BEWARE OF INSTANT BOOKINGS BY GUESTS FOR NEXT DAY

[Jeff69]

I have had to turn OFF instant booking recently because of a serier of similar incidents.  Over the past couple of weeks, I have had 2 next day instant bookings, "to visit family in town", which I did not think much about, until the second guest arrived.  He was verified through Airbnb and lived in Santa Maria California with a CA phone number.  

Yet, he had no luggage, he was in a black Escalade with totally blacked out windows, and FL plates - so you could not see the other guests, and rental companies don't provide cars like that.  I told him, the dryer was broken and I would have a service person look at it, and I would text him the wifi password.  He proceeded to give me a local phone number.  When I questioned him about the phone number, he said he used to live here, which is why he is returning to visit friends.  

While in my car, texting him the password, the back door of the Escalade opened, then immediately closed, and they remained in the car for (no exaggeration ) 10 minutes while I sat in my car watching them, after which they drove off without exiting the car.  My front door is a key pad door lock which registers each time the door opens and closes.  That evening, feeling very uncomfortable with the guests,  at 11:00pm I checked my computer app for the door history, and the door opened 77 times between 2pm and 11pm.  Absolutely, unusual for guests coming to town to visit family and friends.  

Next day, I made the excuse that I needed to see the dryer, and there were 2 different cars in the driveway.  I texted the guest, and he said NO NEED, I WON'T BE USING THE DRYER".  I told him I was just down the street, and no problem if he was not home, I had a key. I politely knocked, and heard shuffling in the house, and after knocking 2x and then getting ready to open the door, a different man answered the door, while another closed the bedroom door and another closed himself in the bathroom.  Total count - 4 men.  

So I decided to ask where was the host - JOHNNY... (who's name on Airbnb was different).  One guy said he was showering in the bathroom, never asking "who is Johnny".   

MY REAL CONCERN IS THAT PEOPLE ARE USING AIRBNB AND OTHER VACATION RENTAL SITES TO RENT HOUSES FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.  Since yesterday - I have had 3 more "NEXT DAY" requests to book, and in researching the guest further, found out they have local phone numbers or IDENTICAL phone numbers.   

I reported this activity to Airbnb, who I am sure will take measures, but I think the HOST COMMUNITY needs to be aware that criminals are wising up and using alias' to rent properties for short periods of time and running illegal activities out of the house.

BE CAREFUL - BE SMART - BE SAFE.  

Jeff - Tampa Florida USA

[Ryan111]

We only confirm people that have verified social media and a government identification.  

[Cherie54]

Momi, are you doing criminal background checks?  Do you need their SSN for that?

[Lihua0]

Better book someone who has continuous facebook updates, at least you would have some idea of them. Just my 2 cents thought though.

[Momi0]

@Jeff0

Which is exactly why I won't take any bookings from guests who have not gone through the government ID verification process - thank you for taking the time to let us all know what happened. I'm sorry you went through all that. Can I ask, how many guests were actually booked for this house? Did you know ahead of time WHO was coming... Meaning did you get each guests name? That's what I do for my bookings. I won't take any booking unless I know EXACTLY who is joining the guests who booked with me. I ask all those questions even if they use IB. Doesn't matter, if they use IB or not, if they don't reply with your request as a host, you can cancel any booking by contacting ABB FIRST! If you are uncomfortable with a potential guest, just contact ABB immediately. They will cancel the IB for you without penalty.

It's important to know that IB is a good thing but how a host handles it is just as important. Just because a guests uses IB for my home, I will STILL have an ongoing conversation with them on the ABB message board to make sure they are a good fit. (Mine is for Private Room)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions. More hosts should. It's your house. You have a right to ask whatever you want with regards to who is coming, how many are coming and their plans. If a guests chooses to not answer, then that's a def RED FLAG for me. I'm a big believer if you have nothing to hide... You hide nothing. Make sense?

Again, thanks for sharing and I hope you decide to use IB again if it helps you with bookings. If you don't need it, then no worries there either. 🙂

[Jeff69]

Greetings Momi,  the reservation was for 3 people, but coming to town to visit friends could indicate friends might stop by the house.  However the amount of times the door recorded lock/unlock was way beyond any normal activity.  

Ironically, because my post was so lengthy, if a guest does not give some details on why they are coming to town and want to stay at my place, like you, I always ask why.  I have added to my HOUSE RULES, if you book 1 person, then 1 person is all that is staying. 

I have been with Airbnb for over 4 years, and had wonderful experiences, but more recently I think the negative elements are becoming aware of the potential as well.  I don't want to police my guests, but I am definitely scrutinizing those that are last minute bookings.

thanks for the insite and reply  Cheers, Jeff

[Susie0]

I recently had an inquiry about someone who wanted to use my place to make a film (and no reply when I asked what it was about) and a friend's son downright busted a renter making a film. Definitely need to know what's going on.

