Questionable Actions by Host / No Assistance from Airbnb

[Steve4141]

I was planning on renting a place in Chicago for the Month of February. I found a place that looked nice and was in a good location. I checked with Host on a few questions and then reserved the property. Within a couple of hours, I found out that I only needed the place for 3 weeks, instead of 4. I immediately contacted the Host indicating that I would need to make a change. They immediately asked how many more days I would need the property, and I told them that I needed to reduce my stay. They told me how to make changes on Airbnb website, which I immediately did. From that point on, they became unresponsive, such that it took them 24 hours to decide, when before that, they were responsive to my questions within 15 minutes. I believe now that they purposely stopped responding in a timely fashion so that I could not reduce my stay and get me to pay for the entire month, as not many people are visiting Chicago in February. They refused as most likely it is very hard to rent this month, but their lack of timely communication also is a red flag for this Host.

In addition, they charged me right away, but continued to post the property on Airbnb for the month of February and still do. I believe that is unethical and possibly illegal.

I also fault Airbnb for their platform that would allow a Host to charge and collect fee but continue to post that the property is available. Airbnb has access to communication between Host and Renter, and could see what Host did, but sided with them anyway.

[Helen3]

Sorry your post isn't clear has the host now accepted your request to shorten your stay @Steve4141 ?

As you know if the host didn't come back to you to accept your amended booking you could have cancelled penalty free within 48 hours of booking so wouldn't have been out of pocket.

And the host hasn't charged you anything - Airbnb have charged you for your booking -  the host doesn't get paid until 24 hours until after you check in to protect your money.

What do you mean by the property is still available. If on the calendar you can see the dates you booked are showing as available (I haven't see this happen in eight years of hostsing) what did the host and Airbnb say when you queried this with them?

In what way do you feel Airbnb is siding with the host?

[Steve4141]

The Host was responding to my questions every 15 minutes, then stopped responding all together so that they could get me locked into renting for the whole month. I did this on January 1st and had before January 2 to make any changes, per statement on Host's Listing.  I submitted my request and all I got for next 24 hours was "we will get back with you". They had 6 hours before January 1st was over to accept or cancel my request.

Airbnb charged me on 12/31! 

I just looked at the Property Listing for the Month of February and it is still available, even though Airbnb has taken my money. 

[Steve4141]

Should not be able to be considered a Super Host if it take you 6 hours to make a decision! 

Both Airbnb and Host were unresponsive when queried about the listing still being active. 

[Helen3]

@Steve4141  if the listing is showing as available for the dates you have booked send a screenshot to the host and call Airbnb.

And sorry it's rather silly to say it shouldn't take a host six hours to make a decision. We are allowed to sleep, go to work, travel, drive, look after our kids etc.  Airbnb suggests we respond within 24 hours.

[Rebecca]

Hi there @Steve4141,

I'm really sorry to hear of your situation. Did you get an update/amendment in the end? 

In regards to the listing still being active, as @Helen3 said, I would send a screenshot to the Airbnb Support Team. Do you have an open case with them regarding this matter? 

Looking forward to hearing from you.