightmare. 

We may have to go the credit card route and then would have to find a new house….. 🤦‍♀️ 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Renda1230 I am afraid @Lorna170 's advice is just wrong. Going to your credit card company may get a temporary refund but it will get reversed. The reality is you formed a contract with the host and now one party wants to change the contract and the other doesn't. I am very unimpressed with the host but they are within their rights to refuse a date change. 

It is often the case that hosting companies rather than individuals are less fair to guests.

I am wondering if the host believes that by allowing a date change they will also be giving you a 48hr free of charge cancellation opportunity. Perhaps check with Airbnb to see if this is the case (I don't think it is post the Covid changes Airbnb made where they track to the original booking date). Perhaps ask the host if this is their concern?

[Mark116]

@Renda1230   The cancellation and change policies are in the Terms of Service you agreed to, I'm sure you simply never read them in detail.  The host is not obligated to let you change the dates, although I'm not sure why this host won't agree.

Your options seem to be to cancel the reservation and get refunded based on whatever the cancellation policy is, or stick to your original dates.

[Renda1230]

Altering dates is not cancelling. So yes we did read the cancellation policy. 

so if we were cancelling I get them taking the money. 

Your option costs 10,000$. So your comment is not helpful since you just restated everything i asked 

[Mark116]

@Renda1230  My answer may not be helpful, but I am fairly certain it is correct. 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/913/changing-a-reservation-for-a-place-to-stay#:~:text=Whether%2....

[Renda1230]

Thanks to everyone who answered!! We were able to get them to move it but it wasn’t easy! 

Thank you !