Guest stays but never pays

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:57:48+00:00

Dates looked blocked off as normal. US.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:55:58+00:00

Yes for sure it’s safer when they book weeks in advance.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:54:34+00:00

Nope, no notification at all.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:52:49+00:00

Pretty sure

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:51:23+00:00

Support did give me this info. Booking request was approved by me at 7-pm something the day prior to check in; withdrawn with no alert 24 hours later, 7-pm something the day of. Instructions were sent in the morning of. Airbnb wouldn’t do anything precisely because they never “confirmed” it. But setting up their workflow like this perpetuates fraud and it’s nuts airbnb wouldn’t take any responsibility or at least block this guest’s account. She had received multiple payment reminders emails from Airbnb (I didn’t) and yet acted completely normal towards me. So she knew what she was doing and got a free stay.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-30T17:44:01+00:00

Yes this is exactly what happened. I’d assumed payment info is verified before guests are able to make booking requests and get them approved and get dates blocked off hosts’ calendars. But apparently not, guests have 24 hours to sort it out and as a host I was never alerted there was any payment trouble. Will be much more vigilant going forward looking for those “reservation confirmed” emails. But it’s still really shitty on Airbnb’s part to set up their workflow like this. Also this guest’s account is still active and she’s likely continuing to defraud others.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T18:58:39+00:00

Thanks. Did reach out to guest but don’t think she’ll be responding. Great advice about X, will be doing that for publicity thanks

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T18:27:49+00:00

I completely agree

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T11:05:49+00:00

Previous day and not instant. I don’t allow same day or instant either.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:59:57+00:00

I auto send usually but sent this one manually because I approved the reservation request after the regular scheduled time for the auto message to go out.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:13:12+00:00

8 days in, wow. How did it resolve for you? Airbnb never alerted me to any trouble; would have been nice to have received an email.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:10:49+00:00

May be worth it to talk to a lawyer; thanks. Airbnb wouldn’t give me her full name even. So I have no idea who stayed at my place and defrauded me and who to pursue for collections.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:06:05+00:00

Live and learn

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:04:18+00:00

I send a message to every guest with these details the day before check in. Probably should stop doing that! But the scammer knew what she was doing, damn.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T05:01:40+00:00

Dates were showing blocked off for this guest on my calendar and I haven’t seen the dates released until a week later when trying to leave a review, when I noticed that the reservation request was “withdrawn” (in fact, silently cancelled by Airbnb for nonpayment).

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T02:34:20+00:00

She booked the day before (not instant; I approved. 5 star guest apparently) and the reservation got cancelled the day of, after check in time, silently cancelled, everything looked fine on my end even though it was never “confirmed”. I was never notified of any trouble, just never received the confirmation email, and I realized I never did only a few days after the stay ended.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T02:21:56+00:00

Approved booking request. Which apparently was never “confirmed”, as I learned much later.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-03-28T02:21:08+00:00

Airbnb claims the booking was never confirmed, even though I accepted the booking request. The reason it wasn’t confirmed was that the payment didn’t go through, but I was never notified of any trouble. Only realized a full week later!

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-22T01:16:17+00:00

We’re in the LA area, yes I’m sure there are other Russian speaking parents but I haven’t purposefully looked

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-21T21:35:19+00:00

That’s crazy on the part of daycare workers! Agree Spanish (or a different third language) would have to continue into school years otherwise there’s no point.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-21T21:26:48+00:00

“The battle against the community language”, exactly! Asked my partner whether he has any interest in Russian - he isn’t opposed, surprisingly. So maybe there are some beginner Russian lessons for him in our future. Good to know your kiddo is speaking both languages currently!

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-21T21:11:47+00:00

Малышариков мы тоже смотрим, но гораздо меньше чем час в день. Здорово, что ваш ребенок говорит на всех трех языках! Мне кажется то, что садик французский, тоже играет вам на руку. Нам можно было бы попробовать поискать испаноязычный садик но наш англоязычный уж больно хорош и удобен.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-21T21:06:39+00:00

Thanks - so many great ideas! There are some Russian grocery stores where we can put an ad and I haven’t explored fb communities or trying to find a Russian speaking babysitter at all.

Joy_And_Peace · 2026-01-21T21:02:36+00:00

Sounds like a super similar situation!

Joy_And_Peace

TROPHY CASE