[Winnie7]

Hello Jeff: 

My friends think I am crazy open our house to travelers, and I want to thank you for posting this, at least when I read threads like yours made me feel there are some places I can vent my frustrations. Our situation was a guest starting communicating with us about his stay for about a month ahead, super nice person, then decided to use couple ABB before coming to our house, which we had no way of knowing at that time, just with speculations. The entire time up till booking he never mention he had girlfriend traveling with him. Then he told us once booked, you will meet my girlfriend and she will bring our stuffs, still no mention about her staying. At last my husband had to state clearly if she is intending to stay then you need to adjust the payments, which the guest didn't have any issue.

He told us he was relocating from FL to KS, but then he gave us a local number. We used strictly ABB text to communicate for documentation purposes.  He stated he would like to pay from 9 days and like to rebook again after the 9 days is up.  When I met the girlfriend she clearly looked like a drug addict, very shaky and literately tippy toe dancing our entire conversation, and at least 25 years younger than him. I asked her load of questions and turned out she only met him at the bar two months back, she travelled and hopped between ABBs with him.  All I can think was what did we get ourselves into, and at the same time we have another guest staying with us and I had to worry for his safety as well. The troublesome guest adjust our camera toward the ceiling in the common area when they were using the basement living room tv instead of the tv in their private room. His girlfriend was not working, constantly goes in and out of the house for smoking. I told her to use the back patio if she wants to smoke since we have motion sensor. Then somehow they became so relax about their stay they started to smoke pot in front of house right, we have very quiet neighborhood and is very conscious about our environment. We had to tell them the neighbor called and reported activity to us at the same time they were smoking pot out in front door.

I end up doing some research and found that the girlfriend had two drug charges in FL, the main guest had one drug charge and one for impersonating police office in our local area. After some detective work on the internet, my speculation was the guest was local and had to relocate back in town to settle a divorce and child support, since this guy has 7 kids. Now I don't want to be this way and had never been with any other guests we had since they always stated their intention and why they use ABB. They were super nice people, but left bathroom lights, bedroom lights, and common area tv on all throughout the night. They told me they are not the party type, very normal, don't bother anyone. I guess their actions speak louder than their words.

Marijuana is not legal in the state of Kansas and we don't appreciate people who like to test the limit on our property, we denied his request to extend his stay since there is reservation for his room days ahead already. I have to say both him and his girlfriend were polite and nice people but just not our ideal guests. Since then we turned off instant booking, and vowed to each other we are going to screen all before they stay with us.

Thank you again for sharing with your experience!

Winnie

[Chitra0]

Hi All,I am about to start Airbnb as a host ,could you please tell me what is government ID verification process.

I am planning to start from 2nd Dec 2016 as I am paintig my apartment now ,I have listed my house but today I have already got inquiry ,one guest inquiring for whole one month could you please let me know is it normal ?

what questions I should ask to varify that guest is genuine .

Please let me know question what you all have been asking.

Thanks for support

Chitra

[Ange2]

@Chitra0   

You can ask them to upload a Government ID.  Passports and driving licenses are safer than ID Cards, which can be more easily faked.

But note below  from Airbnb Article

"Completing this  [Verification Process] process isn’t an endorsement of any host or guest, a guarantee of someone’s identity, or that interacting with them will be safe. Always use your own best judgment, and follow our safety tips for guests and hosts."

[Denice8]

See, its really nothing.  This Government ID thing.  It doesnt mean a thing.

[Sara2]

I do request passports like hotels and photocopy 

no one objects after all I live here

i offer to delete when they leave

its in my list of rules

[Merrilee0]

I'm new to all of this.  Should we ask to see an I.d. When they arrive?  Second I have a local guy who canceled at the last minute and is upset with me because I did not refund his money?  I have instant booking in place and concerned he will book again and I will have him in my home? Is there a way to block him from booking?

[Andrea9]

@Merrilee0

It's not mandatory to ask for ID check on arrival. But think of it - hotels do it AND they write down the # plus guest address. Don't you think it's an extra insurance for you that they might decide to behave better, since you now have something in hand that you could use.

I certainly have ID check. It's mandatory, but after a while I realized that it's an extra protection level.

If a guest cancels Airbnb handles everything. You don\t have to do anything. They have to take it up with Airbnb, but don't accept the cancellation if you get an email from Airbnb! That's a sneaky bumerang throwing it back to you. Just check off the box that you would host him, otherwise you'll be penalized.

And you can't block him unfortunately. But if he remains inappropriate, report him (little gray flag on message or profile) to Airbnb. If he does try to book again, you could flag him again due to past inappropriate behaviour , but Airbnb might take longer to react to that than you have time to decline/accept the booking. If you have IB on, there's not much you can do, besides call up Airbnb after booking and describing the situation.

[Amy38]

@Merrilee0@Chitra0.  Hotels take Both IDs so they can identify bodies in caseof disaster, seriously so secondary guests should have no problem identifying slvef.

you can cancel an instant book if excuse is am uncomfortable with guest.

My first rental was for a month and it was fine, but it was older man recovering from surgery.

[Lilian20]

Completely agree with @Momi0