AirBnB requesting a type of ID that doesn't exist!

[Kevin1172]

Hi, to comply with new regulations AirBnB are requesting a copy of Government ID or driving licence, containing date of birth, from your country of residence. My residence is Kenya. I hold a Kenyan Government diplomatic ID, and a Kenyan Goverment driving licence. I have submitted both, but because neither contain date of birth AirBnB will not accept them. What can I do? I have asked and asked, but get the same copy-paste sentence from the helpdesk saying "ID must contain date of birth". It doesn't! This is not within my control. It is not within AirBnB's contril to demand that ID displays date of birth! I cannot get a different Government ID or driving licence. Any advice?

[Musa61]

Hello Kevin, I’m sorry to hear about this. It can be frustrating when something is beyond your control. I’ll advice you upload your Kenyan passport because I’m sure it has your date of birth. Good luck

[Kevin1172]

thank you Musa61. See my reply to Helen3 below;

[Helen3]

Why don't you use your passport @Kevin1172 

[Kevin1172]

I don't have a Kenyan passport. I have a Kenyan work permit, but that doesn't show date of birth or even my name (or that it is a work permit!). The problem is that AirBnB want a document from country of residence with date of birth. None of the documents from country of residence (Kenya) - ID,  Driving licence, work permit - show date of birth.

[Joan2709]

@Kevin1172 

If you are not a resident of Kenya, they may require your passport from your actual country of residence (which does show date of birth).

[Kevin1172]

They have always had a copy of my own passport as proof of ID.

Now their instructions are specific - document from country of residence. Further, I have asked so many times but just get the same copy-paste sentences that I must upload an ID with date of birth from my country of residence. Their helpdesk seems to have specific sentences approved for use which does not allow any adaptation to the situation at hand.

Of course, as you imply, and as I believe, the instructions from AirBnB are deficient. In addition, when you realise that the regulations to which they refer will not be in force until 2025 - more than a year away - you have to ask why AirBnB have rushed at this carelessly, without first getting it right. They have a lot of time.

To show the consequences of these deficiencies, AirBnB have told me my calendar will be suspended, but still will not tell me what they need to resolve the problem. Repeating ad nauseum "a national ID showing date of birth from country of residence" when such a document is not produced by the country of residence is not the most professional response.

[Joan2709]

@Kevin1172 

Frustrating to be sure. 

What happens when you upload a copy of your passport again in response to their request? You may just have to do that again to satisfy the "bot" AI.

[Kevin1172]

That can be tried. But it escapes me that I ask specific questions and repeatedly get no meaningful reply.

I asked what the legislation was, and was never told

I found it it doesn't apply for over a year, to which I received no comment.

I don't believe it is always a bot. I received one specific reply that they had searched online and Kenyan national ID does include date of birth - a rediculous response, which can only be lying, but to which I managed a polite response that their search must have been incomplete.

With bookings from airbnb steadiuly declining this past 12 months, more than replaced by other platforms, perhaps they don't want my business and hence aren't interested in providing a solution.

I don't want to be treated as an irrelevant employee. They do reveal their cultural origins when they treat people this way. A locally run branch may be more effective - it doesn't hurt to dream!