Issues with booking system

[Dale-W0]

Now, here is how some unscrupulous hosts are working the AirBnB system.  They need to rooted out.  They are ruining the reputation for all.

Points on the AirBnB debacle of 4 pm on March 15, 2023 for the March 16-20, 2023 booking made one year prior in March 2022.

Loss of confidence in the AirBnB reservation system:

1. How is it that the reservation system showed an “ unavailable time slot of March 16-20, 2023” and it was overbooked?  With that knowledge, how do customers know this can not happen in the future on other reservations at AirBnB hosts?  What corrective action has been taken in the AirBnB system? What “digital” follow up occurs in AirBnB when a host changes a reservation?  Is there an automatic communication to the customer who reserved that spot?
2. What is the punishment to a dishonest unethical host in this example?  The host lied and said that a pipe had broken and the rental was unavailable.  When the customer did not respond to the host’s substitute property offer, the host confessed to AirBnB that another family was in the property and he had “double booked.”  The current listing showed a rate $239/ night higher than the displaced customer’s reservation.  Also, for this host to offer an alternate property as an option means that within the AirBnB host community there already exists a rogue subset that engages in these kinds if last minute fraud schemes.  AirBnB is now on notice by just investigating the messages and properties mentioned that are involved in this latest scam.
3. Fine:  I suggest triple damages: three times the reservation fee back to the customer.  This includes the initial charge and two times that for the emotional stress of ruining a vacation as planned.  In this case, one year in advance.
4. Barring the subject address from AirBnB for 5 years.
5. Barring the host and all their properties from AirBnB for 3 years.  This host apparently had a system of low pricing a rental many months in advance, double booking at a higher rate and squeeze forcing a customer at the last minute to accept a substitute to save their vacation plans.  This was done by private text and completely outside the standard communications of AirBnB.  Had I accepted in the stress of the moment, this unethical dishonest maneuver would still be happening without AirBnB's knowledge.  It would be impacting unknown numbers of AirBnB customers and it would spread throughout the AirBnB host community enticing honest hosts to go rogue as well.
6. A fine from this host to AirBnB for both 1. rental contract violations and 2. including communications outside the approved AirBnB message chain.
7. As an immediate action, that AirBnB place a Warning and Caution on the host's AirBnB websites for all properties that “This host is being investigated for back door practices of deceptive activity and double booking and customers should proceed with full knowledge of potential lack of occupancy as expected.
8. If AirBnB does not take investigative actions as such the brand will unravel due to trust and transparency.  This is a severe violation of AirBnB's Offline Policy.
9. If AirBnB does not discipline and remove this host for fraud and “behavior not befitting an AirBnB host” they are sending a message to all hosts that whatever you do and are not caught at is permitted!

Dale

[Fred13 · Accepted solution]

I am a fan of Airbnb improving its host ranks, something they need to do sooner or later before they can ask more from their guests. In this way, over time, Airbnb gains a stronger reputation for - quality.

In 8 years I never encountered a double booking as a result of a glitch in their system, due more in being my mistake when dealing with an Airbnb/direct booking combination.