Home / Business and Economy / Vrbo Denies Refund Amidst Hawaii State of Emergency
Vrbo Denies Refund Amidst Hawaii State of Emergency
12 Jun
Summary
- Family canceled Hawaii vacation due to declared state of emergency.
- Vrbo's 'extenuating circumstances policy' was not activated.
- Family faces $12,000 loss on Vrbo rental, booking fee refunded.
A Massachusetts family faced significant financial loss after canceling a planned vacation to Hawaii due to a state of emergency declared because of severe weather. The family had booked a house through Vrbo, expecting their reservation to be protected under the company's 'extenuating circumstances policy.'
However, Vrbo stated that the policy was not activated for this situation, leaving the decision for flexibility up to the host. The host declined to offer the Cavagnaro family any credit or refund for their booking.
Despite the family's significant financial setback, with approximately $12,000 lost on the rental, Vrbo has only agreed to refund the $800 booking fee. This situation highlights the discretion hosts have on such platforms and has left the affected family questioning Vrbo's customer protection measures.
