Another last minute cancellation/sob story

[TexasHusker]

Haven't used VRBO in a bit but I know airBNB makes the owner's cancellation policy clear when you are booking. Anything could happen when you book a vacation so the renter needs to be prepared for that.

Contracts don't mean anything these days. If people can find a way to work around them, or frustrate you to the point of dropping the entire matter, they will do so.

[disneysteve]

Contracts don't mean anything these days. If people can find a way to work around them, or frustrate you to the point of dropping the entire matter, they will do so.

Sad but true. You can fight it knowing that you're right with signed contract in hand, but the time and cost of the legal proceedings to do so can easily outweigh the potential benefit - and the customers know that.

[TexasHusker]

Sad but true. You can fight it knowing that you're right with signed contract in hand, but the time and cost of the legal proceedings to do so can easily outweigh the potential benefit - and the customers know that.

On the other hand, I may spend what it takes to win the $2200 dispute, as a matter of principle.

[Gailete]

I remember renting an apartment to some girl. She signed the lease, paid the deposit and about a week or so later I heard from her that she had moved to TX (we are in PA) and wanted her security deposit back! No can do. She forfeited that, and now I had to find another renter. Why does someone rent an aparment and the next week move to TX? This is why some folks are poor and will always be poor, because they never plan out their lives in any way shape or form. But of course they want everyone else to pick up the slack for them.

[tripods68]

That's just life man...part of doing business. Move forward just Suck it UP!

We've never experienced this before. We don't do VRBO anymore, but Airbnb host way better IMO.

[disneysteve]

That's just life man...part of doing business. Move forward just Suck it UP!

Are you saying he shouldn't go after the money? What's the point of having the buyer sign a contract if nothing will be done to enforce it? Sorry, if the customer agreed to the terms, they should be held to those terms.

[Mjenn]

By all means, go get your money, as they agreed to your terms, but I am surprised you are doing so well with booking your property with those cancellation terms. I haven't booked any hotel room, airbnb or cabin/campsite with more than a 48 hours cancellation policy in recent years for exactly this reason.

Most places also have a don't show up and don't cancel your booking you pay the first night and they void the rest of your stay (as there is a 24 hour cancellation policy and not showing up one day counts as notification).

I'm not saying any of this is good practice and I've never cancelled last minute on anything but a business trip that was do to someone else's change of plans and paid for by someone else, but I would not book a holiday rental with a 30 day cancellation policy. But as these people decided to do so, you are certainly within your rights to go after them.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Ugh this is why sometimes I honestly don't book until the last minute. We've had friends back out of a trip because of work or sick kids. Having met MANY couples like that I realize it must suck because so many are losing money hand over fist on trips because they aren't planners. I wonder if they eat the cost or stick it to the VRBO?

[TexasHusker]

Ugh this is why sometimes I honestly don't book until the last minute. We've had friends back out of a trip because of work or sick kids. Having met MANY couples like that I realize it must suck because so many are losing money hand over fist on trips because they aren't planners. I wonder if they eat the cost or stick it to the VRBO?

If you didn't have a 30 day policy, half of the reservations would cancel, meaning homeowners wouldn't bother to rent their homes, which means you couldn't rent a home.

Vacation rentals are like anything else; they work great until one of the parties turns greedy or dishonest.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think from what I hear a lot put it on the card and then deny it. Much like your previous experience.

[TexasHusker]

I think from what I hear a lot put it on the card and then deny it. Much like your previous experience.

While arduous, we usually win such disputes.

[Gailete]

Ugh this is why sometimes I honestly don't book until the last minute. We've had friends back out of a trip because of work or sick kids. Having met MANY couples like that I realize it must suck because so many are losing money hand over fist on trips because they aren't planners. I wonder if they eat the cost or stick it to the VRBO?

At one point I had a chance to go on a quilting cruise, minus the family. So the night before I had to leave I heard a retching sound and got to my son's bed just as he was puking. So then I do all the usual, clean, etc. and then wonder what to do. I had to leave for a week in a few hours. Was he going to be better or get worse and what was going on? This was my son that when he got sick he got really sick so I was worried. And I didn't have trip cancelation insurance. I took the plunge anyhow and went leaving him in the care of his dad. Got to Miami and called home to check on him and when I asked my then husband how the boy was doing, he was like 'what do you mean?' He had completely forgotten that the boy had been up sick in the middle of the night. I, of course, was happy to know he was better, but I almost threw away a $1K+ trip to stay home with him! Makes me wonder how many of those canceled trips really needed to be canceled, even including the case in the first post here. Those with the rental that may only rent during a particular season can lose a lot of income if they didn't have stringent cancelation clauses.

[hamchan]

This is why I don't make vacation reservations on anything with more than a 48 hr cancellation notice required. Sometimes even that isn't enough. My husband got a call from the hospital last month, while we were waiting to board our train at the train station, that he has to come in the next morning for a biopsy of his transplanted kidney. So he had to change his ticket for two days later. His health issues make it really hard to plan ahead. Luckily Amtrak is very flexible.

[disneysteve]

This is why I don't make vacation reservations on anything with more than a 48 hr cancellation notice required. Sometimes even that isn't enough. My husband got a call from the hospital last month, while we were waiting to board our train at the train station, that he has to come in the next morning for a biopsy of his transplanted kidney. So he had to change his ticket for two days later. His health issues make it really hard to plan ahead. Luckily Amtrak is very flexible.

And that's perfectly fine. You are aware of and understand the policies that you are agreeing to, and you respect them. If someone books a rental property with a 30-day cancellation policy, they need to respect that.

OT, but why the last minute biopsy? Aren't those typically scheduled in advance? I know several transplant patients and that's the general routine.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Texas good to know. I just figured most people just either ate the cost or maybe they just get the money back who knows?