Cancer diagnosis and no refund even with a two-week notice

[Tim4389]

Can anybody help me with a problem?    I got a diagnosis of prostate cancer two weeks before I was going to London for a month vacation.   I told the host immediately and he was very nice and said he would reimburse me for whatever I had paid if he could afford it.   That was fine.   But now, the day before I was supposed to go, I still have no details about what that money would be and not a penny has come into my account.    To complicate things further, I am able to postpone most of the treatment until January as it is not spreading as quickly as we feared.   I've been trying to make a deal with the host but to date I have no firm word on what is going to be done.    And so I'm doing my best to find some way to save some of my trip.    Any ideas?    

[Alexis823]

Dispute with your Credit Card Company immediately… they will reimburse you while they investigate the matter.

usually within a week.

[Helen3]

Terrible advice @Alexis823 . The credit card company will not refund where payment is taken legitimately. And Airbnb can ban guests who do this . 

[Alexis823]

If he informed the host that he couldn’t make it due to medical reasons and the host responded that he would reimburse him but still hasn’t a common courtesy would be to stick to your word. Maybe the guest didn’t cancel on his own because of what the host mentioned… but if there was a time limit for the reimbursement period and he exceeded that then perhaps he can go about another way. And some CC have protections in place specifically for these unforeseen instances…

[Paula]

Hello @Tim4389,

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. Wishing you a smooth recovery.

Please keep us updated on your conversations with Airbnb and the host 🙏

[Kia272]

@Tim4389  Tell the host you're still coming and see what he says. It sounds like you didn't officially cancel through AirBnB, and I fear that the host is playing you. 'If he can afford it' being the key words here. 

I don't know what cancellation policy you booked under, but the host should have advised you to cancel through AirBnB, or made a clear deal in writing as to how much he would refund. You should have canceled either way. 

IF the host wants to make this right, he may be waiting until the funds are deposited in his account, but given the wording of his response, I fear the worst. 

If he's not responding to you at all, tell him you're still planning to come just to see what his reaction is. 

[Helen3]

I'm sorry to hear about your illness . The normal route would be for you to cancel the booking and claim on your travel insurance .

From what you say you haven't cancelled the booking so it's still in place.

as that's the case just let the host know that you're now able to travel after all . Have you phoned him on the contact number provided on your booking confirmation if he hasn't responded to messages on the platform .  Get Airbnb involved if he doesn't respond . @Tim4389