HOW TO charge late check-in fee

[Michelle-Joanne0]

Hi there,

Is there a way to charge a late check-in fee if it is clearly stated in the listing?  I am not asking if I should but HOW TO do it.  I have a convenient check-in service with reasonable hours however is not available beyond those hours.  If they show up late it will cost me extra money to have someone meet them which is a new requirement in our city (no lockboxes unfortunately).  

Thank you!

[Shelley159]

Hi @Michelle-Joanne0 

You can use the Send/Request money button on the booking and enter the amount. It usually works very well, the guest just needs to approve the charge.

So sorry to hear about the self-checkin ban in Italy.  It's going to be difficult to accommodate late arrivals and (if you use a physical key) to figure out what to do with the key at check-out.

Please keep us updated in a few months about how things are working out and how you are handling the in-person check-ins.

[Michelle-Joanne0]

Hi @Shelley159 

Thank you for your response!  So there is not a specific option for charging this fee?  We are dependent on the guest accepting the fee?  

The notice for in-person check-in was sent from our Commune, not Italy, so I think it is not country-wide.  It makes it very inconvenient for the host and the guest!

[Shelley159]

Hi @Michelle-Joanne0 

Yes, if you only want to charge the fee to some guests, the way to do it is through the resolution center (send/receive money).

I don't have the same late fee issue as you, but "send/receive money" works very well for me when I charge postage to send forgotten items to guests. I think if your guests tell you in advance that they need a late check in, it will probably also be easy for you to collect the money from them before arrival using "send/receive money". It may be more difficult with guests who don't let you know about late arrival well in advance - if they're already communicating poorly about arrival, they may also not accept the charge? All you can do is try and see how it plays out - there will probably be a few adjustments necessary over time with the whole change to in-person check-in!

The biggest complaint usually seems to be that someone (host or guest) has to wait around for the other one to show up, or that they have to rush to meet the other at a specific time.

If I were you, I'd make it clear that I'm forced to do it and that it's not my choice (it does seem to now be law in the whole of Italy, so that will help you as more people will know about it). Good luck and please keep us updated!

(Hopefully you also get some responses from hosts in exactly the same position to give some advice.)