Airbnb again

timc1619

hi all,

a group of us were due to go to Cornwall next month. We were due to travel 22nd of May and booked prior to the 14th of March. Both dates are within the companies extenuating circumstances policy.

My friend booked and paid for it on his credit card. Full payment has been made as our dates were outside of the policy until they extended the dates recently.

He has contacted Airbnb who at this time are only offering travel credit. This appears to be in conflict with their own website.

Reservations made on or before 14 March 2020

Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made on or before 14 March 2020, with a check-in date between 14 March 2020 and 31 May 2020, may be cancelled before check-in. This means that guests who cancel will receive, at their option, travel credit or a full cash refund

Accepting that he will probably be able to claim on his credit card, and also has an annual travel insurance policy in place what should he do with Airbnb? Has anyone successfully argued for the full refund? They have given him some nonsence about being a healthcare worker. He is a police office so is a key worker. (not that it should be relevant what he doeas for work)

thanks in advance

Tim

Shiroi

Hi Tim, 
We're due to go away on the same day.  Like you, we contacted Airbnb who advised that we aren't covered to receive a full cash refund despite their extenuating circumstances policy stating otherwise.  They suggested we go through with a zero-refund cancellation and then submit evidence showing that our travel will be directly impacted by the virus.  They're not clear what sort of evidence would suffice or what happens if that evidence is refused.  Sorry I can't be much help to you, but if you manage to get your situation sorted with Airbnb directly, would love to know how.
Thanks,
Lisa

timc1619

Hi Lisa,
My friend who booked is currently in communication with them. I’ll update this thread if it gets resolved. 

Good luck
Tim

mattyprice4004

Point them to their own terms, and if they still don't play ball then it's time to get the CC company involved. 
Where they're clearly breaching their own terms, I'm sure they'll agree and refund. 

Westin

Rather than start a new thread titled “AirBNB again..” it probably would have been better to add your comment and question (if not already answered on there) to the existing AirBNB thread. 
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6123764/airbnb-booking-refusing-to-refund#latest
Perhaps a Board Monitor would consider merging.

mikey4020

Has anyone managed to cancel an AirBnB trip and received a full refund? I have a four night stay booked in Spain from 17th May until 21st May, so falls within the period they say they're offering full refunds for. 

I have paid half the balance of the stay on credit card with the remainder due on 2nd May. When I go in to the cancel option and select the COVID-19 disruption option, it only offers me travel credit or a £0 refund. Following the instructions you can click "Get Started" to start the extenuating purposes process. However it looks for proof cancellation of travel or proof of government travel restrictions. My flights are with EasyJet and won't be cancelled until seven days before according to EasyJet website and the Government advice doesn't give dates which is what they require for proof. 
Has anyone managed to get a refund and what did you submit? Will I have to pay the remainder and wait until seven days before we travel until I have proof the flights are cancelled?

Edit: I should have said the trip was booked in February 2020 and I do have Travel Insurance with my Nationwide FlexPlus account which has been in place for a number of years now. 

mr_stripey

My Airbnb refund was straightforward enough. But my booking was made last August for a 10 night stay in Dubrovnik in May. When BA canned the  flights last week, I went on to the booking with airbnb and cancelled it and full refund was in the bank the next day

mikey4020

I’m thinking until the flights are cancelled there’s nothing I can do. Just unsure wether paying the balance is the best thing to do. 

timc1619

Rather than wasting my time with a really unhelpful post with a link to a topic where the circumstances are very different why don't you just not post in the future?

The problem with adding additional questions to existing threads, with different circumstances, is that the thread can end up getting highjacked and makes searching the site in future problematic.

timc1619

lisa ,

Just FYI we are still negotiating

Tim

timc1619

we are currently in the process of trying. they have said if one of the party works for the NHS and can't travel they will refund. this is not mentioned on their website. 4 out of the 6 in the party are however key workers (police) but at the moment they aren't budging for some reason. Currently trying another angle by getting the host to cancel as they can do so for no penalty. this is according to the website so take that with a pinch of salt!