2.1 Cancellation Policies

Each Listing on DirectStay has a cancellation policy set by the Host. The applicable cancellation policy will be displayed before the Guest confirms a Booking. Guests are responsible for reviewing and understanding the selected policy prior to booking.

Hosts may choose from the following cancellation policy options:

2.2 No-Show Policy

If a Guest fails to check in without prior cancellation, the Booking will be considered a no-show and no refund will be issued.

2.3 Early Departure

Once a Guest has checked in, early departures are not eligible for refunds unless explicitly approved by the Host.

2.4 Refund Processing Timeline

Approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 5 business days. Actual processing times may vary depending on the Guest's bank or payment provider.

3.1 Host-Initiated Cancellations

If a Host cancels a confirmed Booking, the Guest will receive a full refund, including all applicable service fees. Hosts who cancel confirmed Bookings may face the following actions:

• First Offense: Written warning and potential ranking impact.
• Second Offense: Temporary suspension from DirectStay.
• Repeated Offenses: Possible account termination.

3.2 Refunds for Host Cancellations

When a Host cancels a Booking:

• Guests will receive a 100% refund within 2 business days.
• DirectStay may assist in locating a comparable alternative property at the same price, subject to availability.

4.1 Valid Force Majeure Events

In rare situations beyond the control of the Guest or Host, DirectStay may override standard cancellation policies. Examples include:

• Natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires).
• Government travel restrictions or bans.
• Severe illness or hospitalization (documentation required).
• Property damage rendering the rental uninhabitable (fire, flood, major system failure).

4.2 Requesting a Force Majeure Refund

Requests must be submitted with supporting documentation within 5 days of cancellation. DirectStay will review the request and determine eligibility for a full or partial refund.

5.1 Dispute Process

If a Guest or Host disputes a refund decision, they must:

• Contact DirectStay Support within 3 days of the cancellation.
• Provide any relevant supporting documentation.

DirectStay will review the dispute and issue a final determination within 3 business days.

5.2 Chargeback Prevention

Guests are required to attempt resolution through DirectStay before initiating a chargeback with their payment provider. Abuse of chargebacks may result in account suspension or termination.

6.1 Payment Method

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for the Booking.

6.2 Non-Refundable Fees

Certain fees may be non-refundable, including:

• DirectStay service fees (unless otherwise stated).
• Cleaning fees designated as non-refundable by the Host.

7.1 Monthly Subscription Fees

DirectStay subscription plans are billed monthly in advance and provide immediate access to platform features, tools, and services upon activation. All subscription fees are non-refundable once the billing period begins. This includes access to, but is not limited to:

• Platform and dashboard access.
• Listing activation and publishing.
• AI indexing, discovery, and SEO infrastructure.
• Blog, content, and visibility tools.

7.2 Subscription Cancellation

• Hosts may cancel their subscription at any time.
• Cancellation prevents future billing only.
• Access to the platform remains active through the end of the current billing cycle.
• No partial or prorated refunds are issued for unused time.

7.3 First-Time Subscription Courtesy (Optional)

For first-time subscribers only, DirectStay may offer a one-time courtesy refund if cancellation is requested within 48 hours of initial signup and no listing has been activated or published. This exception does not apply once:

• A listing is live.
• AI indexing or visibility services have begun.
• Platform tools have been used.