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!

[Barbara519]

This is why it could impact your business.  I think we should take this viral on FB and force them to have a real privacy policy for this information.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kris-constable/airbnb-privacy-security-id-jumio_b_4887509.html

[Pete59]

Thanks for this article Barbara.  I can just see it coming, "oh we cannot be held responsible if our third party was hacked".

[Nora36]

I do not have the verified ID option checked but I've had two potential guests message me saying it was required. Also that they tried to scan using the Airbnb app and didn't work. Then tried to upload. They got bumped in the interim because someone booked their dates. Now they have to book elsewhere.  Not sure what's going on - as a new host I felt really bad for the potential guest.  They were undone by a requirement that I hadn't imposed. Anyone else had this happen?

[Chris636]

Hi

I'm having problems with a guest from Italy

We've spent 3 days trying to work out how she and her friend can verify government ID even though I have satisfied myself with their guest suitability. I unchecked the box stating I dont require government ID on this  one occasion but they say they still need it. They're not, by the sound of it, computer literate but it's morte than frustating that I'm losing a good booking because of this

[Helga0]

@Chris636, did you remove the condition Verified ID Requested after the booking request was already made? Then your condition would still apply. (The same with a price change: it would not apply to a pending request)

you could refuse the request, remove the condition and they book again. Or book again with another account - if there are several persons, the other one coild create an account. 

You can also call airbnb and ask them to walk the guest through the procedure. 

[Helga0]

@Nora36, it cannot be a global requirementto use government ID. After I read your post, I checked my last bookings and all were verified, but not all used their real name on the profile. A FB account with an absurd alias or even the a motto can be used - that one maybe connected to a gmail address for a freelance business. You could try to set up an account on a social media website, which you do not use, add a few unimportant details and contacts, and verify with that account. If it works, let us know and you can counsel it to your guests. 

[Loretta-Ann0]

I tried to get my account verified using my Facebook account but that doesn't get you verified - Airbnb is still asking for my passport number or both sides of my driver's license.  

[Jo138]

They require 2 PIECES of ID - one being either a Driver's license or a passport photo.. 

[Jane267]

Drivers licences numbers can be used to open bank accounts and I shutter to think what your passport number can be used for???

[Violeta23]

Yes, totally absurd. They want you to take your driver's licence picture and after it has taken you half an hour to figure it out, you finally maybe do it, THEN they tell you they need the back too. By that time I am having some wine and thinking of not going anywhere.

[Jo138]

Yes, I'm now trying to book via airbnb and find it incredibly interesting that they take your payment then they declare that ID is required, and I don't have a scanner or a camera to do these things.  I, however, would be happy to show my Driver's License and Passport when I get there.  Last time I checked airbnb was not a Government agency of any kind.  

[Pavel36]

Same happened to me:

AirBnb holds my booking hostage, requires government ID and my Facebook/Google/LinkedIn contacts

It was answer to Jo in Qualicum Beach, Canada, but for some reason my reply was posted above it.

[Helen3]

Hi @Jo138

You don't need a scanner you can use your mobile phone.

Hosts need to know in advance you have verified ID before they decided to accept your booking.

[Margaret206]

Apparently not all hosts actually need that advanced id verification at this time of this post.  I am able to book some hosts' rooms.  I now am looking for and require a filter from airbnb to screen out all hosts who require advanced id verification the way it is devised now.  We will see if this verification process is about safety or something else.  At this point, my travel being only days away, I will not verify with my gov id as my wife has it with her (she is awaiting to rendevous with me at our city of departure).

[Pablito1]

It's still bad-faith dealing to make a major requirement known only AFTER they've taken your money!