Needing a solution fast, I assembled my confirmation number, the cancellation attempt timestamp, and a screenshot of the error message before reaching out. Insights noted in booking reviews illustrate that guests often succeeded when all three pieces were sent together with a brief explanation of the emergency. I followed that strategy—bundled my booking code, exact time of the failed cancellation, and the screen capture into a single request. Within twenty-four hours, Booking com support replied, acknowledged the late cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, and applied a partial refund as goodwill. Presenting full context and documentation upfront seemed to persuade their team to make an exception.