Airbnb holding on to a payment?

[Kim117]

Hi, 

I am curious to know if anybody has had an issue with Airbnb trying to keep a payment by not paying either the host or the guest. I am the host, a guest of mine cancelled their reservation the day they were due to arrive. They said it was due to extenuating circumstences (death of family member). I got a message from Airbnb saying that they were reviewing the case and thinking of giving a full refund (Airbnb can do this without my permission if it is due to extreme cirumstances). As I never received payment I assumed that they had given a full refund. But then I contacted the guest and she has not had her money refunded. Airbnb says the case is closed.

Looks like Airbnb are trying to keep the money....

[C-C0]

@Kim0, whatever you do, don't refund the guest yourself.

[Eric28]

AirBnB forced me to refund a payment for a guest that cancelled at the last minute, too. It sounds like forced refunds are a policy of theirs for last minute cancellations. Apparently all a guest needs to do is claim "extenuating circumstances" to get around AirBnB's cancellation and then refund policies. Back to HomeAway/VRBO...