Can we block guests from coming again?

[Donald28]

Honestly, there's some guests that I wouldn't want to stay in my airbnb again. They always say... "we'll be back when we are in the area". BUt, some people just aren't a good fit. Especially, the ones who leave bad feedback and less than 5 stars. Why would they want to come back and why would we as hosts want them back to leave us another less than great review? 

Airbnb really pushes hosts to use instant book but that feature leaves hosts with zero ability to prescreen guests. 

Is there a way to block people from instant booking? If there isn't, there should be. 

[Jason2727]

Hosts should have to block guests from staying without having to do anything like review, provide reason or anything. 

Why should hosts be forced to write a review if they want to block somebody?

[Jason2727]

Completely agreed; we should be able to block people whom we don't want to host... Why is this feature not available?

[Marzena4]

In fact, if you score them low and give thumbs down, they won't be able to book your place again, @Donald28 and @Alexandra316

[Alexandra316]

@Marzena4 I didn't realize that. Souce for that info?

[Marzena4]

Other hosts here or Airbnb rules - can't remember.

[Donald28]

ARE YOU SURE? Where does it say that? Anyway, I've only ever given one guest a thumbs down but there are at least 10 guests I'd rather not host again. 

[Ben205]

@Donald28Interesting discussion. To help other hosts, you really need to 'thumbs down' bad guests. Otherwise, the review system doesn't work. We could all do with not having to host those guests!

[Ann489]

@Donald28I think if you give them a thumbs down they'd be less than inclined to book you again anyway...so I wouldn't worry.  A long time ago, there was a "block" feature--just another useful tool that Airbnb in its infinite wisdom has done away with, sigh.  😉

Also, I have a list of all the ex-guests I'd rather not host again...so far, none of them have tried to book again, but if any ever did, I'd cancel them.  😛

[Sherry346]

I wish everything you said I could get confirmation for. You are Level 10, so I'd like to proceed with it as fact - but I've got plenty of evidence to the contrary, and with policies changing all the time, and zero consistency, and Ambassadors providing conflicting information from one support agent to the next, bailing out on messaging, ro-bot transferring your cases to others not informed - I am going to start living on these community forum message boards to survive what I have named "the de-volution of Airbnb" . 7 years now, and was thrilled. Superhost for quite a while - helping other listings - not always the owner - In 2020? I can no longer wrap my head around the inability to understand how anything works anymore.

[Sarah977]

FYI- The levels listed here are only a metric associated with users' level of participation in this forum- how often you post here, how many thumbs up your posts get. It has nothing whatsoever to level of expertise, how long someone has been hosting and has nothing to do with hosting accounts. If you posted here 5 times a day for a week, you'd probably be at Level 10, even if everything you said was wrong. It doesn't mean anything- it's just a social media thing.

You're wise to say you're going to start living here- there's so many changes and glitches that hosts alert each other to, as well as good advice from others on how to handle this or that situation, or just for moral support.

@Sherry346

[Andrea4648]

I just got screwed over on my reservation for thanksgiving weekend. The guests checked in, didn’t contact me about anything, stayed two nights (of 5) and then I suddenly get a message from Airbnb support saying they have checked out and been refunded the other nights and cleaning fee due to my property having mold and cleanliness issues. I don’t have either... I can’t find a phone number to call and talk to a person at Airbnb to dispute, I’m out almost $400 (a significant amount to my personal finances), I still have to clean and sanitize my home they were in for 2 nights. I live in the desert, and am unaware of any mold or cleanliness issues anywhere in my home. Anyone know how I can talk to a person? The number I called says it’s no longer in service and to look online for a US number, but when I try it just continually cycles me in scripted replies from support. 

[Sherry346]

I am not an expert, especially recently with how much is changing - but start with the reservation, look under cancellations, on the right side options, "report user" might be your only option to get to general "Airbnb Help". They make this not easy for hosts. Keep trying, yes, phone support numbers will pop up eventually, if I try to type one, it may block it into xxx-xxx-xxxx - Did these guests provide photos? Go to resolution center, follow up, chase this issue down, it takes a while, but if there are photos, you gotta accept what you see - and you have a right to ask to see them - but if no photos? Push back. Everyone is trying to find an ant after they had some time at a listing, and use it as an opportunity to get money back like we are all some corporate hotel chains who won't miss the money. It wasn't like this until 2020.

Sincerely, push on, it takes time, be firm yet polite always, and good luck.

[Hayley207]

But I have a guest that you s a “good guest” but makes me feel weird. So in that instance I will leave a good review because everything was in order but I felt icky. This is where it does not work. 

[Marit-Anne0]

@Alexandra316

It is said, but has not really been confirmed, that a thumbs down will not let that guest Instant Book again.

And then there is the 3* thing if that is still valid

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Airbnb-Updates/New-Get-guests-you-can-trust-every-time/m-p/43251...

[Alexandra316]

@Marit-Anne0 Good to know, and I think it does make sense.