Booking received from someone who is not the Airbnb account holder

[Charlotte78]

Hi there

I am new to AirBnB and have specified no solo male travellers.  So far I've had two requests, one from a solo male traveller, and one from a male who also wants to bring his brother.  I've declined both.

Now I have just got a request from a female who is using the AirBnB account of some guy.  I have gone back to her to ask whose account she's using.  Naturally, I would want to decline her as well.

I've also had three bookings which I've accepted but am worried that with the numbers I'm declining affects my standing?

How have others dealt with these problems?  Not such a good experience so far 😞

Cheers

Charlotte

[Sandra126]

Hi Charlotte, Yes, it is true that your search position will slip if you decline a lot, and after maybe 15 or so you may become suspended as the site algoritms prefers hosts who actually host. I am right with you on not wanting to host men other than in a couple, so I looked at your listing and it is not immediately apparent that it is what you want, so guests will enquire regardless. They rarely read all the way through and I suggest you START with it. @Andrea0 in Amsterdam https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1835186 has perfectly written her profile and house description/rules (even written text on photos as guests at least look at most of them) to eliminate enquiries from single men. Have a look at it and make your listing clearer.

She also singles out important text ------------------like this maybe----------------- in order for it to stand out. It works!

[Charlotte78]

Thanks Sandra, I see what you mean, and took a look at the Amsterdam profile.  Very helpful!

[Andrea9]

Thanks @Sandra126 for the mention. I often feel like a strict school mistress with all my rules and things, but the more I hosted, the more I realised missing guidelines were as good as Heck, I have no guidelines!

@Charlotte78

It took me a while of again and again declining inquiries and requests with my Men Text rising up higher and higher in the visible text on the listing, until I finally gave up and took the In-your-face method of sticking it right in the first picture as well as several other places. And still, And still, a bearded middle Eastern guy with a picture looking like a terrorist fighter asking if it's okay to bring a female for a few hours, seemed to think it didn't apply to him...

Thank you for the perfect description 'solo male traveller'  which I will be shamelessly appropriating! I've been searching for how to better describe how I absolutely DO accept men with their female counterparts and hadn't found an ideal one yet.

[Charlotte78]

Ugh I can't believe some guy tried that!!!

You may shamelessly use my sentence  - as I'll be shamelessly taking some of your tips!

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

Unfortunately your choice of who you accept will bring additional difficulties as people just don't read the full description, or the house rules. 

What about changing your listing name to reflect: Female only accomodation.. or something similar - at least that way it is very visible and you may get fewer requests from men.

You will drop down the listing as you decline more and more requests - and I believe if you decline 10 in a row you get an 'official' warning and shortly after that suspension of your account.

[Charlotte78]

Thanks - I've now put this right up the top of my listing!

[Andrea9]

@Charlotte78

An afterthought - if you still get inquiries from SMT (Solo Male Travellor), you can always have a laugh and reply by sending a special offer that is ridiculously high with several zeros. Accompany it with a professional-sounding message that in this exception you are reluctant but only willing to breech your own principles against a fee which has been added to the room price. 

[Charlotte78]

Hahhaha now there's a way to decline them without suffering the decline penalties! 🙂