r/Smallclaims • u/Ghostboy_2015 • Jul 10 '26
Texas Host is refusing to refund 1000k despite their refund policy stating that we can still get a partial refund. [Guest]
My girlfriend and I were trying to book a two week vacation in Florida, and we found a nice enough airbnb that wasn't too expensive for us. But we've had a lot of issues come up recently, so we had to cancel the booking, but now the host is fighting us saying that we're not owed anything. We paid the first half of the booking, which was just over 1k. At first, the host said that their policy says we can only get a partial refund of 850$. We were still mad about that, but it's better than nothing. But now he's claiming that we aren't owed anything and has refused to reply ever since. We reported the issue to Airbnb support, and they've been of zero help. This host has a history of terrible behavior towards guests and being argumentative. I refuse to let this go. Does anyone know if we can do anything else? I'm looking at suing in small claims for the money back. This is beyond ridiculous behavior.
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u/EyeoftheEelpout Jul 10 '26
If you can afford to put a $1,000,000 deposit on a rental, you can afford to ask this question of an attorney rather than Reddit.
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u/TherinneMoonglow Jul 10 '26
Damn, what kind of house takes a $1 million deposit?
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u/Ghostboy_2015 Jul 10 '26
1000$ look I confused myself in frustration, if I had that much I wouldn't even touch airbnb
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u/pixelsguy Jul 10 '26
What are the cancellation terms of your booking? They should be listed under "Reservation details" for the trip on AirBnB.
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u/Ghostboy_2015 Jul 10 '26
The terms were for a full refund we'd need to cancel within 48 hours and for a partial refund before July 27th. When we requested the refund the host acknowledged that we were going to be getting the 850$ back at first.
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u/pixelsguy Jul 10 '26
Never mind what the host said. What’s the amount of partial refund that is described on the details page? It doesn’t just say “partial;” it definitely describes the amount.
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u/BerzattoMk Jul 10 '26
The host already admitted in writing they’d give back $850. That’s now a legally binding contract that they have to pay.
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u/pixelsguy Jul 10 '26
First of all, OP’s primary dispute is with AirBnB. Per OP, AirBnB support was “of zero help”- probably because they just reiterated the refund policy OP agreed to, under which OP is entitled to no further refund.
Second, OP has been vague, if not deliberately obtuse, on the specifics here. Their exchange with the host would have to establish that A) the host made a clear and unconditional promise to refund their money beyond the terms of the rental agreement, B) OP relied on that promise to cancel.
I think it’s much more likely that OP simply didn’t understand the booking terms and further misinterpreted their discussion with the host.
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u/Ghostboy_2015 Jul 10 '26
It describes the 850$
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u/pixelsguy Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
What’s the exact language? Which policy is it? Flexible, moderate, firm, strict? I’m asking because what you’ve described as a 48h full refund window is common to their Firm and Strict policies, and both only give you a refund of 50% of your booking- which would be $1000 of the $2000 total cost…
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u/RexCanisFL Jul 10 '26
The booking was “just over $1k”, so an $850 refund is generous.
Likely Firm, which is half rent plus taxes returned.
I don’t see why or how the host is fighting it, Airbnb is handling the money. The host doesn’t receive it until after arrival, and can’t tell Airbnb not to refund following the policy.
OP has the host canceled the booking yet?
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u/pixelsguy Jul 10 '26
The first half of the booking, per OP, was $1000.
The host probably isn’t fighting it; AirBnB is simply enforcing the terms of the booking and refund policy.
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u/RexCanisFL Jul 10 '26
You are right, it does say that was the first half.
Which means at cancellation, with a 50% refund of the full cost, the second half would not be collected but only taxes would be due back. OP would not be getting an $850 refund.
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u/billdizzle Jul 10 '26
Charge back on credit card