Bond payment form

[Matthew92]

Hi,

I have recently booked to stay somewhere is Victoria, Australia & the payment has gone through fine from Airbnb but the host has asked me to fill in a bond form prior to picking up the keys to the property. This form has a place to put your bank details in, is this legit or could this be a scam as someone has tried to scam me before on here asking me to fill in a bond payment form??

Thanks

Matt

[Hung3]

Airbnb service should be very similar to hotel/motel service. You don't have to give them your bank account to rent a room then why should you do it here. That host has no business for listing in Airbnb in the first place.

[Tim-and-Holly0]

Please contact Airbnb and report the host. Ask to cancel your reservation and find someone else. You should never have to provide such personal information to any host.

[Dan-And-Melissa0]

That sounds just flat out wrong! Wow! Don't give any info, and flag this hosts account. Also please call airbnb and let them know what this guest is up to. Can you take a cell phone pic of this bond form? That would be great proof to give to airbnb customer service.

sheesh. Now hosts are scamming guests!? 

Sorry to to hear this.

[David126]

I have seen some hosts more used to the VRBO type of environment, renting out houses, have this sort of requirement. Should at least be mentioned in the listing, not come as a surpise.

[Matthew92]

Hi,

Here is a screenshot of the form? I have used Airbnb before and not had to fill one of these in.

Feedback would be great.

Thanks

Matt

[David126]

http://bookings.brightescapes.com.au/accommodation

They are seeminlgly just using ABB as another outlet and imposing their normal methods. Trying to anyway.

[Matthew92]

What should I do in this instance? Contact the Host & ecplain they are not using Airbnb in the correct manor as I can see they have a legitimate looking website? Or should I report this?

Thanks

Matt

[David126]

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13047949?s=aralAr7C&sug=50

One of their listings and they mention the bond requirement.

[Matthew92]

Seems like a legitimate company? Not sure what to do with this got some people saying report them and some not?

[Donna15]

@Matthew92, I wouldn't take the chance. 

Contact the host and explain that this is not within the AirBnB jurisidiction.

Contact AirBnB to alert them to the situation and ask their advice.

You can easily find contact numbers by typing 'How to contact AirBnB' in the 'search for anything' box near the top right-hand side of the page, or by going to Google and typing in 'AirBnB contact number in XXX'.

By the way, the glaring typo in the heading on the authorisation form would make me immediately suspicious. 

It's simply not professional.

[David262]

In my experience, the majority of host listings in Melbourne seem to be either - consolidator hosts (operating a business, with multiple properties/listings) or full-on serviced-apartment/hotel operations (which won't guarantee which specific room/unit you will get within their building). Generally both these types of hosts will ask for your credit card details before or at check in, so it is not an unusual request in that respect. (I think the other David is spot on with his assessment a few posts back, many of these hosts just use Airbnb as simply "another sales channel" for their existing operations/procedures.)

Up to you what you want to do - but if you were not made aware of this requirement before you booked, then I think that it is completely fair to expect a full refund if you don't want to fill it in (because while it is standard procedure for short term lets in Melbourne to require this, it is not standard procedure for Airbnb in general). You may need to contact Airbnb directly to secure it though.

[Matthew92]

Thanks David- Sound advice.

Called the company & they seem like they are a legitmate company with many properties across the Bright area & were a bit shocked that it would be seen as a potential scam. I explained to them it is not ususal Airbnb procedure to ask for bank details like this and they explained they do this through their normal website & it is only becasue they have been caught out by parties in the past.

I said I would be happy to go into their office on the Friday after I check in and would feel comfortable leaving a bond in person & they are going to speak to the owner to see if they can let me have the keys on the thursday after their office has shut and I just pop in the office on the Friday to see them.

Sounds like what you said & did not know the whole Airbnb process with payments etc. They are a genuine company and it does not sound like a scam at all, just crossed wires about the whole bond process I guess.

Matt