Accepted After Check-In, No Refund
This was a same-day booking. I messaged the host prior to check-in to confirm whether the booking would be accepted, as I had not received confirmation and needed certainty to plan accommodation.
Several hours passed without clear acceptance. The host responded that there was availability “if it’s not too late,” but did not formally accept the booking at that time.
The booking was only officially accepted by the host after check-in time had already passed. By that point, due to the lack of confirmation, alternative accommodation had already been arranged and the stay was no longer usable.
Despite this, a refund was refused on the basis that the booking had been accepted — even though the acceptance occurred after check-in and after repeated attempts to confirm.
For same-day bookings, timely and clear communication is essential. Accepting a booking after check-in and then withholding a refund places the full risk and financial burden on the guest, which is not reasonable, particularly for first-time users of the platform.