Verify ID now required for all travelers?

[Ramona11]

Has anyone else run up against a requirement to use Verify ID no matter who you are booking with? For security reasons I do not with to keep my ocs on file and link my airbnb profile with my fb page. So I have not been able to book with any hosts now, and the hosts are not the ones imposing the requirement. as a Super Host myself, I think this is going to really hurt my business. Anyone know anything? Thanks!

[Kate515]

Yep.

[Cheryl188]

How can having an id before arrival tpossibly increase the security of the host? I should hope you'd check the ID upon checkin to protect your family.

[Kate515]

Apparently only airbnb gets the ID.  Not hosts.  As a potential airbnb guest (and a ten year VRBO host with no issues) I'm not giving my gov ID to air, even though it means we'll have to pass on the perfect, perfect airbnb house.

[Jane267]

   DO NOT GIVE THEM THIS INFOMATION!    Unless you want your identity STOLEN!

[Kate515]

Agree!  Had to pass on a great airbnb place for this reason.

[Deborah409]

This is completely outrageous. Check id in person at check in, the way hotels do. You are exposing your "guests" to potential loss of very sensitive information. Way to think about your guests "security"!

[Glenys27]

Sounds like you have a regular hotel going on there.  Must be a large premises. You have gone 'into business' rather than the softness of host/guest.  No one would want to deny you 'acceptable' check on your renters.  But bsiness has its difficulties.

[Andrea9]

@Ramona11

There have been so many reportings of very bad newbie guests sans track record, even to the point of theft, who probably thought that since they didn't have to submit full verification, they would be harder to track down.

Since I let complete strangers into my home, I think it fair that they undergo full verification. As host I had to do it too.

On top of that I have to do ID check upon arrival and record their ID # - this according to my city's regulation for all who are registered in the hospitality business (from hotel to single rooms).

[Jane267]

Sorry but unless your a state or federal run institution you do NOT have the right to infomation that can be used to gain access to in finances.   DO NOT GIVE THEM THIS INFOMATION!    Unless you want your identity STOLEN!

[Helen3]

I'm a little confused why would this affect your business?

[Richard392]

I think this will limit the people that use airbnb... some people don't want copies of their ID floating around the internet as they are regularly stolen from companies.  Hotels don't make a copy of your ID, they just verify it visually.

[Regina117]

This is true. I booked back in February for a stay in Cornwall, no problems. I've come back to the site to try and book a few days in South Wales for our Christmas break only to find out that they now want me to provide govt. issued ID, which I absolutely refuse to do. And it's such a shame as I've found some lovely places. But sorry, no, I'm providing total strangers with my full ID online for it to be abused by goodness knows who. First and last time I'm using Airbnb. 

[Cheryl196]

The hosts will never see your ID btw... 

[Jane267]

I have no problem with them seeing I have a valid id but they feel they have the right to have the number and you can open bank accounts with that number.  NO!  You can't have it.

[Staycie0]

I'm leaving because of it. Apparently, your information is handled by a third-party that can use it for their business benefit(?!). I find this request does not meet my personal smell test for security. I'm not that accustom to savings that I will hand over my government-issued documents to a private company -- I'll pay for a hotel. Here's the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kris-constable/airbnb-privacy-security-id-jumio_b_4887509.html. It's relatively old, which is interesting.