Had to cancel same day stay

1

Set stage 1:
I had a checkin at 3pm today. I was over there yesterday w/ a handyman tightening somethings up for a few hours. Thank you note is on the counter. Extra supplies added (see below). Apple Cider doughnuts in the car ready to drop off.

Got a call yesterday - emergency surgery today for parent (although parent now wavering due to fear) - no details for privacy but it’s bad and must convince parent to proceed (working on that now). So, full plate this weekend and maybe emergency trip out of state & due to Covid & my personal situation flying is high risk but what can you do.

Stage 2:

Guest had been working me over from the start. Discount due to their personal reason for visit (ok; feeling compassion). More discount because other place offering this (um, no, please book other place; oh, no you have better reviews so…); offer sent.

Response - shave a day off stay now as arrival times unknown (ok, right, & FYI early checkin fee/option sent in reply).

No response to “entire group agree to house rules/policies; send again (response- “looks fine” & spouse will call about timing. What? All you need to know I’ve sent).

Spouse calls - suddenly another person can come (over my max) they’ll bring a floor mattress although there’s enough bed space (again, compassion, I’ll supply extra stuff to accommodate); tries to drop 1000 hints why should be free & then asks to leave cash on the counter. Who am I? Boo Boo the Fool!!? (Although at this point feeling I am as I’ve clearly been worked);

Later, from spouse - did you send code? Make it xxxx. Response - yes, 24+ hours ago via platform & you’ll recognize it (please read my messages!).

THIS MORNING …schmooze talk followed by want to get in early, drop off stuff/checkin. WTH!?? i respond I won’t know until later today, have appointments, fees provided and reminder I need notice a day before if late checkout is needed and same fees apply. Response: nevermind.

I send my same response on platform, just in case. Spouse has been texting this entire time. Booking spouse responds - no also, don’t want to spend any more money. And are there enough supplies for the extra person (I already assured of this) & what kind of this and that do I have because don’t like this kind or that kind. WTH?!?

So…I won’t say how it all panned out but you can see from the topic I did the worst thing ever - same day cancel (my first ever cancel too). More details once I hear where you may have gone with this situation.

1 Like
2

Oh, these guests definitely earned themselves a same-day cancel. Playing the compassion card and then abusing the host’s sympathy is vile behavior.

6 Likes
3

Yes. I’m so upset though. I’m having to hold back tears. Mostly, it’s because of my parent, but this really isn’t how I do things and it makes me feel like I failed.

But hey. Big kudos to AirBNB. After the full story and reviewing the communications they cancelled for me, penalty free :open_hands:t4:

And now I will eat their donuts.

image
image1920×2560 271 KB

28 Likes
5

I totally misunderstood. It sounded like the guests had a parent who required emergency surgery.

6

No, sorry to confuse. If they hadn’t been being so manipulative and high-maintenance, and I believe deceitful (cannot prove so hesitate to even mention) I could have been ok with them because they wouldn’t be a distraction. But messages and calls daily trying to get this free and that free and pre complaining about their physical issues and how my amenities might aggravate them on the day of checkin. I’d had enough. I need to focus elsewhere this weekend.

6 Likes
7

I am so sorry you’re in this position with your parent! I hope they get the surgery and it goes well.

As for cancelling on this guest, I don’t blame you at all. Sounds like they would plague you all weekend and ultimately be horrible guests. I think you dodged a bullet.

4 Likes
8

Sounds like they would be impossible to please, a moaning review and you feeling resentful of all the effort you went to.
Eat the donuts with relish, and I hope that they learnt a lesson that some hosts can’t be walked over!

4 Likes
9

May I just add that if you have to fly, wear a high quality mask, N95. I just flew several flights and while I was nervous about it, I had a mask on that made it a little difficult to breath, but super tight fitting and my nose wasn’t hanging out like so many I saw in the airport. Never removed my mask on a flight, only in airport and not near anyone.

2 Likes
10

Thank you, all @muddy, @JJD, @rmiriam, and @Debthecat. I feel the same way. I felt that not only had they taken advantage at every turn, but they would continue to do so all weekend (I could already see what was coming next…). AND, when they threw in the physical ailments and what kind/sizes of this or that did I have because they hate this/that, I knew I was in trouble. I felt the “refund” setup coming on, on top of everything else. If it hadn’t been for my personal situation I’d have sucked it up, but really? How can people be this way and not “see themselves”?

3 Likes
11

Definitely! I haven’t been in a crowd in 2 years and definitely nowhere near an airport. But driving is out of the question due to the circumstances so I’ll do what I have to. The situation is changing rapidly and frequently so who knows if I can stay or if I have to go. We’ll just see.

1 Like
12

Without the extra burden of an ill family member, I had guests like this a couple of years ago, @aelilya . I wanted to same-day cancel them, but didn’t.
I should have.
You are so right on this. Now I hope all goes well with whatever the weekend brings for you.

3 Likes
14

Thank you @lawre! It’s good to have some reassurance on a hard decision like that.

I just had a thought. I was ready to suck up all the penalties. $100 fine, blocked calendar, loss of SHost status (can only cancel 1 in every hundred and I don’t have 100 stays counting Air alone). But the CS OFFERED to do it penalty-free if I was uncomfortable with the stay. I thought it odd the wife booked but then the husband took over comms via text after that (asking for all the free stuff). I was wishing all along I could see his profile on Air, assuming he has one. These folks had 0 stay reviews and 4 host (not good ones except 1). I am now wondering if their account was flagged. I have CS tell me this…we will flag the account so we will be harder on them next time, but I never believed it. Could it be true? Hmmmm…

4 Likes
16

Oh, wow! Next time I see someone is already a possible issue maybe I will call in and see if CS has any insight they want to offer.

17

I did a same day cancellation because the guest asked 5 times how clean my listing was. I asked if she had any particular issues and she could see my ratings on it. Still kept asking……suddenly I had a major plumbing problem….so sad too bad couldn’t host her and a no penalty cancellation.

6 Likes
18

Oh my, goodness, I hope this translates because I’m rolling on the floor!

My husband has never seen the forum, but I share info with him.

@JJD, I just told him about your needing to expand on “rude, dirty pigs”. He starts cracking up and says, "Yeah…“rude, dirty pigs. 2020202020”. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I said, “Look at you, making some Airhost jokes like you know what’s up!” :joy:

4 Likes
20

I don’t find it particularly odd. It was likely a matter of them assuming that he could be a better intimidating heavy.

2 Likes
21

Oh definitely he’s the smarmiest of the pair, but I was also wondering if he had poor reviews and so couldn’t lead with his account anymore. I totally would not be surprised.

1 Like
22

Oh no! That’s just scary. And wrong. Ewwww! Thank goodness they intercepted this guy. I do hate they already have our addresses by that time.

1 Like
24

Can we help … PUL-LEASE? (blink, blink)

3 Likes
25

LOL! I must confess, @Jefferson, before the straw that broke the camels back, I was already putting together a thread in my mind to ask you guys (and specifically thinking of you) how to review my horrible people even if they left my place clean.

@JJD you have to let @Jefferson take a stab at the details. I mean, just look at that face (in your mind) (blink, blink)

1 Like