Managing Active Rentals

Once a rental is in motion, things can change. This guide covers what you can do mid-rental, what you can't (yet), and what to do when something goes wrong.

For the high-level steps a booking goes through, see Booking Lifecycle.

Tracking a rental in progress

Every rental has its own progress page that shows:

• The current status (Sent, Accepted, Paid, Ready for Pickup, Picked Up, Returned, Completed)
• Pickup details once shared
• The other party's contact information
• Buttons for the next action you need to take
• The full message thread

You'll find it under My Bookings > View Inquiry for hosts and renters. Both parties also receive email and in-app notifications at every status change.

What you can change mid-rental

Today, very little can be changed once an inquiry is sent. The system is designed this way to keep both sides accountable to what they agreed to.

Change	Allowed?
Update pickup instructions / contact number	✅ Anytime before pickup
Send messages to the other party	✅ Anytime
Cancel the rental	✅ Subject to the cancellation policy
Change the price	❌ Send a new inquiry at the new price instead
Extend the rental period	❌ Extending mid-rental is on our roadmap
Add additional items to the rental	❌ One listing per inquiry today - see below
Undo a status change	❌ Subject to current rental progress email support@curba.app to confirm if it can be reversed

One listing per inquiry

Today, each inquiry covers exactly one listing. If you want to rent two items from the same host (a camera and a tripod, say), you'll create two separate inquiries. We're working on multi-item bookings.

Need to extend a rental?

If the renter realizes they need the item for longer:

1. The renter messages the host through the booking
2. Both parties agree to the new dates
3. The renter creates a new inquiry for the additional days
4. The host accepts and the renter pays for the extension separately

Try to do this before the original return date so there's no overlap or gap. We're building proper mid-rental extensions - until then, this is the workaround.

Pickup guidelines

Smooth pickups make for great reviews on both sides. The basics:

For hosts

• Confirm pickup details (address, contact number, instructions) on the booking page
• Be on time - communicate early if you'll be late
• Inspect the item with the renter present
• Take a few photos of the item's condition together - both of you should keep a copy
• Hand over any cables, cases, manuals, or accessories that are part of the rental
• Ask the renter to click Confirm Pickup before they leave

For renters

• Bring ID - hosts may ask to verify
• Inspect the item before you accept it. Note any existing damage and message the host
• Take photos of the item's condition at pickup
• Test that everything works (camera shutter clicks, drill spins, etc.)
• Click Confirm Pickup in the app once you have the item
• Don't pay outside the platform - the only legitimate payment is through Curba's checkout

Return guidelines

For renters

• Return the item by end-of-day on the agreed return date
• Return everything - cables, cases, accessories - clean and in the same condition you received it
• Take photos of the item before handing it back
• Click Return Item in the app and enter the return condition note

For hosts

• Be available at the agreed return time
• Inspect the item carefully before clicking Confirm Return
• If there's any damage, don't click Confirm Return yet - message the renter and document what you find with timestamped photos
• Once you click Confirm Return, the booking is closed and your earnings become available

When something goes wrong

The renter doesn't show up for pickup

If the renter doesn't pick up the item by the agreed time:

1. Message them through the app to confirm
2. Wait a reasonable window (a few hours)
3. If they still don't respond, email support@curba.app with the booking ID

The cancellation policy in effect for the booking determines what happens to the renter's payment. Curba may issue a refund or release funds to the host depending on the situation.

The host doesn't show up

If you arrive for pickup and the host isn't there:

1. Message them through the app
2. Try the pickup contact number that was shared
3. Wait a reasonable window
4. If they don't respond, email support@curba.app with the booking ID - you're entitled to a full refund

The item isn't returned on time

If the rental return date passes and the renter hasn't clicked Return Item:

1. Message them - give the benefit of the doubt for the first few hours
2. If you don't get a response within 24 hours of the return date, email claims@curba.app with the booking ID
3. Late returns may result in additional charges or a deposit claim - see Disputes & Claims

You accidentally clicked the wrong status button

There's no undo button today (we're building this). If you accidentally clicked:

• Confirm Pickup before actually receiving the item
• Return Item before actually returning it
• Confirm Return before properly inspecting

Send an email to support@curba.app as soon as possible with your booking ID and what happened. The team will reverse the status manually. The sooner you write in, the easier it is to fix.

The item is significantly different from the listing

If you arrive at pickup and the item doesn't match the listing (wrong model, much worse condition, missing accessories):

1. Don't click Confirm Pickup
2. Message the host through the app to give them a chance to resolve it
3. If they can't, report the rental on the inquiry page My Bookings > View Inquiry > Report listing

Cancellations

Either party can cancel an inquiry, but the refund depends on the cancellation policy attached to the listing and how close to the start date the cancellation happens. See Cancellation Policies.

Tips

• Communicate early and often. Most problems get solved by a quick message.
• Document everything with photos. Pickup condition, return condition, anything unusual.
• Don't go off-platform. Any payment, deposit, or agreement made outside Curba is unprotected.
• Use the app's status buttons. They're not just for you - they trigger payment, payouts, and protection coverage.