Host accepted an extra night stay but now is wanting extra fee in cash as its 'unavailable'

[Kat118]

In January I made a booking on airbnb for a villa in Ibiza from the Thursday 6th- Monday 10th September. I then messaged in February to ask whether we could stay on the Wednesday night. The host confirmed this but said it would be an extra charge (320 Euros) and that we can leave cash when we are there (I didnt at the time know about airbnb's policy regarding cash.

I messaged today to re-confirm the booking as its still down as Thursday-Monday on the airbnb platform. They are now saying that the Wednesday night is booked by someone else but they can cancel the booking for us but we have to pay the 320 euros and an additional 110 euros. She said that this is the money the owner is asking for and if we don't acccept, we won't have the place for the Wedneday night and will therefore have to book a last minute hotel.

I have evidence in messages that I confirmed the booking from wedneday in June and they said it was confirmed.

Where do I stand with this? I don't want to upset them and risk not having anywhere to stay on the Wedneday (next week!)- 6 of us are flying on the Wednesday and there doesnt seem to be many other accomodation options plus it would be such a pain to check in to somewhere else.

Should I just pay the extra 320+110 so that its confirmed and report them to airbnb? Also, I will mention that airbnb doesn't accept cash payments and offer to do it via another method.

Any advice would be much appreciated. 

[Helen3]

This sounds like someone is managing the property on behalf of someone else?

I am a little confused as to why you didn't go in an amend the booking when you decided to have an extra night so everything was booked and paid for through Airbnb?

There is no reason for you to pay extra when a lower amount was agreed. (However are you sure the 110 euro's is not a local tourist tax which is payable in many countries in Europe).

And what sort of host says they will cancel someone else's booking at the last minute? One that seemingly doesn't care about what that would mean for the guest concerned).

Give Airbnb a call now and explain what has happened. The host should honour the extra night at the agreed price, but because you agreed a cash payment outside of airbnb (it says clearly on each listing never to pay a host in cash), I am not sure how much Airbnb can do. Hopefully they will contact them to confirm what the process should be and then you or the host can go in and amend the booking so everything is recorded and booked through Airbnb.

[Kat118]

Thanks for your response.

The message basically said 'we got another booking for that day you wanted to come however is true we have been chatting for a while about it, if you want I can cancel that  booking to leave you to stay with us that night, just now the owner is asking for 110€ more instead those 320€ we were talking in that day ... so, it means if you can pay 430 upfront in cash for she to handle your extra night booking...'

I didnt know there was a way to amend the dates on the booking as I've never done it before- I was expecting it to be something that the host would do and also naively didnt know about the cash payment until the other day. All the messages regarding the cash payment are on the airbnb platform so there is evidence of them asking for cash.

I will try and contact airbnb today- didn't know this was possible so thanks for letting me know. 

[Letti0]

@Kat118  This is so wrong in so many ways. First off the reservation should have been Altered in June to add the Wednesday. NO money should be exchanged off the AirBnB platform. The host is now extorting/blackmailing you for more money for a date you previously booked with her guarantee if you paid cash. I would start looking for a new place to stay now. I would report this host and her listing and get AirBnB involved, she should be removed from the platform for these issues. Since your reservation was never altered you can not be guaranteed she will honor your Wednesday night booking anyway and AirBnB won't help you if she does not as it not on the reservation. She's willing to cancel another booking to give you Wenesday is also willing to cancel your 3 days if a week long booking comes up? I would not risk staying with this host too many red flags to make me comfortable with the booking find something else. 

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[Kat118]

Hello

Thanks for your message but it is too late to find somewhere else- I have had a search and there is nothing available for the dates we are going for a group of 6 people but I agree with you it seems weird and she shouldn't be cancelling other bookings.

I will try and call airbnb now and get their advice.