Payment Not Processing for Booking

[Joe3792]

I'm encountering a significant issue with the payment processing for a guest booking on Airbnb, and I'm seeking assistance to resolve it.

Background: I am an Airbnb host, and I recently had a guest who tried to book my property but faced issues with payment processing. The guest attempted to complete the booking multiple times, but each time, the payment did not go through, and the booking was not confirmed.

Issue: The main problem arises when the guest tries to finalize the booking and make the payment. Despite entering valid payment information and ensuring sufficient funds in their account, the payment fails to process, and they receive an error message. This issue not only causes frustration for the guest but also results in potential lost income and booking opportunities for me.

Troubleshooting:

Here are the steps we've taken to troubleshoot the issue so far:

1. Confirmed that the guest's payment information is accurate and that there are no issues with their bank or payment provider.
2. Checked my Airbnb account settings to ensure there are no restrictions or issues with accepting payments.
3. Advised the guest to try a different payment method or contact their bank to rule out any payment authorization issues.
4. Reached out to Airbnb support for assistance, but the issue remains unresolved.

Observations: Despite these efforts, the payment processing issue persists, preventing the guest from booking my property and causing inconvenience for both of us. This problem is critical as it directly affects my ability to secure bookings and provide a smooth experience for potential guests.

Request for Assistance: If anyone has experienced similar issues with payment processing on Airbnb or has suggestions for troubleshooting steps or solutions, I would greatly appreciate your insights and assistance. Ensuring reliable payment processing is essential for maintaining a successful hosting experience and avoiding lost booking opportunities.

Thank you for your help and support!

[Shelley159]

Hi @Joe3792 

If there's a payment issue I put the guest in touch with Airbnb directly. I cannot know that their credit card is valid and without problems, so I don't get involved at all. Usually Airbnb offers them details of different ways to pay, and the issue is (in my experience) very quickly resolved. An alternative payment method should work, even if they can't figure out what's wrong with the original card. Hope it helps!

[Helen3]

I agree with @Shelley159  I wouldn't waste my time getting involved with trying to sort out payment issues as a host. There is nothing you can do and you have no way of telling whether payment issues are at the guests end or Airbnb. 

Just advise the guest to contact Airbnb to resolve. @Joe3792 

[Joe3792]

Thank you for your reply and your suggestion to have the guest contact Airbnb directly. I appreciate the advice and understand that, as hosts, we may not have visibility into the specifics of a guest's payment issues.

I have already advised the guest to try different payment methods and to contact their bank, but the issue still persists. We also reached out to Airbnb support, but unfortunately, the problem remains unresolved.

Given that this problem affects my ability to secure bookings and provide a smooth experience for my guests, I am hoping to find a more permanent solution or get further insights from the community.

Has anyone else experienced persistent payment processing issues even after trying multiple payment methods and contacting Airbnb support? If so, how was the issue resolved? Any additional troubleshooting steps or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for your help and support!

**[Link removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

[Mike2546]

Hello Joe

Have six experiences with Airbnb.  I am having the same issue.   When guests select to "Confirm and Pay" they get an error message and are unable to complete the transaction and book.  Today Airbnb told me it is a "Known Issue" but are not offering any solutions or indication of when the issue may be resolved.   I am frustrated and infuriated with their poor response and seeming inability to correct the issue.   Perhaps mainstream media would be interested in covering this.  It would be a great distraction opportunity for them.

Mike

[Mike2546]

I see your post was back in January.   What if this is not an error but intentional?  Airbnb has all of our tax information and shares it with the IRS.  With AI/ quantum computing capability it would be simple to cross reference information.   

[Shelley159]

Hi @Mike2546 

The post was 1 July and replies 2 July.  The system follows the international standard, ordering time from short to long (DDMMYYYY, as in this case) or long to short. It can be confusing as I know some in the US tend to put the month first!

[Joan2709]

@Shelley159 

..."as I know some in the US tend to put the month first!"

As it should be - MMDDYYYY 😂

Just goshing you Shelley 😉

[Jag166]

As a guest had this issue this week. Airbnb booking made and payment processed but booking did not complete. I tried to complete it a couple of times but was only successful when i used a credit card instead of debit card. however airbnb took 3 lots of payments from my debit card (in addition to the successful cc payment). I am currently trying to get payments refunded on the dc which airbnb staff are helping with. Neither the bank nor airbnb are admitting any issues at there respective ends and are blaming each other....

so no idea what is going on.

I am out of pocket for using cc with airbnb due to fx and transaction fees....

[Lorena1076]

Hello @Jag166  how did you get your money back I’m having the same issue 

[Andrew3936]

Did anyone get any answers? Whenever I try to make a booking now I have problems with the payment not going through even though it has been authorised. Multiple attempts using different credit cards and devices does not resolve the issue and customer support are useless. It's got to the point now where I have no confidence in the AirBNB booking system.