Cancellation by guest onto host

[Maryanna1]

I am new to Air BNB and had a guest who misinterpreted the listing and thought he was getting the entire house for the price of the one bedroom and booked it immediately. 

During our conversations to clarify the problem, I told him that I would give him three bedrooms for those few days at the rate of one room because I was new and didn't want to have a negative impact on my growing host status. He agreed to those terms. I asked him to remove the cancellation request. He did not.

However, he somehow managed to put the cancellation on to me, the host and Air BNB cancelled automatically... the guest agreed to take the offer but move the booking by one day forward... however, not only did I get hit with the penalty of the cancellation and my host status was harmed - when I went to the calendar to modify his reservation, found I cannot change the dates.. they are blocked... and though we agreed in our discussion, I have no way to book him.

I'm left with two issues. 1. I don't know how to proceed and how to book his request...and 2. Guests can make a host cancellation?

[Linda108]

This is a common issue for new hosts, @Maryanna1.  Like you, many hosts don't understand if they accept a guest cancellation, it become the host cancellation with all the penalties related to that.  This is an automated response, so you need to speak with Air BNB to untangle all this.

Here is a guide for contacting Air BNB.  Good luck!

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/Contact-Airbnb-A-Community-Help-Guide/m-p/16165#M728

[David126]

If a guest wants to cancel they cancel, simple, no involvement from you.

If a guest wants you to cancel just say no, bad things happen when you cancel as a host.

[Maryanna1]

Thanks David.

Learning the ropes. 

Your advice is on point and noted. The irony here is that the guest is coming anyway... and via Airbnb.

Regards,

M