Service fee refund because host accidentally double booked

[Leeanne4]

 I need to cancel my booking because my host accidentally double booked me. The booking has flexible cancellation, so I know i can cancel it but I don't want to be charged the service fee. I have already booked another place, as I needed to do it striaght away as the prices have gone up. 

I found the resource saying: 

• The Airbnb service fee is refundable, up to 3 times per year, if the guest cancels before the trip starts. Refund eligibility is determined at booking time based on the number of prior cancellations and future bookings that are eligible for refundable fees. Separately, if a guest books a reservation that overlaps with any part of an existing reservation, we won’t refund the Airbnb service fee if they decide to cancel.

So I understand that i will be assesed for a refund (and it's lucky that I haven't cancelled previously this year). I am concerned about the 2nd part of the above point; 'Separately..... decide to cancel."  Does this apply to me as I have already booked another place? 

Any help would be great. 

Thank you 

Leeanne 

[Sora0]

If the host double booked you, you should ask the host to cancel the booking instead of you.

[Leeanne4]

Thanks Sora, I know i can do that, but I am trying to avoid it. 

[Sheila133]

My Host wasn't home as a matter of the fact she wasn't even in the country. So we didn't get in for our reservations. We had to stay at a hotel at the cost of $400.00 for night for 3 nights. I only cancelled after she messaged me on day 3 for me to cancel the reservation so she could refund my money. Why am I paying any kind of fee when we drove miles to get to the apartment. The contact number she gave me was not correct, we couldn't get in and we couldn't get in contact with her. I shouldn't pay any fees....I'VE PAID ENOUGH. I had to go to a hotel at 4 times the cost of what I budgeted to spend. I spend our bill money for the hotel because at the last minute we needed to find a place to stay.  

For my first Airbnb experience this isn't right and it stinks! 

Sheila D. 

[Alu0]

Did anyone ever elaborate on what exactly, "Separately, if a guest books a reservation that overlaps WITH AN EXISTING reservation..."

What does this mean??

Does it mean, in order to qualify for the full refund without Airbnb penalties, a guest should A). Cancel FIRST then B). make their NEW reservation???  This would be the only technical way it's not "overlapping an EXISTING reservation" correct?

Anyone?