WWYD - Family booked your AirBNB and backed out without paying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I don't believe them because they didn't pay. They had several weeks to pay and didn't. I also have gotten the impression that they are flakes. Which is why we didn't want to rent to them for money in the first place, but they insisted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I use a pricing software that maximizes revenue. The shifting rental market (more supply than demand in the winter) means that occasionally they are more last minute bookings but we are always booked. That's why we told them they could wait and if we didn't get a booking we'd let them have it for just the cleaning fee. They insisted on paying and blocking the calendar. Then didn't pay and backed out day before check in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks PPs for the reminder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I don't believe them because they didn't pay. They had several weeks to pay and didn't. I also have gotten the impression that they are flakes. Which is why we didn't want to rent to them for money in the first place, but they insisted.

then send them a bill.

[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 would just say calmly in front of everyone at dinner that they prevented you renting out the house at the height of the season, making you lose out on income, and that this is extremely rude. Look at them in the eye and speak clearly. Let the silence unfold and someone else change the subject. No heat or anger. They'll mumble something, don't respond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I use a pricing software that maximizes revenue. The shifting rental market (more supply than demand in the winter) means that occasionally they are more last minute bookings but we are always booked. That's why we told them they could wait and if we didn't get a booking we'd let them have it for just the cleaning fee. They insisted on paying and blocking the calendar. Then didn't pay and backed out day before check in.

I think they did not understand you would lose out on income if they blocked the calendar, and maybe they don't understand that this is your business and you care so much about this.

So you need to tell them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let it go. Nothing you can do.

+1

[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 would just say calmly in front of everyone at dinner that they prevented you renting out the house at the height of the season, making you lose out on income, and that this is extremely rude. Look at them in the eye and speak clearly. Let the silence unfold and someone else change the subject. No heat or anger. They'll mumble something, don't respond.

do this only if you like family drama.

[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."

Doing that in front of other family members is making a scene and increasing the drama. It should be avoided unless that is your intent. Just never let them reserve again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 would just say calmly in front of everyone at dinner that they prevented you renting out the house at the height of the season, making you lose out on income, and that this is extremely rude. Look at them in the eye and speak clearly. Let the silence unfold and someone else change the subject. No heat or anger. They'll mumble something, don't respond.

do this only if you like family drama.

PP you replied to. Oh, I just have a lot of experience in dealing with people, PP. There is a way to do this without being dramatic yourself, but letting everyone know that they are indeed flakes. I suppose everyone suspects, since OP was suspicious from the beginning. History seems to be on OP's side here, and calling them out without anger will not be seen as punitive or overly dramatic in that context. I suppose you're someone who really cannot stand any sort of public disagreement, and that's fine. I used to be like this, but I've had to learn to speak up. This is how certain people respect you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 would just say calmly in front of everyone at dinner that they prevented you renting out the house at the height of the season, making you lose out on income, and that this is extremely rude. Look at them in the eye and speak clearly. Let the silence unfold and someone else change the subject. No heat or anger. They'll mumble something, don't respond.

do this only if you like family drama.

PP you replied to. Oh, I just have a lot of experience in dealing with people, PP. There is a way to do this without being dramatic yourself, but letting everyone know that they are indeed flakes. I suppose everyone suspects, since OP was suspicious from the beginning. History seems to be on OP's side here, and calling them out without anger will not be seen as punitive or overly dramatic in that context. I suppose you're someone who really cannot stand any sort of public disagreement, and that's fine. I used to be like this, but I've had to learn to speak up. This is how certain people respect you.

Deliberately embarrassing someone in front of people is creating drama no matter how softly you say it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 would just say calmly in front of everyone at dinner that they prevented you renting out the house at the height of the season, making you lose out on income, and that this is extremely rude. Look at them in the eye and speak clearly. Let the silence unfold and someone else change the subject. No heat or anger. They'll mumble something, don't respond.

do this only if you like family drama.

PP you replied to. Oh, I just have a lot of experience in dealing with people, PP. There is a way to do this without being dramatic yourself, but letting everyone know that they are indeed flakes. I suppose everyone suspects, since OP was suspicious from the beginning. History seems to be on OP's side here, and calling them out without anger will not be seen as punitive or overly dramatic in that context. I suppose you're someone who really cannot stand any sort of public disagreement, and that's fine. I used to be like this, but I've had to learn to speak up. This is how certain people respect you.

Deliberately embarrassing someone in front of people is creating drama no matter how softly you say it.

You say this as though "creating drama" is this big bad thing in your mind. There are several shades of confrontation and if you never use any of them, then you are ceding power to others in situations when you really shouldn't have.

Don't play the "ladies don't make waves", PP. That is a patriarchal lure developed to keep you down. Intelligent women across history have always known how to make themselves heard and respected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks PPs for the reminder.

This!

[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."

Doing that in front of other family members is making a scene and increasing the drama. It should be avoided unless that is your intent. Just never let them reserve again.

OP should definitely NOT do this. Family members are the bad guys here. If she does this, she becomes the bad guy.

[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.

And they WILL ask again in the future. Moochers gonna mooch. They have no shame and feel entitled…because you know ..fammblieee.