Problem collecting payment for airbnb reservation

[Bian Dahab]

Hi all, I am curious if this has ever been an issue for short-term rental hosts and how you have mitigated the issue. 

I got an Airbnb guest who reserved 28 nights under a strict cancellation policy. The booking was confirmed in mid-November, she checked in on December 2nd, I received the payout notification on December 4th. 

On December 5th, Airbnb notified me about a problem collecting payment at 4:26pm. At 4:35pm, she asks if she can cancel the reservation. She canceled the reservation at 9:22pm. Airbnb writes that "If your guest doesn't successfully submit payment or if they cancel the reservation before making the payment, Airbnb isn't liable for issuing your host payout." 

This is already the fourth night of the stay, how is this possible? This would have never happened if I had medium-term or long-term tenant where I make sure to collect the rent before letting them in the property, along with security deposit. 

Anyone who can share the experience and ideas to mitigate it?

For avoidance of doubt, I spoke to her and she claimed a technical issue with the payment and she wants to move out early to move closer to another university she was accepted to today in NJ. I am fine with her moving out early. I am just uncomfortable about the fact that there is a possibility that I could have no payout for an Airbnb reservation that has already started.