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!

[Keith244]

It's just so random. Some host requires ID verification while some don't in the general area. How does that work? I wouldn't want to upload my ID and take a risk of my account being hacked.

[Tom611]

I've just had a horrendous experience when the person who arrived was not the one who made the booking. I will from now on insist on seeing proper photo ID which needs to match the name of the person making the booking. I will do this outside my aprtment building and if the ID does not match the person who made the booking I will refuse entry. I'm not going into details, but suffice to say my rules about not being drunk in the apartment were almost certainly ignored. I'll just put the words: young man, medications, super strength bottles of beer, ambulance, police, undertakers and I'm sure you can piece together the rest.

[Jessy20]

That's most reasonable; i.e. insisting on seeing a photo ID and which I totally understand.  Of course you should't let anyone who doesn't match the reservation details inside your home. Its folks like that who spoils it for the rest of us who are trying to make a reservation but doesn't want to upload sensitive confidential info online and be at risk to ID thefts.

[Alberto569]

Does anyone out there know how to cancel a booking without uploading a government ID? I made a reservation, all the way up to giving payment information, and then suddenly I can't do ANYTHING AT ALL on AirBnB without uploading a government ID! I can't cancel the reservation, or review, or send any messages to the host, review the receipt for the reservation, check my account settings, delete my account. On every page a message appears at the top saying account access is limited until verification is complete. I have absolutely no intention of giving AirBnB unfettered access the highly sensitive information like my government ID to be stored indefinitely and so insecurely. I would have no problem showing ID to a host when checking in to a location, like one would do at a hotel, but really, to give my ID to this website and whoever else they decide to share it with? Nowhere did it require me to give the government ID before giving payment information or completing the booking. Only after all that was done, did I suddenly have to provide a government ID. No where was I informed that I would have to give that ID before the booking was made, or that I would have to provide it to AirBnB in order to cancel the booking. This is all happening the same day as I made the booking. I should be entitled to a full refund, but apparently AirBnB can hold my money hostage until I give them my government ID? This whole experience has turned me off Airbnb entirely. I want to cancel my entire account. My wife has an account and she has made reservations and has never had this problem. She has never once been asked to upload her ID. Is there anyone who can help me cancel a booking without giving up my ID? I have sent several messages to AirBnB.

[Gina305]

So what became of your reservation?  Did they cancel it and refund your money?  I agree, that asking for payment info and then INSISTING THAT YOU PROVIDE the personal info AFTER THE FACT is a scam.  I think I shall have to report this to the state.

[Jessy20]

I agree with everyone here who said that the official Govt photo ID shouldn't be a requirement just to book a room. I've been trying all day and yesterday to confirm a booking with a host who has waived that requirement but I'm unable to go beyond the page that insists on me uploading a govt photo ID. This despite me uploading my health card copies which is a govt photo ID but of course it doesn't have my DOB on it.

Even airlines when confirming reservation does not ask for copies of our passport, just the passport number and validity date.

[Clinton23]

The death of Airbnb.  Sorry, used the service from Portland to SLC with no issues.  We will not be providing such info in a world of identity theft.  Bummer.  

[Robert1349]

Good for you all for not giving in to Airbb privacy violations. As a host, they just threatened to end my listing if I don't comply. **bleep** you Airbb, There are better options.

[Evan119]

I've just encountered this problem, and I can't say how disappointed I am with AirBnb. I know someone else who has not been required to provide gov id to make bookings. Why am I being required to provide this innformation and others are not? What specific attributes are they basing this policy on? Why is there no visibility of this? Why am I not provided with gov id for whomever I am trusting by staying on their premises? Why does AirBNB think I'm silly enough to believe that this kind of information is safe on their systems? This is a huge fail.

[Marc620]

I've been in the cybersecurity space for over a decade and am a privacy advocate, as well. Too often, the "sophisticated" breaches we hear about in the news are anything but. Breaches typically occur due to lax security practices, ignorance, lack of resources/personnel/security funding, and even gross negligence, not elite teams of nation-state attackers. And now that companies are allowing business travel at Airbnb rentals, they will be a target of nation states. (Look at Starwood/Marriott.) There is no reason to believe Airbnb's security is any better. While I respect a property owner's desire for securing their property, I also have my own desire for securing my personal information from a potential breach. Considering that I have been on Airbnb for years with positive reviews from hosts around the world, I think that should be sufficient. Otherwise, I'll just stay at a hotel rather than turn over my ID to Airbnb.

[Randall41]

I'm a bit surprised. I have been using AirBnB for years and have a very nice profile with woderful comments everywhere I have stayed. But, frankly I do not trust the security issues inherent in uploading that  much information to Jumio (the new partner)

From Jumio's privacy policy "Jumio may use the Personally-Identifying Information a user submits for any purposes related to Jumio's business, including, but not limited to providing you with Jumio's services and personalizing and improving those services for you.

If selling my passport photo and information generates revenue for Jumio, that is an acceptable usage for them? There are several other obvious concerns. Basically, if Jumio feels like it, they can provide your information anyone they consider a partner or contractor.

I'll be using other services I'm sure now.

[Cheryl352]

I have never had Air Bnb request a photo id before, so my question is, “is this legitimate, or is someone hacking into the Air Bnb system in order to gather sensitive information?” I was about to book a room, the second for the upcoming trip through Air Bnb, and it freaked me out because i was not asked for this information before. It’s just too invasive. I don’t trust it anymore.

[Donna545]

I tried to book today on Airbnb, been using this site for awhile now, first time I was asked to provide an ID.  Was not comfortable doing so & did not book the place.  Will not be using Airbnb again.  In my opinion this will adversely affect business.  

DLM 

[Susan1466]

I was ready to book, but I will not rent on Airbnb with this expectation. I do not trust the security. I have rented numerous times in the past, have been reviewed extremely favorably, but will not be coerced into sharing information that is already on file with Airbnb. I'll use VRBO instead. 

[Aleese0]

As somebody who worked as an Uber driver and had their driver's licsense info hacked, this is really disappointing! I have been using Airbnb for 5 years and have a stellar rating. THAT is who I am, my photo i.d. doesn't mean jack. It looks like I will need to move over to VRBO and I will actually recommend this to the host since the only thing standing in the way of our business transaction is THIS platform!