feel lost

[Ilona-Natalie0]

Hi everyone, I am new to airbnb and therefore I dont fully understand everything. But to be honest, I dont find it very host friendly. I am often lost, constantly warned about, sometimes I even feel harrased with my possible loss of status if I (for whatever reason) have to cancel. 

I am/was... (not sure anymore) automatically booked without knowing. When I canceled, I got negative review and also they blocked those days automatically. I dont even know who to refer to. There is a help page with the community but I cant seem to reach someone from the organization. I am asked why I canceled, but the answer options are already given, and I often feel like I am talking to a machine... no human beings on the other side. 

I hope not to offend anyone, just would like to get some personal help. If any of you could help me, I would very much appreciate it. 

Cheers, Ilona (Bogotá)

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Ilona-Natalie0 - 

Welcome to the idea of Airbnb.  You absolutely need to do the following to get up to speed: 

1. Complete the tutorials here: https://www.airbnb-toolkits.com/my_toolkits

2. Read all the big topics here: https://www.airbnb.com/help  You absolutely must learn to use the help center to help yourself as well as coming to the Community Forums. 

Home | Airbnb Help Center www.airbnb.com How does Airbnb handle security deposits? How do I cancel my reservation? I Still Need Help

3. Join the Community Forums and read as much as you can, specifically regarding bookings, cancellations, and getting paid: https://community.airbnb.com/t5/New-Hosts/What-tips-would-you-give-to-a-new-host/m-p/215615/highligh...

https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/990/i-m-a-host--what-penalties-apply-if-i-need-to-cancel-a-res...

4. Bookmark this: https://community.airbnb.com/t5/Community-Help/Contact-Airbnb-A-Community-Help-Guide/m-p/16165#M2339...

5. Then take a mental inventory of your own personality and determine if you actually can handle people in your space, touching and ruining your things without being sorry (because it will happen) and how you will resolve conflict as it arises in your dealings with guests. It's different dealing with "guest-pectations" and people on vacation than it is with renters.

6. Snooze your listing until you've become more familiar with the site and it's processes.  https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/476/how-do-i-snooze-or-deactivate-my-listing

Then get ready for fun, exciting and amazing people to enter your life and touch you in ways that would never have been possible had you not chosen to open your heart, head and home to the possibility of new encounters.  

Good luck. 

Alice & Jeff 

[Fred13]

And yes you are dealing with a machine, till you get a live human being, so taske nothing personably. 😉