Booking request, though no reviews, no verification and no government ID

[Sarah994]

Hi Community,

I was wondering if anyone had come across this scenario before. We have received a request from a new Airbnb user that has not yet been verified (the green badge that appears in peoples profiles) or has uploaded any kind of government ID.

As an unexperienced host, this seems risky. 

As experienced hosts, I'm interested to hear what the community thinks?

Thanks

Sarah

[Marzena4]

Hello @Sarah994. I have hosted a few guests who'd just joined the platform before their stays. The most important is to get in touch with such guests and exchange a couple of messages with them. Your senses will tell you whether you should host them or not.

Currently I'm hosting a Korean group of four young men. They only joined Airbnb before this trip. What's more, they are in Europe for the first time in their lives. From the very beginning, despite the fact that their English is about A1-A2, the booker has been attentive, cooperative and open to discussions (my place has gas heating). So you see... Sometimes we have to take an unbeaten track.

[Sarah994]

Hi @Marzena4,

Thanks so much for your message and advice. We have contacted the prospective guests to start a conversation etc and we have hosted guests that were new to airbnb in the past. However, we've never come across a guest that hadn't yet been verified.

As we won't be able to be there in person, when the guests arrive, it's important for us to be able to 'vet' the guest before accepting the booking – at the very least their identity is verified.

[Marzena4]

As for their identity, @Sarah994, I suggest insisting on their verification. What is more, you have a right, or the person checking them in, to request a copy of their ID. I recently had another issue with guests and it's international regulation it seems, at least in Europe.

[Kelly149]

I have quite often had to tell guests that their profile wasn’t yet complete: needs proper photo, govt ID, about me section. Remind them to do so, you can also call CS & request that they call & help the guest get it completed. 

A complete profile is one of my House Rules bc abb seems ok with booking to anyone so long as the credit card clears

[Lisa992]

Thanks Kelly - You know, I'm new and also desperately need the income. But I've noticed it feels scary to see the grey placeholder photo. I'm online to look up how do people deal with people who are verified but have supposedly been members sine 2016 with ZERO reviews. I had a guy request whos request was "you're more expensive than another place i found, an you come down to...." and I gave him a polite response, and he ignored my response and asked it again...then I looked him up and he had no reviews after being on for a couple years...I actually declined b/c he didnt seem to have a good attitude. 

Do people sometimes not leave negative reviews, to avoid possible conflict? Is lack of reviews indicative?

Thanks,

Lisa in VT

[Clare0]

@Sarah994. You can set a requirement that all guest must have Verified ID prior to booking: 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/272/can-i-require-guests-to-be-verified-before-booking

Note that if you require this, you yourself will need to have your ID verified if you haven't already done so.