Another last minute cancellation/sob story

[Gailete]

You would think they would want if possible, the chance for one more happy time together, I could see their point though. Unless they have truly aggressive form of cancer that needs immediate treatment. It seems of the people I have known just in the past year or so getting it, we hear the reports of it being diagnosed, then a week or so later, they hear about the treatment plan, and then depending on all sorts of factors, starting the treatment plan, or the radiation, of the surgery. etc. I when a woman I know just hadn't felt well on her vacation, she went to the doctor and discovered she had stage 4 ovarian cancer. The husband in his updates, never seemed to show that there was any urgency in the treatment which I thought was very odd to say the least. But then a year or so on the news a teenage girl who played basketball on her team had been diagnosed with leukemia, played a game while feeling fine and later that night died. She had only known about it for 3 days! Nasty disease that is for sure.

[disneysteve]

TH, I'm curious about something. Do you collect a security deposit or charge a flat fee for some sort of damage insurance?

Most rentals used to charge a deposit and refund it after the stay. More and more, we're seeing places charge a fee that I guess they use to pay for an insurance policy to cover any damages. As a guest, I'm totally opposed to that because I feel like I'm being charged for damage I haven't done. From the owner's standpoint, though, the security deposit wouldn't go very far if a guest trashed the place. Really, how much repair work could be done for $200?

I wonder if there is something you could do along the same lines to "insure" against cancellations and charge the guest a fee for that.

[TexasHusker]

TH, I'm curious about something. Do you collect a security deposit or charge a flat fee for some sort of damage insurance?

Most rentals used to charge a deposit and refund it after the stay. More and more, we're seeing places charge a fee that I guess they use to pay for an insurance policy to cover any damages. As a guest, I'm totally opposed to that because I feel like I'm being charged for damage I haven't done. From the owner's standpoint, though, the security deposit wouldn't go very far if a guest trashed the place. Really, how much repair work could be done for $200?

I wonder if there is something you could do along the same lines to "insure" against cancellations and charge the guest a fee for that.

This particular guest booked through VRBO. VRBO offers a trip cancellation insurance policy, but I highly doubt that a diagnosis of a dread disease would trigger the insurance to pay. The guest didn't buy the policy, so the point is moot any way.

[Nutria]

Here's the latest:

"I was just diagnosed with cancer and it's still within 28 days of our arrival. I can't believe how greedy your company is!"

How do I know you aren't blowing smoke up my ass in order to break the contract?

[Gailete]

How do I know you aren't blowing smoke up my ass in order to break the contract?

At one point, I lived in a place where I just had planted a bunch of flowering mum plants (full size - too big to miss) when a 3-4 y/o kid across the way came and jumped on them all until they were flat. When I addressed the situation to his mother, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "He can't help it, he has leukemia"!!!! Here is this filthy child playing out doors with no supervision. He looked like he and his clothes hadn’t been washed in the past 2 weeks besides! Another neighbor said that this family lived in a home that was filthy and included dog poo on the floor that apparently no one thought was important to clean up with a child with leukemia in the house, or even without leukemia in it. Mom didn't offer to pay for the plants that I had just paid for a week prior either.

Sometimes you would just like a doctor's note stating that the person really is sick! I do know that jumping on plants doesn't come about because someone has leukemia.

[~bs]

How do I know you aren't blowing smoke up my ass in order to break the contract?

you could look at it in the sense that airlines and hotels generally have a no cancellation policy for whatever reason (unless you paid insurance), and for good reason. Imagine how many cancellations they'd be getting for all sorts of reasons.

If you don't pay the insurance, you're risking losing out if something happens and you cannot use the services. It's only common sense. I could get in a car accident and wind up in the hospital the night before the flight. The excuse doesn't matter. That's the risk you take if you choose not to use the insurance.

[disneysteve]

I highly doubt that a diagnosis of a dread disease would trigger the insurance to pay.

It probably would if it prevented the person from traveling.

I was just wondering if there was some way for you to insure yourself against cancellations but charge the guest for that insurance. I don't know if such a product exists but if it doesn't, it probably should.

My thought was that it might be similar to the way many owners are now handling damage insurance.

[~bs]

It probably would if it prevented the person from traveling.

I was just wondering if there was some way for you to insure yourself against cancellations but charge the guest for that insurance. I don't know if such a product exists but if it doesn't, it probably should.

My thought was that it might be similar to the way many owners are now handling damage insurance.

doesn't airlines and hotels do that all the time? Just write the conditions into the contract.

[TexasHusker]

It probably would if it prevented the person from traveling.

I was just wondering if there was some way for you to insure yourself against cancellations but charge the guest for that insurance. I don't know if such a product exists but if it doesn't, it probably should.

My thought was that it might be similar to the way many owners are now handling damage insurance.

