VRBO won't refund Sanibel stay for next week

[Anonymous]

I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No, it isn’t. People get what they pay for in this context. People generally turn to VRBO or AirBNB when they don’t want to pay higher rates to rent a house through a rental company or pay for a hotel room/suite. But as the NYT article posted a page or two back shows, those bargains come with drawbacks. People who paid for hotels or rented through established rental agencies are generally getting refunds or credits for a future stay, because that’s one of the benefits you get when you pay more for these services/facilities. If you go the discount route *and* you go even cheaper by not buying trip insurance, you are getting the bargain you chose if you aren’t entitled to a refund, and there is nothing unethical about holding someone to their agreements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No. Contracts exist for a reason. Following a contract, that was entered openly and willingly by both parties, is not unethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

If the rental agreement doesn’t provide for a refund in this context, one could argue that it’s OP who’s acting unethically trying to rip off the owner by getting her credit card company to reverse a charge when she’s not entitled to it.

[Anonymous]

I remember when I found the perfect airbnb in Savannah for a fall weekend. I still want to stay there. Alas, refunds and cancellations were only given with 45 days notice. I booked us in a hotel instead. The hotel room could be cancelled with 24 hours notice.

I read the refund and cancellation policies very, very closely before booking anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No, it isn’t. People get what they pay for in this context. People generally turn to VRBO or AirBNB when they don’t want to pay higher rates to rent a house through a rental company or pay for a hotel room/suite. But as the NYT article posted a page or two back shows, those bargains come with drawbacks. People who paid for hotels or rented through established rental agencies are generally getting refunds or credits for a future stay, because that’s one of the benefits you get when you pay more for these services/facilities. If you go the discount route *and* you go even cheaper by not buying trip insurance, you are getting the bargain you chose if you aren’t entitled to a refund, and there is nothing unethical about holding someone to their agreements.

VRBO and Air BnBs are generally NOT cheaper than renting through a rental company (usually renting via a rental company is cheaper). So you've got the wrong. The fees that both platforms now charge are outrageous.

Some owners rent exclusively via AirBnB and VRBO.

There is no discount. Have you even rented through them in the last few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember when I found the perfect airbnb in Savannah for a fall weekend. I still want to stay there. Alas, refunds and cancellations were only given with 45 days notice. I booked us in a hotel instead. The hotel room could be cancelled with 24 hours notice.

I read the refund and cancellation policies very, very closely before booking anything.

I have not booked an airbnb/vrbo place since all of the fiascos at the beginning of Covid. I was SO THANKFUL that our spring break 2020 trip was to a national hotel chain and cancelling was no issue. We didn't lose a penny and it was stress-free. I'm sticking with hotels from now on whenever possible. But I'm lucky that my kids are older now and don't need a separate sleeping space. I feel sorry for parents of young kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Six months ago we booked a long weekend on Sanibel island next week. Even if the condo we booked wasn't damaged by Ian, there is no power or water, the only road to the island was destroyed, and even if you arrived by boat, the authorities are only letting local residents collect their belongings and then leave again.

The property manager says "reservations are non-refundable." I escalated to VRBO and they said "refunds are up to the owner, we can't help you."

Am I taking crazy pills? How can someone keep my $2,000 when they are physically and legally unable to provide the service I paid for?

I will dispute with my CC next, no idea if they will take my side.

https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/hurricane-ian-airbnb-vrbo-refunds/

I just read the newspaper article linked above and neither airbnb nor vrbo allow for cancellations/refunds during hurricane season due to hurricanes.

I suspect OP will be out of luck unless he/she want to take legal action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No, it isn’t. People get what they pay for in this context. People generally turn to VRBO or AirBNB when they don’t want to pay higher rates to rent a house through a rental company or pay for a hotel room/suite. But as the NYT article posted a page or two back shows, those bargains come with drawbacks. People who paid for hotels or rented through established rental agencies are generally getting refunds or credits for a future stay, because that’s one of the benefits you get when you pay more for these services/facilities. If you go the discount route *and* you go even cheaper by not buying trip insurance, you are getting the bargain you chose if you aren’t entitled to a refund, and there is nothing unethical about holding someone to their agreements.

VRBO and Air BnBs are generally NOT cheaper than renting through a rental company (usually renting via a rental company is cheaper). So you've got the wrong. The fees that both platforms now charge are outrageous.

