Airbnb Not Liable if Guest Doesn't Pay?

[Kaitlin50]

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I got this disturbing email a week ago or so from Airbnb. I thought they boasted insurance up a million dollars and were here to support us. I mean, their job is literally to collect payment and match guests and hosts, right? Wouldn't they be liable if they guest screws a host over?

**[Private conversation removed in line with Community Center Guidelines]

[David8446]

Well Helen I owe you an apology as the text did not load with the photo for context. It should have included:

I am an airbnb photographer and they have been “backlogged” on payments, they haven’t payed me for photo shoots I have completed since NOVEMBER of last year. $500. They are a **bleep** joke. There is only two people. ONLY 2!!! Running the entire photography program. I have been trying to contact them since November of last year and NEVER hear anything except “your issue has been promoted to priority” and “someone will contact you from the photo team”. Going on 3 months and no one has contacted me. I’m blasting this in every thread I see about payments.

So I apologize for coming at you, but if after reading that, if you still feel the same way I don’t know what to say. 

[Helen3]

@David8446  I ran my own agency for over ten years and never would I have communicated with customer services staff in the way you did,  because their employer hadn't paid for my services.

And why would you contact them anyway they provide support for hosts and guests. Not for suppliers like yourself.

You should be dealing with the people who commissioned your services.

I stand by what I said, the comments you posted to customers services were rude and unprofessional.

If Airbnb haven't paid you then take them to small claims court. 

[David8446]

Helen, no one said I was NOT being rude and unprofessional. I am well aware of my actions, and good for you for never being so upset that you acted rude or unprofessional, you must be a saint.
I’m happy you’re in such a good place where missing $500 is no big deal. 

I don’t know why you feel the need to gatekeep these forums any time someone is upset. I’ve seen some of your other posts doing the same thing with people being upset.

Let me break this down for you…

I have a new family. We are struggling financially. This $500 would have really helped out when I was supposed to get it, and caused a lot of issues when I DIDN’T receive it.

I am a “verified” airbnb photographer.

the ONLY way I can contact the “photo team” is through airbnb support. There is no contact (except for an email that I have never received a reply from). I contact airbnb support, and they will not connect me to a supervisor, or the photo team. “We will get back to you” and they never have.

I am beyond furious at airbnb so get off your high horse and let people be who they are, cheerio!

[David8446]

One last point then I’m done with this. Yes, you struck a nerve.

Is it rude or unprofessional for a multi million dollar company to NOT pay for assets provided, then not respond to the person that provided those assets? For 3 months.
You forgot to point out how Airbnb is also “rude and unprofessional”

I am bringing awareness to this forum that airbnb does not pay people when they are owed money. I think people might want to know that.
 What does you pointing out me being rude and unprofessional accomplish other than make yourself feel better?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@David8446 surely when Airbnb booked you they gave you some sort of instruction/contract that included methods of contacting them? As this has been going on for so long surely an action in a small claims court is needed.

[David8446]

@Mike-And-Jane0 

Airbnb provided a single email for contact to the photography team. It is it’s own team, but it is still through airbnb.

I have been a verified airbnb photographer since May 2019, and had no issues at all pre covid.

Payments came through in days like they were supposed to, and someone from the photo team would always respond promptly any time I had an issue.

They changed their system post covid and the only response I get from the photo team is automated messages stating they will get back to me. (They never do)

2 of my 3 missing payments have since came in, so currently I am only owed $180 from a shoot I did in October.

At this point it is not a small claims court issue, but it is completely unacceptable!

While airbnb support is not the photo team, it is the ONLY link I have to contact them.

They upgrade my issue to priority, say someone will get back to me, but no one ever does!

At this point I am raising a fuss on every social platform Airbnb is on to raise awareness of their inability to pay for assets provided, hoping ANYONE from Airbnb address this issue and can actually do something about it!

[David8446]

Also, small claims would get my money, but not address the issue. I still have shoot requests coming in that I refuse to shoot until I know I will get paid for them.

[Preston61]

I’m curious if this was ever resolved? I just had a guest cancel a few weeks in to a 3 month booking and I got the message saying we didn’t collect so too bad essentially. This is a very dangerous scenario as people could just wipe out a house and disappear with no repercussions. If I don’t manage to get my payout I see no option but to potentially sue as they are violating their own terms of service. Nobody has been able to show me any line that states they are not liable for the collection. There is actually a specific line in the terms saying the guest isn’t liable but AirBnB payments is, so this is contradicting terminology. Wondering what the final outcome was here. Thanks!

[Karalee2]

Was this ever resolved? What ended up happening? I have a guest I fear is doing this to me as it’s all the same signs and I have a $10 payment on hold since the first day of their stay. I’m concerned I will not get the next payment.

[Helen3]

Why did you let the guest check in if their payment has not gone through. Go over and say they need to make payment through Airbnb immediately or their booking will need to be cancelled @Karalee2