There are such insurances, but they aren't worth the paper they are written on, and I couldn't in good conscience peddle them.

[Gailete]

It probably would if it prevented the person from traveling.

Perhaps if they were put into official, governmental quarentine for something like the Ebola virus, WITH documented proof. The rental company it seems should be able to have something like written into an insurance contract since at this point it isn't like the person doesn't want to go on vacation, they just aren't allowed to. Not the same situation as someone that just got their third DUI in a year and got sent to the slammer the week before they were to go on vacation. In that case it is their fault. No one has to drive drunk. No one ever has to be drunk for that matter. Drinking is always a person's choice.

We just had a woman try to rent our rental property and she mentioned her DUI in this offhand sort of way. When we got her search results back, we found it was her third and she was facing 2 weeks to 2years in jail. Perfect candidate to rent to!

[msomnipotent]

At one point, I lived in a place where I just had planted a bunch of flowering mum plants (full size - too big to miss) when a 3-4 y/o kid across the way came and jumped on them all until they were flat. When I addressed the situation to his mother, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "He can't help it, he has leukemia"!!!! Here is this filthy child playing out doors with no supervision. He looked like he and his clothes hadn’t been washed in the past 2 weeks besides! Another neighbor said that this family lived in a home that was filthy and included dog poo on the floor that apparently no one thought was important to clean up with a child with leukemia in the house, or even without leukemia in it. Mom didn't offer to pay for the plants that I had just paid for a week prior either.

Sometimes you would just like a doctor's note stating that the person really is sick! I do know that jumping on plants doesn't come about because someone has leukemia.

I would have called CPS on her if her house was that filthy and she was letting a 3 year old wander around unsupervised. He could have been hit by a car.

It is amazing what people will lie about. I had so many people tell me that their house burned down and ask for me to give them something I was trying to sell for free. If it was clothes or something, I would do it. In fact, I did do it the first time. But people were asking for free tackle boxes and what not. I finally had to put in my ads that there must be an arsonist running around town because so many houses have been burned down, and to contact the Red Cross and not me. Not only did the requests stop, but I noticed other sellers adding the same thing to their ads.

It is looking like I am going to have to cancel my travel plans this weekend. My dog suddenly started screaming in pain Sunday night and has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. She needs several medications given several times a day, so I don't think I can leave. Even so, I didn't even think to get out of paying for the condo we rented. I will just get someone to go in my place if I can't go. I'm still hoping I can go, though!

[TexasHusker]

Today, we had a guest supposed to arrive, and he called to say he wanted to cancel. He wanted his money back because he was fleeing hurricane Irma but as it turns out he didn't need the cabin.

We declined of course, and he became belligerent, stating we were being greedy and should be more lax in a natural disaster situation. I tried to explain that we can't by default just transfer consequences of various tragedies straight to our homeowners. He hung up on me.

Of course, we could have rented that place 10 times to other people, but he is demanding that the homeowner eat it since he ended up not needing it.

I'm sure I'll be disputing a chargeback tomorrow. Peoples' expectations are simply amazing.

[disneysteve]

Today, we had a guest supposed to arrive, and he called to say he wanted to cancel. He wanted his money back because he was fleeing hurricane Irma but as it turns out he didn't need the cabin.

I'm curious what you would have done if he had said he was unable to make the trip because of Irma. If the guy lives in Florida and couldn't get there because all of the flights were cancelled and the airports closed, how would you handle that request? Have you ever made allowances for an actual natural disaster or do you still tell them they're out of luck and should have bought trip insurance?

[TexasHusker]

I'm curious what you would have done if he had said he was unable to make the trip because of Irma. If the guy lives in Florida and couldn't get there because all of the flights were cancelled and the airports closed, how would you handle that request? Have you ever made allowances for an actual natural disaster or do you still tell them they're out of luck and should have bought trip insurance?

It would be unethical and immoral to transfer a guest's risk to the homeowner, regardless of the reason.

If a guest can't make it for whatever reason, how is it suddenly the homeowner's duty to take that financial hit? Makes no sense.

I forfeited $700 of airlines tickets in July because Justin Beaver cancelled his Dallas concert. That's my misfortune. Asking American Airlines to absorb my misfortune wouldn't be fair. It's on me. Unlucky day. Life goes on.

There's an epidemic in this country of people failing to own their stuff. Always someone else's fault.

[disneysteve]

It would be unethical and immoral to transfer a guest's risk to the homeowner, regardless of the reason.

I don't see how it would be either unethical or immoral or an owner to say, "I normally wouldn't do this but I can see from your address where you live so I trust that you're telling the truth. I'll issue the refund. Good luck and stay safe."

I'm not saying you are in any way obligated to do that, but if you chose to, I don't see anything wrong with you doing it. It's your place. It's entirely up to you if you're willing to forfeit the cost of that stay.