We all know that ABB can do whatever they wish at any time and also that just bc things were one way before doesn't mean that they will be that way again in the future.
But for context, I had a guest cancellation (pre-COVID turning everything to EC) that I agreed to fully refund anyway. I told CS that I would ONLY agree to do so if it meant the cancellation of the payout and NOT be pre-paying the guest. "of course, certainly, we wouldn't dream of doing otherwise"
-I knew to ask the question, bc I've had this happen before where over-refunding was charged to my current reservations payouts.
well, lo and behold, the refund immediately appeared as a negative in my account and then was applied against my next payout for a guest who did arrive and then my account did not go back into positive until the original cancelling guest's reservation payout date arrived days after that other guest payout.
So, just beware that despite what CS may say, it is always possible that any overage you refund (and in my case neither the guest nor I created the cancellation, but CS did it) WILL be taken from you immediately and you may not see the return of that money until the original payout date. Which means you will be loaning money to ABB in the meantime.