A class action lawsuit filed by Airbnb customers accusing two of the company’s insurance providers of charging an unauthorized “assistance fee” has been voluntarily dismissed. The plaintiffs, Gina Bentley-Nehrhood and Rami Amaro, filed a notice of dismissal in Washington federal court on Tuesday, without offering a reason for dropping the suit or mentioning any settlement.
The lawsuit, initially filed in October, alleged that Airbnb Insurance Agency LLC and Generali Assicurazioni Generali SPA, U.S. Branch, charged an “assistance fee” on travel insurance premiums that was not approved by Washington’s insurance commissioner. The plaintiffs argued that the companies were circumventing state law by charging more than the approved premium for insurance services.
The renters claimed that the fee was added without their knowledge or consent and was justified by the insurers as a service providing customer support and roadside assistance. However, the plaintiffs argued that the service was nonessential, unwanted, and not disclosed to consumers, who were forced to pay the additional charge to obtain travel insurance.
