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Airbnb prioritizes the convenience of guests in their payment process which is pretty straightforward. Despite this, it is not unusual to encounter problems while trying to make payment for a booking.
Even after making an initial payment, you might experience a few hitches while making a subsequent payment.
Here’s everything you need to know about navigating Airbnb’s payment procedure especially if you’re making a second payment.
How Does Airbnb’s Second Payment Work?
Airbnb offers two payment options when you make a reservation. A guest can either make a single one-off payment or split the sums and pay in installments.
This depends on a guest’s duration of stay and if they opted for a payment plan. Guests are typically required to pay a fraction of the total cost upfront, known as the “first payment”.
The remaining balance paid closer to the check-in date, is referred to as the “second payment”.
Airbnb also has a new payment plan that allows guests to travel first and pay later. Guests can pay part of their booking fee once the reservation is confirmed.
Subsequently, they can make the second payment at a later date.
Airbnb will typically send you reminders about any upcoming second payment. This includes the due date and amount owed.
They also have an automatic payment function that works if enabled in your Airbnb account settings.
The second payment will be automatically charged to your payment method once the due date of a second payment arrives.
What Happens If You Miss Airbnb Second Payment?
If Airbnb Payments is unable to collect your payment, you will be duly notified that such a payment was declined.
Within 72 hours of the notice, you are expected to complete the payment using an alternative payment method.
Failure to complete the payment implies that you authorize Airbnb to cancel the booking on your behalf. Hosts may also cancel the reservation if the second payment is not made by the required date.
If the booking is canceled, you will be refunded based on the Host’s cancellation policy.
NOTE
Also, you may incur fees for cancellations according to the host’s cancellation policy.
Therefore, it is important to make the second payment on time to avoid paying cancellation fees or penalties.
Reasons Why Your Airbnb Second Payment Failed
There can be several reasons why your second payment could have failed but here are the common ones.
Insufficient Funds
Perhaps your bank account or credit card is short of funds to cover your payments. Without enough balance, you can’t successfully make a payment.
Expired or Invalid Payment Method
Your second payment could have failed because the credit card you used to make the reservation has expired. Also, if the payment method is no longer valid, the payment will fail.
This can happen if your credit card has expired, or your bank account has been closed.
Unacceptable Payment Method
Some payment methods may be unaccepted by Airbnb for making a second payment.
While Airbnb offers several payment methods to users, you cannot split payment across these methods when making a booking.
Moreover, the Airbnb payment method does not include bookings through bank or wire transfer. Methods like gift Cards and credits are also not acceptable for a second payment.
Payment Authorization Hold
Sometimes, a hold may be placed on payment authorization that stops a transaction from completing.
This occurs when a bank or credit card provider temporarily holds your money to ensure the payment will be accepted.
Perhaps, you’ve exceeded the daily withdrawal limit set by your bank or credit card company. You should seek assistance from your bank or credit card provider in this situation.
Fraud Prevention
Airbnb has a secure payment system. In some cases, where fraudulent activity is suspected, it blocks the payment to protect users. If this happens, you should contact Airbnb customer support for assistance.
Technical Issues
Sometimes, technical issues may have caused the payment to fail. This could be due to issues with your internet connection, browser settings, or Airbnb’s payment processing system.
Something as simple as clearing your cache or cookies can fix the problem. Confirm that the problem isn’t a technical one before attempting the payment again.
What to Do When Your Second Payment Fails
First, Check Your Account Balance
Make sure that you have enough funds in your account to cover the payment. If you don’t, you’ll need to transfer money into your account before trying again.
Contact Your Payment Merchant
Whether it’s your bank or credit card company. Contact them to make sure there are no problems with your account.
Update Your Payment Method
Try adding a new payment method if the problem is your credit card has expired or is no longer valid.
Ensure that you didn’t enter incorrect payment information, such as an incorrect billing address or expiration date. Update your payment details and try again.
Use a Different Payment Method
If your first payment method is not working, try using a different one. Airbnb accepts several payment methods.
From major credit cards and prepaid credits, debit cards, PayPal, Google Wallet, Apple pay, and so on.
Notwithstanding the country you’re making your reservations from, there are usually multiple Airbnb payment options to choose from.
For guests making a reservation outside of the US, the Airbnb website offers a list of additional accepted payment options. Some payment methods are also country-specific.
If your payment method seems to be working well, you can attempt the following.
Contact Airbnb Customer Support
Contact the Airbnb Help center for customer support. They can assist you in finding out the reason behind the failed payment and resolving it.
They may also be able to help you mediate the situation with your host.
Communicate With Your Host
If you’re still having trouble making the second payment, endeavor to communicate with your host as soon as possible. They may be willing to work with you to find a solution.
These include extending the payment deadline or allowing you to make smaller incremental payments.
Can you Pay with Cash?
Guests who wish to make any form of payment for Airbnb must do so using an online payment method.
To protect users’ data and personal information, any attempt to pay with cash off the platform is prohibited.
Cash payments could expose users to fraud and security issues. Besides, It is against Airbnb’s terms of service and you risk having your account banned.
Does Airbnb Accept Payment in Cryptocurrency?
Airbnb does not currently accept payments in cryptocurrencies or virtual currencies like Bitcoin. However, there’s a possibility that this might change very soon.
How to Set Up a New Airbnb Payment Method
It’s pretty simple to set up a payment method on the Airbnb website. All you need to do is sign in to your account, and proceed to ‘Payments & Payouts’ to commence the process.
Afterward, you can now add a payment method to pay for your account. Be careful to input the correct details.
Final Words
Having payment problems while trying to enjoy your vacation can be a headache. To avoid this, resolve any payment issue as soon as possible.
Else, you risk Airbnb canceling your reservation if the payment is not received on time.
