Requiring ID at Check-in

[Marc715]

I recently had a disasterous experience at one of my units where it was rented and used as a late night party venue.   One of the features I offer is self check-in as my units are fully automated.  However, at the recent incident I did the check-in personally and the guest was ID verified and multiple positive reviews.

At 4 AM when I discovered there was a huge party happening in the unit I immediately went to AirBnB to review his profile.  It was gone!  AirBnB had already discovered something that caused them to permantly bar him from the site.  But by doing that it removed all my access to his information.  Of course all this could have been avoided if AirBnB had give me the heads up as soon as they learned there was something wrong with the guy.

Now I want to go after this crook.  I am out thousands in damages, the rental and cleaning fees (which AirBnb has collected but never paid me), and countless hours of my time lost.  But I have no information to go after this guy with.  AirBnB won't even provide me with his basic account information that I was allowed to see at one time.  Their response is if law enforcement want to prosecute him they will supply it to them.  But I want to civilly prosecute him.

There are several companies that make an iPad based ID scanner and verification system that is under $1000.  I am thinking of implementing this for all guest and anyone staying in the unit.  Every hotel I go to when traveling requires a copy of my ID so why shouldn't I.  It might detour other crooks from targeting my unit.  Anyone have any experience with this?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Marc715 

you can do it but you have to have it in writing in your house rules.

In Croatia, Italy, Spain, and some other countries are mandatory to take personal information from all our guests, including infants, and to upload that information to police immigration department's online application/form. I would do it even if it wouldn't be mandatory for the same reason you experienced today.

I can't believe how many hosts give the keys of their properties to total strangers they don't know anything about. In Airbnb, TOS is written that Airbnb will not reveal the guest's information to anyone. The only thing host can do in such a situation is to call the police and then let police or the court to ask Airbnb for guest's ID. Immagine how much time is needed for this process!

Some hosts say in certain countries hosts are not allowed to identify their guests but I can't believe it is true because, as you said, every hotel and hostel and every landlord requires identification from their guests and tenants so why shouldn't you?

[Marc715]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

Yes, there are no laws in Chicago that would prohibit be from collecting that information and I think I have been lazy and foolish up to now by not doing it.  I am a software developer so I am a little obsesses with automation and have created a complete system for my units where I can run them while I travel and live part time in Brazil.  But there is something to be said for old fashioned ID checking.  

I think it will also scare away the crooks and honest people will appreciate the security I offer them.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Marc715  you are right, honest people have nothing against ID checking, in 3 y of hosting all of my guests showed their IDs, allowed us to make a photo of it or just to write down all their information. Noone complained.

We check in our guests personally but my friends have self-check-in option and they collect photos of their IDs upfront via email or whatsapp so you can do it yoursef too. Just ask for IDs of ALL guests in a group, not just the person who booked.