Penalised for cancelling

[Jim104]

Hi

I too have had problems over the years with contacting airbnb.

Recently as a host, about three months from a booking, I started to get completely unreasonable requests for information from the upcoming guests. i.e. how much dust would be in the stairwell, if there were manual workers in the building what time would they start ?/ etc etc, three of four emails. We have rented this place out very successfully on short term rentals for ten years, most before airbnb.

Theses guests were never going to be happy, and I risked my 4.7 overall rating if they stayed as no doubt things could not possibly measure up. So I cancelled them.

Now airbnb won't allow bookings in that period so it seems that no matter how difficult upcoming guests get that the host (who owns the property) get penalised. This is completely unreasonable.

Can anyone help?

Jim  (Paris)

*title updated

[Andrea9]

@Jim104

In cases like that you contact Airbnb (see one of the above posts on where to find link) and tell them you are uncomfortable with the guest booking because they are now demanding things you won't be able to guarantee.

Cancellations are taken very seriously by Airbnb and are seen as breaches of a contract. So when you simply cancel, the computer algorithms register that and automatically apply the penalties. You could still call them and say you just got this information and are wondering if the penalties could be lifted. Airbnb will look into  your message conversation for proof of the difficult guest. (Which is why you always keep conversations or repeat things said offline on that page as proof later on if required).

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Jim104

You should have asked AirBnB to cancel for you - easiest way is via Twitter - search for AirBnBhelp.

Never cancel yourself as that is all the platform sees - not the good reasons for doing so.

Good luck

[Kirstie]

Hi @Jim104,

Unfortunately one of the penalties of cancelling as a host is that the dates of the original booking remain blocked. I'm sorry to hear that you weren't aware of this before you cancelled and I understand you are frustrated. This Help Guide explains the full penalties of cancelling. 

As you weren't aware of these penalties, you could discuss this issue with Airbnb, this Community Help Guide gives all the ways of contacting the support team.

Just to let you know, I have moved your post here to a new thread so that it doesn't get lost in another discussion and it is easier to find. I have also given it a title, please let me know if you want to change it!

In case you're not sure how to start a new thread - this CC Tutorial gives a step by step guide to starting a conversation in the Community Centre.

I hope you have a nice afternoon,

Kirstie