High no-show rate' guests not answering messages or calls
Hello everyone,
I have been advertising my apartment on Booking for a couple of months now and I would like to know your opinion about a very suspicious situation.
3 bookings in a row at the end of August/beginning of September from 'high no-show rate' guests or 'first time bookers' who are not answering messages or calls.
I'm afraid none of them will show up nor cancel because when I created my account I chose that no prepayment was necessary and therefore they will not lose anything.
Do you know if I can ask Booking to cancel these bookings on the grounds that the clients are not answering my messages or calls?
I already changed my cancellation policy and now the guest will be charged a prepayment of 50% of the total price after reservation.
Also, my cancellation preference is:
The guest can cancel free of charge until 14 days before arrival. The guest will be charged 50% of the total price if they cancel in the 14 days before arrival. If the guest doesn’t show up, they will be charged the total price of the reservation.
Do you think it is too strict or is it OK?
My personal opinion:
I fully understand Booking's incentive and their "customer is king" policy (just like Amazon). I also accept that: their company, their rules
Personally I find it quite damaging for owners that Booking does not allow a filter with which we can prevent customers who have cancelled 70-100% of their bookings from booking our accommodation.