Some owners rent exclusively via AirBnB and VRBO.

There is no discount. Have you even rented through them in the last few years?

That’s not been our experience but that aside, if you are paying more to rent through VRBO or Airbnb than through a rental company with fewer services and consumer protections, well, I don’t know what to tell you but it seems like a poor choice. It still doesn’t get you out of the contract you signed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No, it isn’t. People get what they pay for in this context. People generally turn to VRBO or AirBNB when they don’t want to pay higher rates to rent a house through a rental company or pay for a hotel room/suite. But as the NYT article posted a page or two back shows, those bargains come with drawbacks. People who paid for hotels or rented through established rental agencies are generally getting refunds or credits for a future stay, because that’s one of the benefits you get when you pay more for these services/facilities. If you go the discount route *and* you go even cheaper by not buying trip insurance, you are getting the bargain you chose if you aren’t entitled to a refund, and there is nothing unethical about holding someone to their agreements.

I don't think that is the reason people rent through AirBNB or VRBO. It's not cheaper than rental agencies. It's because it's hard to find those local rental companies in other areas especially with reviews.
I am 100% in OP's favor. Basic contract law and the renter can't provide habitable accommodations. This is from someone who ate the cost when we couldn't travel due to covid.

[Anonymous]

This is from the article OP linked above in first post.

"However, should a host not cancel first, the situation becomes more complex, particularly with Airbnb, given its cancellation policy specifically excludes the annual storm season in Florida. Airbnb says that it offers refunds for “events beyond one’s control”, including some extreme weather events and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, but despite this, the company deems tropical hurricanes and storms in the state between June and November to be “foreseeable” and its cancellation policy does not result in refunds under those circumstances.

Meanwhile, a Vrbo spokeswoman told The New York Times that “natural disasters, such as hurricanes or wildfires, do not override the cancellation policy set by the host and agreed to by the guest when they book”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that maybe legally OP is out the $. However, it’s just wrong for the owner to not refund the money given the condo is uninhabitable. It’s unethical and bad karma.

No, it isn’t. People get what they pay for in this context. People generally turn to VRBO or AirBNB when they don’t want to pay higher rates to rent a house through a rental company or pay for a hotel room/suite. But as the NYT article posted a page or two back shows, those bargains come with drawbacks. People who paid for hotels or rented through established rental agencies are generally getting refunds or credits for a future stay, because that’s one of the benefits you get when you pay more for these services/facilities. If you go the discount route *and* you go even cheaper by not buying trip insurance, you are getting the bargain you chose if you aren’t entitled to a refund, and there is nothing unethical about holding someone to their agreements.

I don't think that is the reason people rent through AirBNB or VRBO. It's not cheaper than rental agencies. It's because it's hard to find those local rental companies in other areas especially with reviews.
I am 100% in OP's favor. Basic contract law and the renter can't provide habitable accommodations. This is from someone who ate the cost when we couldn't travel due to covid.

^I should have added. The house rental we lost out on due to covid was a local agency, not air bnb. You're wrong that it would offer more protection.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line....only support businesses that give you a 24 or 48 hour cancellation policy.

Buyer beware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember when I found the perfect airbnb in Savannah for a fall weekend. I still want to stay there. Alas, refunds and cancellations were only given with 45 days notice. I booked us in a hotel instead. The hotel room could be cancelled with 24 hours notice.

I read the refund and cancellation policies very, very closely before booking anything.

I have not booked an airbnb/vrbo place since all of the fiascos at the beginning of Covid. I was SO THANKFUL that our spring break 2020 trip was to a national hotel chain and cancelling was no issue. We didn't lose a penny and it was stress-free. I'm sticking with hotels from now on whenever possible. But I'm lucky that my kids are older now and don't need a separate sleeping space. I feel sorry for parents of young kids.

+1. We had rented a house in the outerbanks for spring break 2020 through a rental company and they agreed to transfer our reservation to another week a year later at no additional cost. Friends who rented through VRBO had very hit or miss experiences in getting any accommodation from the property owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line....only support businesses that give you a 24 or 48 hour cancellation policy.

Buyer beware.

Agree. But sadly some Marriotts that I have been looking at are inching closer and closer to 7 days out to recoup funds.