List my job, airbnb is keeping my money

Sandy731
Level 2
Apopka, FL

List my job, airbnb is keeping my money

I have been losing money on airbnb. I had a contracted job, canceled the last minute of my checking date. I paid 1369.00 for 1 month plus 662 some dollars will be deducted in April the 6th. Unfortunately my luck the job decided to canceled all contracts. I never had a chance to check in. I called the host and aurbnb. I'm job less, begging them to refund me the first part of my money which is almost 1400.00. The host told me to call airbnb, now airbnb is telling me to call the host. Can someone tell me what to do. The host is planning on keeping my whole money. I have not even had a chance to checked in. Respectful I quickly told the host my job canceled the contract. Please I need help. Can this be a legal battle if it need too. This strick rules should be under  some circumstances situation like mine. I'm job less, I'm now about to lose  all this money. Comes April 6, airbnb will withdraw 662 dollars out of my bank account  for a place that should be canceled.  I'm job less. I was let go. I'm no longer working.  They refused to refund me back money that I don't have.  Airbnb is blaming the host, the host is blaming airbnb. Please help. Do I need a lawyer.  I'm about to lose 2063.00 for lot even able to check in. 

I never checked in. Unfortunately I was let go. They want all this money out of me. OMG what am I going to do. I have my own mortgage to pay. 

 

Summary look y'all. 

Price breakdown
Payment
Amount paid (USD) $1,369.52
Google Pay $1,369.52
March 10, 2022 · 9:41:41 AM EST
Total (USD) $2,031.66
Occupancy taxes and fees $198.83
Service fee $175.93
10% monthly price discount -$184.10
$40.02 x 46 nights $1,841.00

 

10 Replies 10
Sybe
Former Community Manager
Former Community Manager
Terneuzen, Netherlands

Hi @Sandy731 , I'm so sorry to hear about this.

 

It's been a while since you posted. Are there any updates on your issue in the meantime or do you need more help?

 

Please let us know how you get on!

 

-----

 

Please follow the Community Guidelines // Volg de communityrichtlijnen

Mike-And-Jane0
Level 10
England, United Kingdom

@Sandy731 sadly you have blocked the calendar of the host which could well have stopped them getting other bookings. You also entered into a contract with said host that clearly stated the penalty for cancellations. 

Now, in my opinion, a decent host would refund to you any monies they make from bookings they might get now that you have cancelled. Rather than threaten legal action which would cost you more and you would almost certainly lose I would ask the host if they would refund you to the extent they manage to get re-booked.

Sandy731
Level 2
Apopka, FL

No not yet. I sent them the paycheck where the company took there money, the letter of end assignment on 3/16. AURBNB told me, the guy got very upset.  He wants 100% or 50%. He was very mean to airbnb specialist. I sent all the proof. The company does not offer housing. They only assist you.  The guy wont even release my name from his calendar.  Im still on there for 3/16 to 5/1. So he wants the whole money that is over 2000 dollars or half of the price. I'm not even working. Even if I was, thats a waste of money. I'm no longer at the job in Melbourne Florida.  The company does not do housing. I don't know what else to do, but to call my bank to dispute it. The guy is 1369.52 happy and I'm 1369.52 broke. Airbnb can do better with those money hungry people. He still wont cancel my reservation.  If he does not cancel it, april 6th, he will be 662 dollars richer. Thats what they call insanity.  I will never go through something like this with an extended hotel.  There got to be a change with those strick non refundable.  I even sent all those to the host as well. He never reply, nor care.8

 

**[Personal details removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Sandy731  Your personal circumstances are not grounds for a refund. I'm sorry your employer cancelled the job and you are financially stressed, but that isn't relevant to the terms of the cancellation policy you agreed to by booking. 

 

As another responder suggested, ask the host if they would refund you for any dates they are able to rebook. 

Sandy731
Level 2
Apopka, FL

@Sarah977

Thanks for you negative comment.  There was more to it. And yes, it's a ripped off. I never checked into the place, I got charged the whole amount for 1 month. That's not fare to a lot of us consumers. That's money that I don't have, let alone the financial stressed you added to it. It's the principle of business with a heart. I'm not asking for free space. I will suggest you stop your bias. I'm a host myself and I do refund money if the person has issues, or not able to check in. You want me to give money to someone just like that. Airbnb will have to deal with that host. I don't think it's fare for me to lose money for something I never used. Are you serious. I'm supposed to pay him over 2000 dollars for something that I have no control over.  I never had a chance to check in. I never step foot inside the man's home. That was pretty harsh of you talking about my personal issues.  I hope you get into the same situation as I did one day. I offered him 2 nights pay for the inconvenience. He was not willing to go for it.  Again Sarah, thank you. I don't think airbnb opens this business for consumers to get ripped off. This is a way to get extra money, for rooms that we are not using. That's if I wanted my whole money back. "I offered to pay 2 nights for the inconvenience" that is not over 200.00 dollars.  His calendar is still under my name since 3/16.  You will do that to your guests.  Is that That's the way you treat your guests? 

