No profile picture & no reviews

[Patricia603]

Hi, as a new Superhost, I find that guests can now book instantly, I would be fine with this if they met with the required Airbnb profile picture and positive reviews.  Unfortunately they don't all have either a profile picture or any reviews.

I decided to change my status of instant booking but then I find that Airbnb can not guarantee that guests booking will have positive reviews.  So is it or is it not a requirement for guests to have a profile picture and positive reviews when booking instantly?

I'm confused and would rather play it safe rather than welcome anyone unsuitable to our home.

Advise would be welcomed.

Thank you.

[Syl11]

@Patricia603  If you check IB in your listing, you can choose the option to host guests who have positive reviews as for no pictures on profile, you can ask for their ID on entry stage and ask them more questions about their trip, etc. Normally they explain the purpose of their trip anyway and the company they work with.

[Patricia603]

Hi, thank you for your reply, I could not see anywhere that showed that I could change the options.  I have however found this:

What are the requirements to book on Airbnb?

We ask everyone who uses Airbnb for a few pieces of information before they travel on Airbnb. Guests need to have this info completely filled out before they can make a reservation request. This info helps make sure hosts know who to expect, and how to contact the guest.

Airbnb’s requirements for guests include:

• Full name
• Email address
• Confirmed phone number
• Introductory message
• Agreement to house rules
• Payment information

Guests are expected, but not required, to have a profile picture. Hosts won’t see guest’s real email addresses, even after they book. Instead, hosts will see a temporary Airbnb email address that forwards their messages to the guest.

Some hosts may also ask guests to provide ID before booking their space.

So on that page Airbnb says that guests are not required to have a profile picture but on another page it says the opposite:

At Airbnb, we’re always working on making our community as secure as possible for everyone. That’s why, before booking or listing a home or experience, all guests and hosts must provide a profile photo and confirm their phone number.

Would you recommend to go for the government ID verification option?

Kind regards

Patricia

[Cathie19]

Absolutely!

[Cathie19]

Hi @Patricia603. @Syl11 is correct. You can also place in your house rules that you only accept guests with verified ID, a completed bio profile and a personal face image.

I use IB and have for my conditions:

Verified ID, a requirement for a positive review, and they must answer the basic questions for the purpose of their trip. Anyone else can still make contact, but the conversation and your sixth sense usually makes your mind up for their enquiry/ or request.

🙂

Cathie

[Patricia603]

Hi, @Cathie0.@Syl, thank you to you both, I think that I have now managed to change the settings so that potential guests must have a profile picture.  This option was not available to me earlier  which worried me.  I have messaged one of the guests as they are not showing a profile picture, so far, no reply.  Lets hope that I don't have to cancel the booking and pay the consequences.

🙂 Patricia.

[Cathie19]

@Patricia603. Just keep asking the right questions. If they don’t communicate and things don’t feel right, ask Airbnb to cancel as you do not feel comfortable with an unknown guest and poor communication. 

However, unless they are IT illiterate, or dodgy, they will probably upload their image. I’ve always mentioned in this situation ( always through Airbnb messages) that Airbnb is a special community built on trust and communication. If they have a problem with your requests, let the enquiry time disappear past the preaaproval time. If a booking request that is not an IB, then you do not have to accept, and ask them to agree to your house rules including profile image upload, through messages. If IB and still uncomfortable, choose Airbnb to do the cancellation, as mentioned firstly....  not yourself. Let them know you are most willing to approve a future booking if they comply with your requirements.... 

🙂

Go with your gut feeling.

Cathie

[Julie1158]

I believe AirBnB should REQUIRE this. Not only for hosts safety and peace of mind, but why would AirBnB want to put themselves in such a liable situation as well 

[Julie1158]

I agree. I've called AirBnB & received a different answer each time. One time the contact person for AirBnB told me " The System knows". Really!? What system. He said he couldn't see it. Clearly this person did not have an answer. Which is rather insulting that he thought I would accept such a preposterous answer like that.