Can´t verify my mobile phone number

[Michael617]

Dear Community,

I am trying to verify my mobile phone number, but always get the following error "Sorry, we cannot send verification code to this number. Please make sure you input the correct mobile number."

It is a German Mobile and I have selected the correct Präfix +49. I have tried my number with a leading 0 and without it. Both doesn´t work.

Looking forward for some advice.

Thanks,

Michael

[Ali158]

I have AT&T and am getting the same message. WTF

[Ivan294]

Hi Ali, Just to let you know I had same issue with my mobile phone, then I used my land-line (home phone) and it was successful.

Best wishes,

ivan.

[Elena672]

not so at all.  I just switched number with the same provider "cricket".  airbnb refuses to verify and giving me the same run around like others.  i wonder if it is the way to keep eligible people from using airbnb platform.  looks like a conspiracy to me.  there are many other ways to verify who we are through emails, social media and even our phone numbers.  why this was not an issue, but appears to be and issue after licensing ordinance was put in place.  i wonder?!

[Lisette29]

were you ever able to fix this? im having this issue right now

[Laura4723]

this is crazy! I use Sprint- what the heck is wrong with sprint?

[Geordie2]

Figured out what this is after talking to a mate that works at a mobile phone company.

Airbnb are trying to minimise risk or something by banning numbers that are from cheap networks - prepaid/burner services, supermarkets that offer discount plans, anything that's low cost and low on ID requirements. They're doing this by checking whether your number is in a range that belongs to that particular provider, but in countries like Australia which require by law that you're allowed to keep your number if you change providers, it doesn't work. My number was allocated fresh from Vodafone, the third largest telco in Australia. I changed to Telstra, the largest provider in Australia, and some time after I did, Vodafone released the range it's in (0415 XXX XXX - 0416 XXX XXX) to Kogan - a discount online appliance retailer that offers mobile plans as a side business. So Airbnb has code in their site/app that looks up the number range (without taking into account that maybe numbers in it are actually at full price, reputable providers) and just outright bans them.

The funny thing? To minimise risk / make everything more legitimate, they tell you to use another number, as if you've got twelve of them and you can pick. Would've thought anyone with a choice of phone numbers to provide was dodgier than one.

This isn't a feature Airbnb, it's a bug, and it needs to get put in a backlog for fixing.

[Diane252]

I'm having a similar problem.  My mobile number is a Vodafone number, one I've had for years with Vodafone.  I haven't changed providers.  Vodafone is one of the major telcos in NZ.  I don't get an error message when I try to verify my phone munber -- I don't get anything. No text, no automated call.  I too have tried adding the leading zero to my phone number, which we don't otherwise do when the phone number includes the +64 country code.  The leading 0 is only used when we're calling or texing to other NZ phone numbers. I'm waiting to get a response from Airbnb, but judging from what others have written I may never hear back from them. 

[Abbie11]

Except for that my provider is one of the biggest in the country.... this is rediculous!

[Leanna12]

not sure how that is possible.. my husbands number does not work and he is on BELL Canada plan. The biggest cell phone company in all of Canada. He has also had the same cell phone number for over 15 years so not sure if it is always the same case..

[Liz306]

I just got a response from them saying that I should use Tescomobile, lyca or lebara!  I am using a 3 mobile sim so getting us to use larger providers over smaller budget ones is not the case.  there is obviously another reason but whatever it is is - it is total crap.  I registered with my dinky provider in NZ that is budget and doesn't exist outside of the country.  They need to provide an explanation and sort it out.  Total rubbish.

[Żaneta0]

I have just got an opposite reply - that I shouldn't use Three or Tesco mobile: "

you are unable to verify their phone number because the system does not recognize the number as a valid one.

Most of these phone numbers are part of a network that leases radio frequencies from bigger operators (i.e. LycaMobile, Lebara, and TescoMobile)"

The Airbnb support was pretty rude, they hang up on me and didn't provide any solution but saying change your number. I'm very dissapointed.

[Marilou20]

My provider is Vodafone abs I can’t seem to verify 

[Eloise9]

This is a really big shame - I really want to use AirBnb & generally supported the initiative but something like this is just purely stupid. They are blocking legitimate people who want to use their business. Lebara sim does not work 😞

[Elena672]

it is a conspiracy.  they are blocking many eligible people and preventing them from advertising on their site.  I will make this issue a part of my Superior Court Appeal.  This should not be happening.  

[Vicki98]

Same problem. I'll just use another service. I can recommend HomeAway. I used them for years and they are excellent, no phone issues at all!