placing dates on hold!

[Yossi8]

Hi, does anyone else object to Airbnb blocking out dates in your calendar while waiting for prospective guests to complete/verify their profile? I was looking at my Airbnb calendar yesterday when I saw some dates were greyed out. The dates were on hold for someone until they provide I.D. The profile looks like it could be rogue as they don't have any reviews and they haven't even added an actual name.

Next to the booking Airbnb's note reads "We’re working to resolve a few details about this request in the next 10 hours. These dates will be held for this guest until then" it's been more than 10 hours and the dates are still blocked. I have a massive issue with this because this booking request hasn't come through me so I'm not even aware of it! why would Airbnb think it's ok to bypass me and block dates in my calendar while they're waiting for someone to complete/verify their profile. I'm in charge of bookings not Airbnb! this is extremely weird an it does  not make business sense either because in the meantime I could be losing out on other possibly better  bookings. I called Airbnb last night and customer service said they can't undo the held dates. This morning the dates are still on hold  and the supervisor's call that I was promised hasn't materialised yet! Has anyone had a similar experience? 

[Ana7]

That's the usual procedure if you have instant booking on, and a new user is trying to book. Actually I don't mind it, the reservation usually goes through. Sometimes maybe you lose another reservation that would happen in the same time, but sometimes you win... At least I think so...

[Yossi8]

I do have instant booking on but only those guests with previous reviews and verified I.D can instant book. In this instance even if the person completed their profile with I.D and everything else needed they still wouldn't be able to book as they have no previous reviews so it still doesn't make sense!

[Ana7]

@Yossi8 you are right, if you set the requirement for the previous reviews, then it makes no sense...

[Brian2036]

@Yossi8 

I didn’t know about this. Thanks for bringing it up.

It seems to me that the host should at least be notified.

This could be used by someone unethical to reduce local competition.

[Yossi8]

@Brian2036 Quite possibly. It makes me feel out of control as a host when your calendar gets blocked for someone without you being notified and for someone who when you look closely you know is not going to be legit because if they were they wouldn't hesitate to add I.D and a proper name before they attempt to book! let's hope Airbnb is doing some social listening in here!