Hosts, beware first-time guests

[Kristina247]

Hi everyone,

I just want to inform you all of a nightmare guest I have come across recently. I blame my own complacency somewhat in not personally vetting this guest more closely; he was a young male from the UK called 'Bob' and he looked like a normal chap so I went ahead with the booking despite the fact that it was a first time booking and therefore he didn't have previous reviews - I simply presumed Airbnb would have requested his ID and other details.

Closer to the booking I asked him if he was definitely travelling alone - the reason why is that I have a 2 bedroom apartment in Central London so thought it unusual that a single male would book a 2 bedroom apartment. He confirmed he was alone and looking forward to his trip.

I'd better point out at this point I have a key box and self check-in as I'm not usually around.

Thankfully there was no disturbance reported from the neighbours but when 'Bob' checked out it was clear some kind of party had gone on in my flat. Furniture had been moved into the bedrooms, both bedrooms had been used and littered with used condoms.

Clearly I complained and requested that Bob pay for carpet cleaning. Airbnb called me and said that 'Bob' was operating under different profiles and now this profile had been deleted. The phone number he gave me was also deleted. Airbnb were very apologetic and refunded me the money for carpet cleaning but I asked how it was possible for someone to operate under different names when  photo ID is always provided. They admitted that they don't enforce the guest to provide photo ID until the second booking. I was outraged - was anyone else aware of this rule?

Who knows who Bob was but I strongly suspect that something highly dubious occurred i my flat that weekend that could have involved drugs/prostitutes/people trafficking... I'll never know but why else would 'Bob' go to such extreme lengths to set this up? I shiver at the thought.

Anyway the moral of the story is beware of first time users and ask for photo ID before you accept a first-timer as clearly Airbnb have reduced their security and this puts us hosts at risk.

 Kind regards,

Kristina

[Pete28]

Perhaps try to meet guests, or imply in the listing that you live in the same building to reduce risk of craziness. No reviews + slow time of year + strange booking = trouble.

I have taken to calling guests whose bookings make no sense (local, same day etc) and asking them what their plans are etc. I got one to cancel just based on me being around....

Photo ID can be purchased so not sure what that provides, and more stories of Airbnb not validating credit card for same day booking...

[Susan1028]

I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this ilk.  You have every right to feel disturbed and violated.

Airbnb vets nothing.  Guests with less than honorable intentions know this and there are more and more of them using airbnb because other platforms require and validate ID, credit card, security and booking deposits up front, and a contract,just like a hotel. Criminals don’t want to deal with any of that so the lax guest requirements of airbnb is the way to go.

I recently had a first timer want to book my place with only a first name on her profile. I asked her to complete her profile, then ask me to book. Reply was negative. Instant decline.

[Sudsrung0]

I've had guys wanting to book my 2 bedroom pool villa for one night, just joined airbnb no history he's got more chance of landing on the moon.

I did know of a place here where they used the villa to make pornographic movies hahaha

[Helen3]

@Kristina247 as a highly experience host, you should know if you are hosting remotely and offer self check in you really need to have CCTV or similiar at your listing. as an essential.

This would have helped you see that more people were using your listing then had booked and you could have asked Airbnb to cancel the booking.

You also have nothing in your house rules about guests who haven't booked or paid not being allowed onto the premises. Why not?

[Mark116]

@Helen3  How is that going to help her?  Even if airbnb would have cancelled the booking, this would have triggered "Bob" in most circumstances to have left a 1 star review, thereby ruining her business, and that is if airbnb would even have agreed to the cancellation due to extra guests, since as we all know, they often will refuse to admit the evidence, and some hosts are even penalized for using cameras, even when they are disclosed in the listing.

[Helen3]

Hello @Mark217

As I mentioned in my initial reply to @Kristina247

"This would have helped you see that more people were using your listing then had booked and you could have asked Airbnb to cancel the booking".

Are you really intimitating that we should put up with all sorts of poor behaviour from a guest for fear of a bad review? If so I couldn't disagree with you more.

And sorry but you are wrong one, one star review from a guest certainy wouldn't 'ruin a hosts' business. I have one left by a nasty, lying guest and it didn't stop me from getting further bookings or ruin my business.

Hosts are not penalised for using CCTV or similiar at the entrance to their building as long as it is disclosed. I would argue that any hosts who chooses not to use CCTV and hosts remotely is rather foolhardy.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

as @Susan1028 said :Airbnb vets nothing.  Guests with less than honorable intentions know this and there are more and more of them using airbnb because other platforms require and validate ID, credit card, security and booking deposits up front, and a contract,just like a hotel. Criminals don’t want to deal with any of that so the lax guest requirements of airbnb is the way to go.

ALWAYS ask for photo ID before you give keys to a total stranger.

[Thomas1033]

Our last first time booking was 1 man who showed up with 3 more in the car and probably more were coming.  Obviously didn’t read the description and must have assumed he had rented the mansion for $75 and not the 3rd floor flat.  He declared it to be too small at 1000 square ft.  He cancelled and moved on.  Bullet dodged.  Last first time Airbnb user we will ever accept!

[Susan1028]

I try to make everyone realize this is not the place to come if they want to scam someone.  I make it very clear I'm here to greet them upon arrival and that I'm on the property for thier whole stay; no parties, events, no pets, no illegal anything.

I feel fortunate the worst that's happened I've had to have 2 guests add on thier unannounced second/third guest through the platform before I'd let them check in.

[Helen-And-Mario0]

At one time last year, we recieved many 1st time users, about half of them (that's 1 in 2 cases) went wrong.  Since then, if I recieve a request that from the 1st time user and fit all of the following description : live in the same city/1 night only/ last minute booking, I sent a "friendly warning" message reiterating the house rules prior confirmed their booking. Rarely had anything gone wrong 🙂

[Susan1028]

This has worked for me as well.

[Jody79]

Unfortunately this has not worked for us.  Three out of four one night bookings we had when we started ours up in December were locals throwing a party.  This was even after we reiterated our house rules (one of which is no parties) and them acknowledging these rules for the last two.  We've since changed our minimum to two nights.  We haven't had any issues since then so far.  Most of our bookings have been first timers, and other than those three parties, we haven't had any issues.  We are still new hosts, however.

[Dian12]

Thank you for the tip! I have more first time users than the veterans requesting to book, and did not know the best way to respond. Next time, I will definitely send similar "friendly warning" prior to accepting their booking.

[Kim610]

Yes! Lives in the same city and one night only bookings have been the most bizarre guests ever.