I'm a new Host, guests has cancelled after i explained a mistake in rate

[Bronwyn42]

I didnt realise that the rate displayed on the booking form is for the unit or house and not per person. Guest booked for 4 people at an insanely low rate(dont know how he didnt think something was wrong!?) i immediately messaged to explain the mistake and then i fixed it on my listing. The guest then cancelled and wants me to pay the cancellation fee. How does this work? Has he not been refunded at all?

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Bronwyn42

Guests get 3 free cancellations a year - tell the guest you have received no payment and will not. They are (in most circumstances) entitled to 3 free of charge cancellations a year. If they have not received all their money back they need to contact Airbnb - it has nothing to do with you

[Helen3]

Sorry I don't agree with @Gerry-And-Rashid0 on this one. A guest shouldn't have to give up one of their free cancellations because a host made a mistake.

@Bronwyn42 unfortunately it sounds like you didn't read through how Airbnb worked before your listing went live and therefore ending up with the wrong pricing. This not the guests fault and it is not up to them to decide if your pricing model is too low. You shouldn't have asked them to cancel as they are now liable for the costs, when you were at fault for not setting up your pricing properly.

A hard lesson to learn when starting out. Please snooze your listing (see Airbnb Help Centre) to give you time to read through the basics around how airbnb works. 

How much he will be refunded depends on your cancellation policy. At the very least he will be liable for the Airbnb fee. You need to return that to him ASAP with a huge apology and be thankful he cancelled for you. If you had to cancel you would have been liable financially and it would have showed on your listing  (see host cancellations - airbnb help centre).

[Bronwyn42]

Thank you!! Have done so, will spend more time on this listing x