Waiting for verification blocks all calendar dates for the host!!!!!

[Carlos1002]

There is a HUGE glitch in the reservation system:
1) I have immediate booking, meaning that as long as they accept my house rules, they can automatically book without me having to click to accept them.
2) I also have same day booking, meaning that guests can book same day, as long as it is before 6PM. (by the way you should specify if it is central, eastern or pacific time, since my listing is in another country, and there is a time difference)
3) My guest tried to book. It immediately blocked the dates he wanted to book. He was not verified.
4) The guest tried to get verified, he stated he sent his picture ID as well as his selfie.
5) Five hours later, hie is still not verified, AND all those dates are blocked in my calendar, meaning that NOBODY can book those dates until my guest is verified.
6) My guest got tired of waiting. So he went and booked somewhere else outside of airbnb. I lost the sale.
7) My listing is still blocked (5 hours later) and will be until 12 hours go by, regardless if my guest is verified or not.
😎 I called airbnb and they told me that, in fact, my calendar is blocked for 12 hours, until he is either verified, or not.
9) If he is verified, he AUTOMATICALLY gets charged for all the nights even though he didn't stay with us. which means that I have to refund him ALL his money, but since now it is within 24 hours, and well into his booking time, then airbnb won't refund his booking fees, and airbnb gets to keep whatever they charge me in fees as well?
10) This is a huge problem, since airbnb does not disclose how much they charge to guests.
11) Neither me or my guest were able to cancel the reservation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12) This is a HUGE problem and it must get fixed! the algorithms need to be reviewed.
13) I called you several time so that airbnb unblocks my dates, and I was told that nothing could be done, just wait 12 hours until the reservation gets cancelled. In the meantime, I am still blocked, unable to rent my property.
I was very happy with airbnb until this happened, which puts a huge burden on me and my guest.
That is no way to treat either guests or hosts. This needs to get fixed...

[Letti0]

@Carlos1002   If this was a same day booking, I am dealing with one on HA right now. I had to change the dates for her credit card to get approved. Then change them back to today and tomorrow. If it's after check in time on AIrBnB sometimes you need to call them and have them swap the dates. HA/VRBO is never an issue. 

There is reason her card was not approved and he/she may very well know this about the loophole on both AirBnB and HA/VRBO. A nice CS person helped me and explained how to book it. I use this method all the time to do a sameday booking because after a certain time anywhere from 24 hours before check in time for credit cards and after check in time for PayPal AirBnB and HA/VRBO will not authorize payment, so they have to book for 24-48 hours later and I go in and alter the date to sameday after the charge has been approved. Here’s how to alter it below on AirBnB.

Change this reservation
Go to Your Reservations on airbnb
Click Change or Cancel next to the reservation you want to change
Choose Change Reservation (Adjust the date)
Click Submit Alteration
Then the guest accepts your request and all are happy.

[Carlos1002]

I would love to try that, but I really don't know if his CC willl or will not get charged, depending on if he is verified or not. In the meantime, I can't either claim a reservation, nor can I cancel it, so if I don't have an official reservation, I can't modify it.

I understand the verification process, since I wouldn't want an unverified individual which could potentially be a problem guest, the only thing that I really request is:

1) Don't block the dates while he is in verification mode,

2) Maybe advise him that while he is being verified, the booking is not confirmed nor secure, and somebody else can rent it.

3) Allow at least the host to cancel the reservation without reprecussions since this is a valid reason that I didn't have anything to do with the cancellation, and in fact it was airbnb's rules and regulations. It really shocked me that there is this loophole and there are other complaints but Airbnb hasn't done anything about it.