How do I cancel booking when it says waiting for payment?

[Graeme0]

I have approved a guest to stay and it said awaiting payment, the guest has now said they cannot make it. How do I cancel this booking and free up the dates on my callander? 

[Linda0]

You should not cancel because if you do you will be penalized by Airbnb. Ask guest to notify Airbnb that they want to cancel and you also notify Airbnb guest wants to cancel. Typically you will get a bump in the search ranking so hurry and notify Airbnb guest needs to cancel on their end.

[Frankie4]

Airbnb needs to stop this from happening.  I have a same-day booking in same situation, and now I can't offer my place to anyone else.  This happened earlier this week and the person never paid, and then the night past by the time the 24 hr hold was off.  

[Mike77]

@Frankie4

There is a simple way to fix this...

Turn off same day booking.

Mike
AirBnB Treehouse for Rent
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7292887

"Coming soon to a bookstore near you: The Quotable Host by Mike" -- @Sandra
"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!" -- @C C

==============================
Here are your AirBnB phone numbers.
==============================
Argentina: +54 11 53 52 78 88
Australia: +61 2 8520 3333
Austria / Österreich: +43 72 08 83 800
Brazil / Brasil: +55 21 3958-5800
Canada: +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)
Chile: +56 229380777
China / Zhongguo - 中國 / 中国: +86 10 5904 5310 or 400 890 0309 (shared-cost)
Denmark / Danmark: +45 89 88 20 00
France: +33 1 84 88 40 00
Germany / Deutschland: +49 30 30 80 83 80
Greece / ελλάδα: +30 211 1989888
Hong Kong / Xianggang - 香港: +852 5808 8888
Ireland: +353 1 697 1831
Israel / Yisrael: +972 3 939 9977
Italy / Italia: +39 06 99366533
Japan / Nippon - 日本: +81 3 4580 0999 or +81 800 100 1008 (toll-free)
Mexico / Méjico: +52 55 41 70 43 33
Netherlands / Nederland: +31 20 52 22 333
New Zealand / Aotearoa: +64 4 4880 888
Norway / Norge: +47 21 61 16 88
Peru: +51 1 7089777
Poland / Polska: +48 22 30 72 000
Portugal: +351 30 880 3888
Puerto Rico: +1 787 919-0880
Russia / Rossiya - Россия: +7 4954658090 or 88003017104 (toll-free)
South Korea / Hanguk - 한국: +82 2 6022 2499 or +82 808 220 230 (toll-free)
Spain / España: +34 91 123 45 67
Sweden / Sverige: +46 844 68 12 34
Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse: +41 43 50 84 900
United Kingdom: +44 203 318 1111
United States (USA) / Estados Unidos de América (EEUU): +1-415-800-5959 (local San Francisco number) or +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)