Where does the damage reimbursment come from? Security deposit or Host guarantee program?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

I know how the process goes - the guest did some damage, we filed a damage claim, he ignored or denied it, we involved Airbnb and got a message: "Thank you for submitting your Host Guarantee payment request. Your case number is XXYYZZ ... "

I don't get it... I have security deposit in place and I expect to be reimbursed for the damage from the guest's security deposit. The damage is smaller than the deposit so why it looks like I submitted Host guarantee payment request?

[Kelly149]

@Branka-and-Silvia0  They see them all the same. They don’t know if they can collect on the deposit since it hasn’t been charged yet so it all gets treated like HG (even though it shouldn’t)

and even if you have a deposit listed, abb still gets to decide if your claim is good enough to be paid and at what amount

[Michelle914]

Is there any difference to the host's "record" if a damage claim gets paid out of the host guarantee or the guest's deposit?  I require a $300 deposit for my house.  I just had a guest who broke two things in my house - she contacted me about them, apologized and offered to pay for them.  So I submitted the claim in the normal fashion (for $120 - less than the deposit amount).  The guest then messaged me asking why when she clicked on "accept" it asked her for her credit card number.  I told her I don't know and she should contact Airbnb.  Airbnb then forwarded her a "help" document that basically told her if she doesn't want to pay for it she should click on "declined" and then Airbnb would pay for it.  So that's what she did.  I then had to click on "get Airbnb involved" and because I had her own message saying she broke it and offering to pay, I got notification my claim was approved in about 3 minutes flat.  But she then said that she didn't have to pay for it - Airbnb paid for it.  I think it's a stupid business model -- I don't really care as long as I get reimbursed -- but if there is any sort of "limit" to the number of times/dollar figure a host gets paid out through the host guarantee I'm going to be pissed off that they let this person not pay through the deposit.   What other scenario than the one I presented (she admitted she broke it and offered to pay for it) is a security deposit for??  

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Michelle914 

thank you for your comment, I received notification about it and I can read it in my email, but it seems it is being removed from a thread. That's weird...