3% conversion fee on AirBnB booking

[Arya2]

Hi

My credit card statement showed that I was charged more than my Airbnb receipt. My bank and credit card statements did not show up additional charges- so I contacted AirBnB, first on phone which continued on email.

And the customer care maintained vehemently (both on phone conversation and email) the 3% conversion fee, charged by Airbnb is already included in the receipt that AirBnb provided. Always denied that the 3% was charged on the total booking.

Now, after I read this community, I realise that Airbnb has confirmed before to other customers that the 3% conversion fee has been charged on top of the total amount, and is not shown in the billing receipt. And all the while, they kept asking me to check with my credit card provider, when I have the split bank statement(got on request) to prove that credit card/bank didnt charge anything extra. What a shame and scam !

On their website, its not clearly mentioned that the 3% fees is charged extra, and that this 3% is not shown in the booking. Having Airbnb confirming on writing(in email) to me, that the 3% conversion fee is included in the billing receipt, while charging it on top of the receipt amount is so illegal and moving to consumer court seems the only option. If this is a problem of cost covering at your side, you should have given the guests the opportunity to pay in the local currency of where host resides.

Arya

[Amy-and--Ham0]

Hi Ham,
Hope you both are well? I just have a quick question, I paid for our 8 nights stay on the 25th September for the amount of $3,592.96 which I thought was the total for the accommodation but another $107.79 was taken out of our account for an international fee from Air BnB. I wasn’t aware that there would be an extra charge, do you know about the extra charge? And why would there be an international fee when you guys live in Australia? I’ve contacted the bank and they’ve looked into it, there explanation was that the owners of the property must have an international bank account and thats why we have been charged the extra money. Not sure if this is true or not but they are looking into further for me.. Can you please let me know what you think. 
Regards Colleen 

[Amy-and--Ham0]

Why do Airbnb charge our guests an international bank fee when they booked in aust and paid with an aust visa. They have been charged over $107 dollars which to me feels like s money grab. Same country

[Arya2]

S107 on total amount is a painful 3% and its so surprising to see AirBnB charging a 3% conversion fee for even the same currency booking. Its a new low for them and sounds definitely illegal !!

On my side- in my email interactions, initially AirBnB claimed that the 3% conversion fees was already part of the billing amount. When I showed them discussion forums in this community, where guests had affirmation from Airbnb that the 3% conversion fee is charged extra, they're absolutely mum on their responses about the claim now. I've asked them repeatedly to provide their right policy- whether the 3% conversion fee is part of the billing amount (as they vehemently claimed initially) or on top of the billing amount ( as I found out from this forum, however still not clearly mentioned in Airbnb website, as to whether its part of the billing amount or charged extra), and they are just ignoring my emails.

Does anyone knows about any litigation againt Airbnb regarding these hidden charges ? I would like to pursue in similar angle.

Arya

[Arya2]

I've posted three replies to this message,  condemning this shameful and new low of 3% conversion fee of airBnB. Interesting enough, all three of them gets immediately deleted ! Where's the fairplay, forum admins ?

I show the following image of the posted reply, which is not present here.

[Salvatore119]

It seems now that between host fee, service fee and smartly hidden 3% convertion fee guests will end up paying 25% on top of your payout.

infact for your to receive 100, guest will have to pay 125.

Just otragious!

[Al59]

I live in the Uk and have a property in Spain rented on AirbnB.

I receive payments in £’s into a Uk Bank

When Uk guests book, in £’s, they are being charged the normal Service Fee PLUS another amount which has been rolled into and added to the rental amount....this xtra amount calculates as...3%  ! 

This 3% is NOT itemised. 

When I query with Support, they say it’s the Currency Conversion Charge !.....Uk Guest, Uk host , all in £’s....???

I can not get any sense from Support, even had one reply saying it was the ‘Bank charge’ ....what Bank ? ?? 

Clearly Airbnb have effectively increased their Service Charge by stealth.