Booking for another person. Honest error version and wicked version.

[Tomo12]

I'm a new host and currently hosting 5th party.

Honest eror version:

Last week, a person new to Airbnb as a guest booked for her husband. She told me this right away and I told her it was against the rule so to open his account and rebook. (I even told her to have Airbnb invite him so both of them get credits.) She agrees to it, but I'm worried for them that it is that possibility while they are doing this process: canceling hers and booking his, someone else snatch the dates. Right? Is there anything I can do to ensure he gets it? I can't block it in order for him to book. I told them to coordinate the timeing with me, but it still won't garuntee. I don't want to cancel another party's booking and peneralized for it (although I'm not understanding yet how they do that.)

I also gave them an option to send me his credentials of some sort, but I'm not too comfortable. After all, he won't get review on himself, etc. Not good for them, and not good for me. 

Wicked version:

Out of 5 parties I had, there was one that the booking was done by one and she didn't come at all and instead there were 4 young men. They tried to hide that but it came to be found out. I'm reading up and deciding what to do about that. They were fine as guests. Respectful. 

Is there anybody who has some insight in these, one version or both?

[Tomo12]

By doing this first. I realized my profile has an error. I have no idea why it says I'm from NJ. I fixed it, but this may still show. I live and my property is in Seattle, WA.

[Tomo12]

It's funny it takes me to post a question and for some reason it enlightens me to come up with my own answer. Does this happen to anyone else, too? Anyway for the honest version, I guess at the coordinated time, I can turn off the Instant Booking. 

[Bruce43]

@Tomo12 now that was a good post,!

[Bruce43]

@Tomo12 turn off instant booking right away; it only attracts "jerks." and "dregs"   

you don't want to be motel 6

also read the novice sections, new hosts, real quick.lots of good and smart info here.

[Andrea9]

@Tomo12

When you have a case where somebody booked for another person, but you both decide to have the booking transferred in order to have the booking on the other person:

You don't have to worry about the booking being snatched away by somebody else because you do the switch through Airbnb.

That way the dates never free up during this process, plus the original booker doesn't lose the booking fee.

And I completely agree with @Bruce43 to turn off IB.

Airbnb 'warns' you that you will get less views, but that's also because they want as many hosts as possible use IB, not because they want to help the host so much, but to make things easier for the guest. Easier too for scammers and jerks. Seems Airbnb wants the business to become more automated like hotel room booking services, but with private hosts it's certainly not always the best solution.

Until you have more experience with the site and with short-term renting, you'd be better advised to not give up your control over who you accept into your accommodation.

[Tomo12]

Thank you Bruce and Andrea for wise advice. I sent a message to Airbnb and initiated the transfer. We will see. As for the false identity, I am still sitting on it, but feel obligated to report. I'm trying the Airbnb out for a limited time and that's one of the reasons why I chose the Instant Booking. During this "testing period", I want to sort of experiece what's out there. But I hear you I may be risking too much. Thank you again!

[Andrea9]

@Tomo12

You're welcome.

If you haven't received an answer yet, best call them since this is time sensitive, esp. since it sounds as thuough they were trying to purposely pull one over on you

If you don't have it just Google Airbnb local phone no or insert San Francisco. There's also a long thread in the Community Center Hosts discussion room with all imaginable links incl. that.

When you check guests in (and I advise doing ID check on them), and you notice that the booking guest isn't included, then don't even check them in, but tell them "Oh, so sorry we have a little problem here. Susan didn't disclose that she's not part of the group, meaning we're all not covered by Airbnb " and continue with the process as described. By contacting Airbnb by phone right away it's on record and they will take steps to rectify. 

See Christin's post on a thread on how to **bleep** things in the bud right when you notice problems...

For future group bookings it's advised to always ask for full names of all the other guests.

[Helen3]

@Tomo12

In answer to your second situation.

What you could have done, is called Airbnb and arranged for them to cancel the booking, as four young men are not one female !!

Did you alert Airbnb during their stay? Did you contact the guest to ask her why she sent four young men in her place?

Please make sure you leave a review saying what happened.

[Tomo12]

Update.

The honest mistake version was taken care of. I requested help on Twitter first and was told it was not true that you could transfer booking through Airbnb. Good thing I didn't give up. I called next and the rep took care of it by reading the communication with the person who initially booked to check if there's no wrong doing. It helped that I suggested her to help her husband create his own account in the conversation. The rep called her and helped her cancel and create his without any penalties on their end nor mine. I also made sure the cost remained the same for the guest alhtough I believe I could have made more since the price got higher meanwhile. (I'm using Smart Pricing.) So it was a great advice to be in contact with Airbnb. Thank you!

As for the wicked one, thank you Helen for more suggestions. This has been unsettling. I don't want other hosts to face this. Unfortunately, they arrived late and I gave a key without seeing all of them. Me bad. Two of them, one introduced himself as her boyfrind, said two others were parking so I assumed the girl was in the car. I didn't find out till the check-out, she wasn't traveling at all. It was a bit naive of them to let me in and talk actually. Otherwise, they could have self check-out and I wouldn't have known. I talked to Airbnb and the rep said she would flag her internally. It won't be the only incident on her, they said. But that information won't be known to other hosts, she said. So it is best for me to leave a review. I doubt they leave one with a fear of negative review from their wrong doing so it won't be public probably. The boyfrined said he would, but no evidence so far. For my concience, I'd still want to leave a review. I think all of you would agree.

From these expereince, I'd change my actions. I would ask for all travelers' full name and verified IDs.