Urrrggghhh, I'm feeling really bad about this, even though I know I've done everything right. The "what if they aren't just chancing their arm, and this was their holiday of a lifetime?" intrusive thoughts are bugging me now.

Story: A Spanish couple (by the man's photo, looks to be early 60s but from the writing style, I'm not sure at all) booked these 12 nights back in January, and apart from a couple of questions in poor English about whether or not there was a washing machine, all seemed fine......until July 1st.

Last week, I got a very excitable message asking how would they get the key and would we meet for the exchange? Here's their phone number and they will have to have mine, can they have it if possible? How was the weather in Ireland? I sent back a detailed refresher of my hosting policy, in case they hadn't read that I actually live next door, will meet them at check-in, and will see them every day. I included that I live here with my two adult sons (even though one has moved out). I also assured them that I would send their check in details two days before arrival and that this would contain my phone number, meantime, please continue to correspond through Airbnb. My spidey senses tingled a bit, so I was less surprised than I might have been by today's panicked series of messages.

Their Mercedes car has broken down in Switzerland, they will be stuck for two weeks waiting for parts (bearing in mind that Mercedes are made in Germany next door and every second person has one - waiting for parts beyond two days would be highly unusual, even here in rural Ireland). They will have to cancel, oh no! (they haven't done that yet). They were so looking forward to coming, they are so sorry......can they have a refund please?

Well, no. Nope. 12 nights is a big chunk of change for me (broke, all the time) and I phoned AS, composed a straightforward message (with the offer to refund any nights that might get booked last minute, if they cancel ASAP so I can relist it) and essentially I am about to get nearly €1K without them setting foot in the place. Unfortunately, I have a bleeding heart/unregulated empathy, and I am really struggling with this (so please be kind to me!) but I also am exceedingly broke and was depending on that money to pay my next astronomical electric bill.

TL;DR - Ethically speaking, should I give them money back after I get it?