Robert,
I may have missed a detail since you have multiple posts. While I agree with your thoughts about the Airbnb violation (requiring me to opt out of a change they want to make to my listings), and the fact that they make some changes without announcement (I don't remember when but they eliminated the Covid 100% refund sometime in 2021, I then removed all my Covid specific requirements in my listings, then for a short period Airbnb reinstated the Covid 100% refund without a specific notification and in early 2022 someone cancelled 4 days in advance for a full refund without having to provide any proof of their Covid), you do not appear to understand the Strict cancellation policy.
Your comment is not consistent with the Strict cancellation policy" "...Now I have a guest letting me know he can not make the second payment... I thought airbnb collected the money up front??? Is there a new setting that Im missing? Shouldn't this be a part of 'strict' policy? Money up front, no refunds. ..."
If the guest cancels less than 48 hours after booking, they can cancell for full refund. This is modified for reservations made less than 7 or 14 days before arrival.
If the gust cancels after the 48 hours but before 7 days? They get a 50% refund, although Airbnb keeps all of their fee. I believe your example occurred during this period because I think Airbnb allows split payments where the final payment is due a month prior to arrival... so there was no need for Airbnb to collect 100% since you would only receive 50% at the time of cancellation.
- Again, the cancellation is different if the reservation was made less than 7 or 14 days prior to arrival... and in that case Airbnb would have collected 100% of the payment.
Also your use of the requirement "no refunds" isn't accurate for the Strict cancellation policy... Guests only lose 50% plus all the Airbnb fee normally, except when 7? days from checkin where they forfeit everything.