Comments on: No Solution to Accidentally Using Instant Book

By: A&L

A&L — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 10:55:40 +0000

We made that mistake of refunding non refundable bookings and because we did it for a guest we kept on refunding others.
The last straw was a refund we did at the the insistence of airbnb’s customer service who pleaded with us.
The guest didn’t even had a valid reason, she sent a booking request, I approved it instantly over the smart phone and a few minutes later she was invited to stay with friends so she decided to cancel her request. Because it all happened within a few minutes she thought she was entitled to a full refund.
It wasn’t a death in the family or a natural disaster in her home town or a zombie outbreak.
We told airbnb it was the last time we’ll make an exception from our cancelation policy for absolutely anyone because it feels like if we make one exception for someone, we feel guilty about not making an exception again for someone else.
So nope, read the cancelation policy before sending a booking request or instant booking the same way you feel sorry for your money, us hosts too have operating costs and cancellation fees cover small incidentals like a $50 missing remote control, lost keys, a cpl of missing towels, broken plates, missing silverware that guests probably threw in the garbage by mistake, or daged furniture that we don’t always get to have a successful claim for.
Be careful what you click accept on, as Judge Judy always says, by clicking accept it becomes a binding contract just like putting your signature on paper.

By: Lafcadio Hearn

Lafcadio Hearn — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 19:08:46 +0000

You should dispute the charge with your credit card company and never use airbnb again – it is draconian policies like this, and greedy and unscrupulous hosts hos are transforming a once decent idea into a laissez-faire nightmare –

By: Ellen N.

Ellen N. — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 06:29:54 +0000

Instant Booking is not a new feature. I’ve been a host for three years and I have always accepted Instant Booking. Also, you don’t seem to understand that under no circumstances will Airbnb refund their fees which range from about 6% to about 12% so the host is not keeping $600.00.

By: David Aaron

David Aaron — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 23:04:03 +0000

Wow. Accusing everyone of wrongdoing when it’s obviously completely your fault. You certainly have some “personal issues” don’t you.

By: Blanga Loore

Blanga Loore — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 19:56:13 +0000

You should read the refund terms before you agree to the terms and conditions… If the host cancels the booking, they will be punished by AirBnb. You made a mistake, you pay the price.

By: A host somewhere

A host somewhere — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 17:08:39 +0000

You made the mistake, not Airbnb or the host. In theory, she should give you some back but she is not obligated to. Also, Service fees are never refunded.

I had this happen with a guest as well, I am a long time host. He made the error and out of the goodness of my heart I returned all but a $100 cancellation fee. (and the service fee or the commission charged to me by Airbnb, why should I pay that?)

I could not return it until the time of his trip or I would be refunding out of MY next payout. No way that was going to happen.

Instant Book is not a new feature. And it’s very clear that when you book, you are buying.
You have to learn to book carefully. No one owes you anything, so you were lucky to get half after cancellation. And no service fees are EVER refunded.

By: Brent Davis

Brent Davis — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 16:32:18 +0000

It clearly states it’s an instant booking. This is solely your fault. It’s unfortunate you didn’t read what you were doing but that’s nobody’s fault but your own.

And having a “recourse to correct the instant booking” defeats the entire process of an instant booking.