If you live in Quebec and used Airbnb between 2014 and 2019, you could be entitled to a $45 credit from the online rental giant. A settlement was reached between the online giant and Quebec plaintiffs in compensation for illegally charging customers more than the advertised price for online rentals.
The settlement, if approved, would only apply to residents of Quebec. If you booked an Airbnb anywhere in the world from Quebec between August 22nd, 2014 and June 26th, 2019, Airbnb could owe you money. The suit concerns people who “made a booking for anywhere in the world, for a purpose other than business travel, using Airbnb’s websites and/or mobile application and who paid a price higher than the price initially advertised by Airbnb (excluding the QST or the GST),” the Montreal Gazette reports.
Airbnb never admitted wrongdoing, but changed the way its website displays pricing. There are no more hidden fees now.
As such, Airbnb could have to give any Quebecker who used the service between 2014 and 2019 a $45 credit towards its services. View the settlement text for full details of the settlement conditions.
A settlement approval is being heard at the Montreal Courthouse on December 3rd, 2019… After that, it is expected consumers will be able to sign up for their share of the $3 million settlement.