Host Claims Pricing Mistake and threatens a cancellation of my reservation.

[Kelvin3]

Hi all in Airbnb Community,

I hope the Airbnb Community can help advise me in this matter.

I booked an apartment for about 7 nights for a period in mid September 2016. This reservation was made and accepted back in Mid March.

This morning (Mid August), i received a message from the host, the manager of the apartments that there is a pricing mistake. They offer me an altered rate (which is an additional 35%) and if i were to reject the offer, they threaten to cancel my reservation.

This is less than a month before my trip and I believe my options for affordable accomodations in preferred locations would be severely limited. I also find it hard to believe and unacceptable that a pricing mistake is claimed 5 months after my reservation. My holiday and budget is now potentially in a mess.

Hope Airbnb and other travellers can advise what my options and rights are.

Thank you.

[Sarah977]

@Claire1524  Normally when a host cancels a confirmed booking, one of the penalties the host receives from Airbnb is that their calendar becomes blocked for those dates so they can't be rebooked. So I'm not sure how this host has been able to get away with this but it's definitely not okay.

Have you spoken to Airbnb customer service about this? If not, you should report this host's shady behavior. A host can cancel a reservation, just as a guest can, but then coming back to you offering it at a higher price is terrible host behavior.

I'm unclear what you mean about getting a $200 credit. Were you not fully refunded when the host cancelled your booking? That's what's supposed to happen. If you weren't refunded, I would insist on that and look for another place, rather than dealing with this dishonest host anymore.

[Claire1524]

@Sarah977 

thank you for the insight 🙏🏼I’ve been in comms with Airbnb support the last two days who tell me it is the hosts discretion to set new pricing after cancellation. 

im simultaneously in comms with the host who just admitted original booking was cancelled as they had “priced incorrectly”. I’ve passed this to Airbnb and asked if this is the reason for cancellation, why is the property still avail and not blocked for those dates. Awaiting response. From your comment, the property should be off the market for the month I booked it.

I was refunded full original amount paid plus $200, however I am in tiny New Zealand and the booking I need is 5 days away with scarcity meaning no comparable properties are available. I’m uncomfortable with these hosts but left with no other options (other than properties more than twice the original booking I held).