WWYD - Family booked your AirBNB and backed out without paying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have family with a beach house - we are only offered it on low periods and even have been bumped at the last minute if someone wants to rent it. Once we were offered it during a high period when someone dropped out at last minute.

It is a luxury when we get it, but we know how it works. The beach house is a business, family needs to remember this.

Yep. My sibling used to own a beach house and I would only go stay there with a couple days notice. Sort of a “if no one rents it that week by Friday then you can go” sort of deal. Sometimes I paid, sometimes I didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did they cancel?

They gave a reason that I don't believe. Even if true, they should have offered to pay given they blocked our calendar and prevented us from getting a booking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another voice here that is shocked you charged family in the first place, even at a discounted rate. You should have just said spring break is blocked on the calendar because it’s high season and offered up a different period of time instead, for free.

Either way, I’d express disappointment with the last minute cancellation but I wouldn’t ask for more money or anything like that.

We did and that's when they offered to pay but then didn't actually pay and cancelled last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe the people who are saying you should do it for free, WTH?!

How about they give their family members that amount of money for a week, because that’s what happens when you let someone stay rent free.

It’s the time-honored DCUM tradition of reflexively bashing the OP even when it makes you look like an idiot.

Yep!

[Anonymous]

You have scum family

[Anonymous]

I can understand not charging family if you’re, say, a hairstylist and you give your sister a trim after dinner. That doesn’t cost you anything but time. You do not have to give family a free vacation stay that LOSES you money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have scum family

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off too. Theh obviously intentionally didn't pay us and waiting for the very last minute to cancel knowing that as long as they didn't pay us we couldn't keep their money.

We most likely will have to see them at dinner at another relatives house.

Without making a scene, I don't want them to think we don't know. "Look, you obviously didn't pay us because you were planning to back out last minute. The right thing to do would have been to offer to pay us and you didn't even do that. Don't ever ask again to use our property."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have scum family

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off too. Theh obviously intentionally didn't pay us and waiting for the very last minute to cancel knowing that as long as they didn't pay us we couldn't keep their money.

We most likely will have to see them at dinner at another relatives house.

Without making a scene, I don't want them to think we don't know. "Look, you obviously didn't pay us because you were planning to back out last minute. The right thing to do would have been to offer to pay us and you didn't even do that. Don't ever ask again to use our property."

I’d be super pissed too, but just let it go. You can’t salvage the $ so better to just move on. If they were stupid enough to ask you to use it again in the future, THEN you can unload lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have scum family

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off too. Theh obviously intentionally didn't pay us and waiting for the very last minute to cancel knowing that as long as they didn't pay us we couldn't keep their money.

We most likely will have to see them at dinner at another relatives house.

Without making a scene, I don't want them to think we don't know. "Look, you obviously didn't pay us because you were planning to back out last minute. The right thing to do would have been to offer to pay us and you didn't even do that. Don't ever ask again to use our property."

I’d be super pissed too, but just let it go. You can’t salvage the $ so better to just move on. If they were stupid enough to ask you to use it again in the future, THEN you can unload lol.

+1 op, this is one of those ‘rise above’ moments. If they bring it up, fire away. If they don’t, let it go and be satisfied with the knowledge they will never step foot in that house again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have scum family

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off too. Theh obviously intentionally didn't pay us and waiting for the very last minute to cancel knowing that as long as they didn't pay us we couldn't keep their money.

We most likely will have to see them at dinner at another relatives house.

Without making a scene, I don't want them to think we don't know. "Look, you obviously didn't pay us because you were planning to back out last minute. The right thing to do would have been to offer to pay us and you didn't even do that. Don't ever ask again to use our property."

If I were you I would ice them out and badmouth them to anyone and everyone behind their backs. But I’m petty like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another voice here that is shocked you charged family in the first place, even at a discounted rate. You should have just said spring break is blocked on the calendar because it’s high season and offered up a different period of time instead, for free.

Either way, I’d express disappointment with the last minute cancellation but I wouldn’t ask for more money or anything like that.

You’re being ridiculous. Not everyone is made of money. Clearly the moochers didn’t want to pay the full price by going elsewhere. No one is owed free accommodation.

OP had a lot of options including saying no. OP just chose wrong and now knows. We have a very desirable rental and never ever would charge family. Even for high season. In fact if we have a free week here or there during high season I send the alert out to family that it is open. They pay cleaning and we love having people use it.

Sorry but you do do not have a “very desirable rental” if you have open weeks during high season, barring some last-minute cancellation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another voice here that is shocked you charged family in the first place, even at a discounted rate. You should have just said spring break is blocked on the calendar because it’s high season and offered up a different period of time instead, for free.

Either way, I’d express disappointment with the last minute cancellation but I wouldn’t ask for more money or anything like that.

We did and that's when they offered to pay but then didn't actually pay and cancelled last minute.

When they agreed to pay, you give them a week to pay, follow up, and then list if they don’t pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another voice here that is shocked you charged family in the first place, even at a discounted rate. You should have just said spring break is blocked on the calendar because it’s high season and offered up a different period of time instead, for free.

Either way, I’d express disappointment with the last minute cancellation but I wouldn’t ask for more money or anything like that.

We did and that's when they offered to pay but then didn't actually pay and cancelled last minute.

When they agreed to pay, you give them a week to pay, follow up, and then list if they don’t pay.

No - they get 24 hrs to pay, not a week. IMO.

[Anonymous]

OP, what an awful situation. That was really terrible of your family to do that to you. Did they book through the Airbnb website? Or was this just an email “handshake” deal? Did they look at the listing and see what the rental parameters are?

If this is a financial hardship for you to miss out on revenue during one of the hugest priced weeks of the year, then I would say something. If not, then I think this is just a painful lesson to be learned….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did they cancel?

They gave a reason that I don't believe. Even if true, they should have offered to pay given they blocked our calendar and prevented us from getting a booking.

Okay, you really need to give more details here. What did they say as their reason for canceling and why don’t you believe them?