14 and penniless (guest)

[Rossana121]

Hello everyone,

I'm submitting this to you, fellow hosts, because I rely on your expertise.

last month I have received inquiries from a newly open account; the guy started asking me about available dates, and then disclosed that he is 14 and wanted to book the room to spend some time with his girlfriend (15 y.o.).
Of course I was very hesitant, didn't want to have troubles with the law for hosting a couple of minors.
He told me a bit more and convinced me to give him a chance.
BUT
then he disclosed that he had no credit card, and asked me if there were another way he could pay (Twint or cash).
Again, very hesitant...
Still agreed.
Crickets.
Comes back now asking again for dates.
This time I went with a straight 'no can do', still worried about what a decline would mean in terms of penalties on my way to Superhost.

But then I started wondering:
how is it possible that someone so underage, and with no means for payment is allowed to open an account and send out enquiries???
I would expect a modicum of control from Airbnb, at the very least that minimum requirements are met.
But I guess that's wishful thinking.

As a host you can only require bookings to come from validated people if you enable Instant Booking (which I will never ever do, for a million reasons).
So we, as those who actually let people into our homes, apparently do not have the right to expect the platform we give money to do a little due diligence.
WOW! Stunning!

Is there really no way for us to have this request fulfilled?

[Emiel1]

@Rossana121 

Do not continue with such an inquiry (or booking request), there are multiple issues/violations.

The profile should be reported to Airbnb.

If it is only an inquiry (not a request) , it is not an obligation to decline, just end communication.

On every account it should be mandatory to have an ID of verfied.....

best regards,

Emiel

[Lisa723]

@Rossana121 I am purely astonished that you even contemplated the possibility of further engagement with this child after you learned he was underage. I hope you will report the profile to Airbnb, for his safety as well as his girlfriend's.

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2020/how-do-i-report-a-message-or-block-someone-on-airbnb

[Rossana121]

Hi @Lisa723 , I tried to report his profile, but I couldn't reach a choice that would actually allow me to put in the reason for reporting him.

You need to understand, things here a very different than in the US; this is mainly a huge village, where trust is still foundation for all relationships.

I believe the guy did it all in good faith (he lives not very far from here), I just decided I would not take the risk.

[Lisa723]

@Rossana121 if any host allowed my 14/15-yo child to book a room to "spend some time" with their girl/boyfriend I would be furious and would consider that host completely untrustworthy.

[J220]

I am glad you didnt take the risk. Totally apart from the cultural differences and what level of trust your society gives to young teens. I imagine you still have a law based reason to follow a no unaccompanied minor's policy. In the US if a person is under legal age they cannot make a contract. That means no matter what the 14 year old promised its unenforceable as he is not a legal adult to promise that. You would therefore be "stuck" with the non-payment if he did not book in the appropriate manner. Also Airbnb clearly states as a policy not to take payments or make accommodations for payment outside the platform. You could find yourself deactivated as a host for doing so.  It is a different thing to correspond and be supportive if you feel its appropriate outside of renting a room to the 14 year old. 

[Rossana121]

Hi @@J220 a your considerations were actually what came to mind  and brought me to reconsider my initial willingness.

[Linda108]

@Rossana121   I find your post interesting in that your concern is the level of vetting by Air BNB.  Just about anyone can send an inquiry on a public platform.  It is better for you to develop your own standards and have ways of being able to vet the potential guest for fit for your listing.  I see that your description reflects a very trusting manner and thus far you have had guests that appear to have enjoyed your listing appropriately.  In the future if you wish to report a profile, go all the way down to the bottom of the profile, click on report this profile and select the something other option if the first 2 options do not apply.

[Rossana121]

I tried, couldn't reach any applicable case

[Rossana121]

As a general note: this kid could have easily bought a rechargable credit card at the nearest kiosk and go through with his reservation by not disclosing his age. I would have only found out once he was at the door.

And even if I asked for more information, he could have easily lied, given how nobody vetted him when he opened the account.

I guess all in all we, as hosts, can only do so much, while the platform they go through should be the one in charge of the verification (they have all the means to do so, don't they?).

@Lisa723  I hope you understand that a 14 y.o. can lie as well as anyone, and that it doesn't necessarily make the host untrustworthy if she/he doesn't know. I can ask for an ID. Ever heard of a fake one? The wonders you can do with Photoshop! So again, I just think that it would be ok to put all the responsibility about vetting the guests is we were listing on Craigslist. From a platform that we (and the guests) actually PAY, I expect better.

[Lisa723]

@Rossana121 yes, I said "after you learned he was underage..."

I agree that Airbnb could do a better job of verifying identity, including age.

[Anonymous]

@Rossana121  The cultural differences between the US and Switzerland are not relevant to this topic. The minimum age for having a valid Airbnb account is 18. The age of consent in Switzerland is 16, and as an adult accommodating a likely sexual liaison between two children, you could well find yourself in trouble with the law.

The notion of trust being the foundation of relationships is well and good, but this child was obviously acting without the awareness or approval of his parents. If you are a trustworthy adult in a "big village," wouldn't you be reaching out to the parents here yourself? 

[Rossana121]

Actually the law was the first thing I checked, and if the difference in age (in this case 1 year) is not more than 2, age of consent does not apply.

About reaching out to the parents: 

1. I don't even know this guy's full name, how am I supposed to know who is parents are?

2. Even if I could get to know their identity, I would never even dream of approaching them for something like that. It's not like he's committing a crime. None of my business.

Don't think this makes me less trustworthy.

[Helen3]

Can I suggest going forward @Rossana121  you only accept a guest with a verified photo ID.

You sound like you must be new to Airbnb as you are unaware that only guests who are 18 plus are allowed to use the platform and you cannot accept payment from a guest through a payment card. They can only make payment through the platform.

As a parent myself I would be furious if a host allowed my 14 year old to book accommodation with their 15 year old partner. Either could be exploiting the other. Even if they aren't they are children and below the age of consent.

[Anonymous]

@Rossana121  No, I don't consider anything in your description to suggest that the boy is committing a crime. But if, say, the girl was to report that she had been violated while being hosted on your premises, the fact that you were knowingly accommodating a sexual act between two children (whose parents were presumably wondering where they were) would put you under a lot of suspicion.

I don't necessarily mistrust your intentions. Just your judgment.