Cancelled inside the Booking free-cancellation window but the host went silent on WhatsApp — wait or open a dispute?
Cancelled on the app inside the free window for a south-coast room next week. Booking shows cancelled; host had been chatty on WhatsApp then went unread for two days. I am not trying to harass anyone — just unsure whether to ping again, trust the app status, or start a Booking dispute in case they still charge somehow.
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4 Answers from travellers
If Booking already shows cancelled inside the free window, the platform status matters more than WhatsApp silence. Send one short polite follow-up, then leave it — do not spam. Screenshot the cancellation confirmation and the free-cancellation wording. Open a Booking dispute or help request only if money still looks captured or the host claims you owe a stay. Ghosting on chat is rude; it does not automatically undo an in-policy cancel. Keep everything in writing on the platform, not only WhatsApp.
Host ghosted me too. Booking still refunded inside the free window. One polite ping, then I stopped chasing.
Screenshot saved. Sending one short WhatsApp then waiting on the app status.
Front desks get buried on busy days. Platform cancel beats unread chat ticks every time.
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