Cancellation & review

[Jay492]

So, basically I wanted to start a thread for opinion, thoughts and the best process for ourselves in a situation.

We dont want to disclose any information as I wouldnt want to ruin someones reputation or anything of the sort.

Anyway, Myself and my partner booked an airbnb apartment in Europe as we were meant to travel for a holiday. Unfortunately we had to cancel our plans and will no longer will be travelling.

We booked the apartment one evening late at night but then realized we could no longer travel the next morning, cancelling about 9 hours after booking. We then couldnt get a full refund as it was just under the 30 days strict policy, giving the host only 27 days to find another guest. This was totally understandable and Airbnb advised us to request from the host. The host then stated that he would be more than happy to refund us the money as soon as someone booked the property, we thanked him and waited.

The property then got booked as we checked the availability and we decided to ask for the refund when he had time, the owner then decided to go back on what had been said, being quite rude in the process. 

It looks like we wont get our refund unfortunately but we are not even able to write a review for what we have experienced?

Any thoughts?

[Emiel1]

@Jay492 

If the conversation with the host is in the Airbnb message sytem, you could contact Airbnb for advice.

Although the host is not obliged to any refund considering the cancellation policy, there is some "keeping your promises" issue in the conversation with the host.

Contact Airbnb - Community Guide [Updated]

Hope this helps,

Emiel

[Jay492]

Yes it was all done through the airbnb messaging system. I will re-contact Airbnb for advice.

Thanks for your help Emiel

[Mark116]

@Jay492   The host should have kept his word and given you the refund, and I am surprised that he not only changed his mind but was rude.  If you have this captured on the airbnb platform where he says he will refund you if he can rebook you might recontact airbnb and get them to lean on him a bit to do what he said.

I am personally opposed to guests who cancel and don't ever arrive at the property being able to do reviews under the current system, so I can 't agree there.

[Jay492]

Ye I plan on re-contacting Airbnb when I get a chance, maybe they can help like Emiel mentioned too.

I suppose youre also right on people leaving reviews who haven't actually stayed, would get a bit messy. We just felt slightly hard done by and wanted to warn others, but ye you're right.

Thanks for your help Mark.

[Sarah977]

@Jay492  The host definitely should have honored his word, it's just common decency. And being rude about it is really unprofessional.

But just FYI, it's sometimes possible that just because you see dates blocked, it doesn't mean they were booked. As a host, I will block dates when I have friends or family coming, or when I'm going to be away. A host might think "Oh, great, they cancelled, now I can book a flight and go to cousin Bob's wedding."

Of course, I have no idea if something like this was the case, or the host is just being a **bleep**. And if that was the case, that was no valid reason for him to renege on his original promise.

[Jay492]

It seems as though this was not the case this time as the host did say it is now booked, he just no longer wanted to honour his word.

I suppose I will just wait to see what Airbnb say on the case...

Thanks for your help Sarah.