Verify ID now required for all travelers?

Ramona11 · ‎17-09-2016

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!

David1958 · ‎09-03-2018

Its unfortunate, but I think a lot of people who want to keep things like govt IDs out of the hands of criminals will not be using airbnb as long as they have this requirement. I dont care how secure they think they are, everyone is susceptible to breach and when the bad guys know you are collecting sensitive data, you will be a bigger target.

Odette18 · ‎12-03-2018

I will no longer be using Airbnb with their new requirement of providing Gov't ID. How sad. I am not comfortable giving this info out to them. Sad to for all of the people losing money with getting less bookings too.

Jane267 · ‎19-03-2018

I refuse to give my government ID's or drivers lisense info to Airbnb. These are numbers that can be used to open bank accounts and violate your credit standing as well as used to impersonate you financially. DO NOT GIVE THEM THIS INFOMATION! Unless you want your identity STOLEN!

Julie842 · ‎23-03-2018

It depends on the host. I booked two places that didn't require i.d. One place did, so I backed out of the reservation when it kept insisting. If I can't find hosts that won't require id, I won't book Airbnb since it's stupid to put your id on where anyone can hack it.

Adrian224 · ‎23-03-2018

I've just tryed to book a trip and been required to post my photo ID which I haven't in the past. As a host myself I am well known to airbnb with a 100% track record. This is outrageous. There is no way on earth I will even create a digital record of photo ID let alone share it with airbnb type corporations. This will hurt business as I would expect many people feel the same.

Is there any way round it?

Clyde1 · ‎02-04-2018

I used to work in IT security.

WTF? Are they serious? Don't they read the newspapers? Do they actually think they have better security than Facebook????!!!

I have a perfect rating as a guest.

Absolutely no way am I giving my government ID details to an eminently hackable organization that any script kiddie in any of the -stans can access.

Susan975 · ‎18-04-2018

Totally agree Clyde! And the customer service rep. had the audacity to tell me that I was just old fashioned!

Barbara519 · ‎02-05-2018

It's worse than that. airbnb has a "partner" whose privacy policy essentially says they can do whatever they want with our data. Of course they are making money by selling it!

Vivienne21 · ‎04-04-2018

I have used airbnb exclusively for the last 3 years and now I am trying to book again and it is telling me I have to provide govt issue ID, which even if I wanted to I cant do because the site is telling me that it is out of date. So I wont be booking any more airbnb which is a loss to me and to the hosts. I am furious!!!!!

Anders23 · ‎10-04-2018

Anders - This came as a complete surprise - they even threaten to cancel my next booking/trip if I do not leave my ID with. totally un acceptable. I would rather use a hotel or other BandBs in the future.

Deb121 · ‎15-04-2018

I agree. This new policy is ridiculous. When even Equifax can't protect our info, I certainly won't trust AirBnB with mine. I don't mind showing it to the property owner upin arrival, but it's NOT happening online. And I can't even think of a time a hotel or motel has asked for an ID. the credit card seems to be all they care about. Bye, AirBnB. I hope your hosts tell you this is unacceptable and that you change this policy. I will be going to real hotels or B&Bs where my privacy and data are respected.

Barbara519 · ‎02-05-2018

It's worse than that. They have a "partner" whose privacy policy essentially says they can do whatever they want with our data. Of course they are making money by selling it!

Susan975 · ‎18-04-2018

I just spent a long, frustrating conversation with Airbnb support. I, too, am not comfortable with putting a government issued ID online. Airbnb refuses to let me reserve a room without doing that. They are perfectly fine with losing me as a customer. I have used Airbnb 3 or 4 times in the past and was ready to book another room for 2 nights. No other company has ever asked either me nor my husband to upload a government issue id. I will see if I have better service with VRBO.

Susan975 · ‎18-04-2018

I just spent a long, frustrating conversation in customer service with a condescending young man who told me that I was just being "old fashioned", and that the company has not had any complaints about the requirement to upload a government issue id. And yet, lo and behold, I find over 200 complaints!

Helga0 · ‎18-04-2018

I guess the rep did not watch Zuckerberg before the American Congress. After that sorry spectacle, you need not be modern, but raving crazy yo upload more data go the Internet than absolutely necessary.

It would be interesting to know how airbnb plans to handle European data, when the new regulations become valid in May. Looks loke transferts outside of Europe will be impossible then.