Again thank you and God bless you Sarah.  

Huma0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

@Sandy731 

 

I am sorry for your personal circumstances, but I don't think you understand how Airbnb works. When you make a booking, you are entering into a contract. The terms of that contract depend on the cancellation policy and it sounds like your stay comes under the 'long term cancellation policy' which applies to any stays over 28 days.

 

When you booked, the information about that cancellation policy was readily available to you and, by booking, you agreed to it. And yes, you did then tie up those dates in the host's calendar, preventing other guests from booking, from the moment you booked and, it seems, you are still tying up those dates if you have not officially cancelled.

 

The other hosts here have given you a good suggestion in asking the host to refund you for any rebooked nights, but the host can only do that if you cancel and thereby free up the dates on their calendar. Obviously, the longer you leave that, the less chance that they can rebook the dates and also they are not under any obligation to do so because you booked, agreeing to the cancellation policy.

 

When you buy an item from a shop or online, the refund policy is usually stated on the receipt. If there is nothing wrong with the item, but you just don't need it anymore, you still need to return it within the timeframe and according to the conditions listed when you bought it. You cannot sue the retailer because you didn't return it in time. You cannot sue the retailer when you bought a non-refundable item that was clearly described as such. I would advise in future that you take the time to read the cancellation policies before making a booking, rather than just assume that you are entitled to your money back.

 

You may not have stepped foot in the door, but it's a pretty naive assumption to think that cancelling your stay and expecting the host to refund you all of it, minus two nights, regardless of whether they are able to rebook the majority of the stay, is a reasonable offer. Most listings do not live in some kind of 'la la land' costing the host nothing. There are mortgages, bills and local taxes to pay.  A lot of this stuff still has to be paid even if the guest doesn't stay, e.g. for utility bills here in the UK (not sure how it works everywhere else), you have to pay a daily standing charge for gas and electricity regardless of whether any is used or not. There may be people, such as cleaning staff and their families, who depend on that host for the income.

 

Your booking has prevented the host from covering any of these costs because, from the moment you booked,  no other guests could even have seen those dates as available. The host could have lost out on numerous bookings because of it. They are also entitled to a livelihood and you have no real idea of their circumstances.

 

Again, I am sorry for your situation, but you cannot pass the financial burden onto a stranger that entered into a contract with you in good faith. If anything, you should be approaching your former employer for some kind of recompense and, if that was not part of your contract with them, well then that is something you might have considered before booking the accommodation.

 

Personally, I am always willing to refund guests above the amount stated in the cancellation policy if I am able to rebook the dates, but not if the guest refuses to cancel and continues to tie up my calendar demanding all (or most) of their money back when that is not what was agreed to when they booked.

Sandy731
Level 2
Apopka, FL

@Mike-And-Jane0 The calendar is not blocked by m

 Legal action could prevent us consumers from getting ripped off. The host was notified several times about the cancelation. The host is the only one with the power to solved this issu.e. the calendar can be unlocked with no penalty the same day of the several emails messages about my contact been canceled. I offered to 2 nights stay . I got calls from aibnb to cancel reservations and unblocked the calendar. To me this is a form of greed  for such amount of money.  I'll be glad to try the legal system for those so called strick non refundable.  I have thar too. But I released funds, with calendar release the same time of my approval.  We are not talking about 100-500 dollars here. We are talking about over 2000 dollars easy fixed. I never step foot inside his room.  Business is Business  but this is a way for people to get ripped off with super extra fees and holding money with no service. 

Sandy731
Level 2
Apopka, FL

I will start with the news channel 7 first. I'm sure to get a happy lawyer to stop this madness. Let alone a lot of extra stuff.

Jane563
Level 10
Brighton, United Kingdom

@Sandy731 

 

Firstly I’m sorry this has happened to you - this is a lot of money to lose. There’s nothing useful I can say to you other than that.

 

However, I try to be as honest with my guests as I can be about what a strict cancellation policy implies, before I take a booking from them. Too many of them don’t read the details about my property in full, let alone find out what will happen to their money if they cancel. I tell them that I don’t allow date changes. I also say that I won’t refund money if they can’t make it unless they cancel to free up dates, so that I can get another booking. I tell them that if they don’t agree with this to book elsewhere.

 

I do keep my prices low, but that’s the catch. Guests have to understand the contract that they are making with me. I remind them that if things go wrong with their plans they can go to Airbnb if they believe they have extenuating circumstances.

 

My bookings tend to be a bit more last minute because I am upfront when guests book,  but I’m doing just fine. I have two nights without bookings in the last six weeks.

Mark116
Level 10
Jersey City, NJ

@Sandy731   Good luck.  You will have to find a very very sympathetic judge to agree that it doesn't matter what the contract you agreed to says, you get your money back anyway.   I'm sorry for your circumstances, but it is up to you, the buyer, to understand what you are buying, what the rules are and what, if any exceptions exist.  If the host wishes to stick to the legal agreement you made and not refund you, it may not be very nice, but it's quite legal.