DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I made a reservation on Airbnb final yr for a three-month journey to France this winter. My host canceled on the final minute, and Airbnb agreed to refund me $728.
I’ve not acquired the cash but. The explanation: I closed the checking account to which my Airbnb account was connected. Airbnb received’t ship the cash to my new account.
I forwarded a letter from Chase Financial institution, exhibiting that the previous account had been closed months in the past and, subsequently, couldn’t have a cost processed to it. I’ve referred to as and emailed them a number of occasions, and I’ve even contacted the Higher Enterprise Bureau, to no avail.
Airbnb is sitting on my cash and claiming that it’s the accountability of me or Chase to place it proper, despite the fact that Chase can’t reactivate an account that has been closed for thus many months. I need Airbnb to pay me the cash nonetheless they’ll, both by test or by direct cost to my checking account. Are you able to assist me get my $728 again?
— Bart Colen, Pingree Grove, Illinois
ANSWER: Airbnb ought to have refunded you a very long time in the past. Why didn’t it?
Airbnb’s coverage is to refund your cash to your authentic cost technique. So, in case you used a bank card, it will return to that card. And the rationale for that is easy: It’s safer and simpler than making an attempt to chase down a brand new cost technique or writing a test.
However Airbnb claims it is going to accommodate you in case you swap accounts. “If your original payment method’s account was closed, the refund sent by Airbnb won’t process,” it says on its website. “If this happens, you can contact Airbnb to step in and help.” It appears to be like like Airbnb didn’t step in to assist.
That is frequent. From what I can inform, refunds will mechanically return to the unique type of cost. Usually, even staff have a tough time reversing the transaction. And who is aware of the place your cash went? Your financial institution might have it someplace, or Airbnb nonetheless may need it. It’s an actual thriller.
(As a aspect word, I’ve all the time needed to do an investigative story that traces a refund like yours. Is there some form of slush fund the corporate has the place all of the lacking refund cash goes? Now this might be a narrative!)
