Host Referral Payment Discrepancy

[Keisha62]

Hello Everyone,

I referred a host and a payment of $280 was shown processed to my account, but I never received it. When I called customer service, it was explained to me that the payment should be a credit for booking a listing. However it show that it was sent to my bank account listed as my payout method.  I never received the payment at all. The customer service representative asked me to book a random listing and they’ll apply the credit to the random listing. However, Air Bnb terms read that, I’m supposed to get a CASH PAYMENT. 

after pointing out the discrepancy in the terms versus what the representative was telling me (non of what aligned with what’s in writing) she shared a screenshot stating that the Host Referral Program is suspended due to Covid19. I’m finding that AirBnb is not upholding their own terms and conditions, and this can possibly have an impact on my stock investments in AirBnb as it poses a legal problem, and a bold lack of integrity.

My question is, what does Covid 19 have to do with referring a host?  What is the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on me getting the money as promised. Are there others having this experience, and how are you handling it?

[Emiel1 · Accepted solution]

@Keisha62 

Travel credits are never paid out, it can only be used as credit to book a reservation.

Can you provide screen shot of the terms saying it will be paid out  ?

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/160/how-do-coupons-work

[Tj96]

Program is 100% a scam 

[Tj96]

Waiting for approval on 3 of my referrals! One person tells me it’s gonna take 48-72 hours for it to get approved! Other says someone is currently working on it and I will get a call (never did) another said it’s gonna take 3 months to get paid but on my side it shows 15 days it’s a mess and Airbnb doesn’t have its best interest in paying you or else every step besides the payout part would be hard and NOBODY in customer service knows what’s going on but it’s not there fault it’s the head people who are doing this not the representatives.

[Kristina389]

I’m in Australia and ABB are trying to use every excuse under the sun not to pay me under the host referral program. They are actually making up terms and conditions that don’t exist. Then don’t want to send me a copy cause they know they’ve made it up! Highly illegal and unethical. I’m going to see what legal action I can take. Has anyone explore this option? 

[Bhumika]

Hi @Kristina389 ,

I found some information related to referral payments to help you dig in more info in which cases a referral would be paid: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1129

I have also made sure to feedback to the team regarding your concern if they can clarify it for you.

Can’t find what you’re searching for? start a conversation

[Kristina389]

Hi Bhumika

i had already read those terms and conditions you sent me a link to. The problem is the 2 staff I am speaking to at ABB have made up additional terms and conditions and saying I don’t satisfy. They are telling me I need to be in a certain zone in Australia. Yet there is nothing in the terms and conditions that says that. I have been speaking with a Supervisor named Darwin and basically he is lying to me about the program to find an excuse not to pay. Absolutely disgusting behaviour from ABB and by the look of this thread I’m not the first host to have this experience. I’m going to get legal advice and see what I can do to get paid. Will never again refer anyone to ABB and this is the kind of behaviour that makes hosts leave the ABB platform. I’m going to list on other booking platforms now and take my business elsewhere. 

[Kristina389]

I also asked Darwin multiple times to give me written evidence of this condition  he says exists but he won’t send it to me. Probably because it doesn’t exist! 

[Kristina389]

Did you ever get paid? 

[Keisha62]

[Keisha62]

I’ve attached the screenshot above. 

[Keisha62]

@Emiel1 Here is the screenshot you requested. The subject is referring a host. I’m not sure of the relevance of an article about coupons and how this would help me. Please read my post again and relate it to my screenshot for better understanding of what I am communicating. 

[Keisha62]

@Emiel1 

[Elizabeth2448]

@Keisha62 I have same issue. Did you find a resolution?

[Cheyenne55]

Same thing here, every time I opened my app I see the referral program for $720 and the new host will get $40.00 after they complete their "first qualifying reservation". I refer my friend Karin back in Feb-March back and  I only got $96 dollars. When I called airbnb and asked them why I got $96 instead of $720. they said it was never such an amount. I had to send the screen shot which as of this day is still on for $ 720. They told me all kind  of excuses like the promotion is not on. The amount of days were not enough and that the reservation was not a qualifying reservation and the $96 were a mistake. I still dont get the $720. 

The whole program is about to have someone new to become a host and that is what I did.