How can I block a guest from messaging me, viewing my listing and/or sending future reservation requests?

[Sean95]

I have had issues in the past with crazy guests who:

- Leave a review complaining about things like the space being too small or the doors to neighbouring apartments in my building being too close together, however, they then go ahead and try to book more nights on future dates (because my price is so low) but obviously I don't want a repeat guest who's going to leave bad reviews for things that cannot be changed because that hurts my overall rating for no reason.

- Book without reading any of the info on the listing, then cancel on the check-in date because they waited until that time to realize they had booked a "private room" instead of an "entire place" and then start sending me repeated refund requests.

There have been many more situations that I can't recall off the top of my head where there was an apparent need for a "block" button, in the same way you can block someone on any social media platform to prevent further communication or stalking.

There has never been a prominent "block" button, but a workaround I have used in the past is to bring up the guest's profile, click "Report this guest" -> "They're being Offense", then fill out the text box for AirBnB's consideration, then click "Submit", and only then does a "Block" button appear. That "Block" button is nested within submenus that can only be found by initially clicking on "Report this guest". If you select any of the other options under that first menu, like "I think they're scamming or spamming me" or "Something else", then the block button does not appear.

Therefore, the way I have always done this in the past is by clicking "Report this guest", then selecting "They're being offensive",  then in the blurb to AirBnB, I have to explain that they aren't actually being offensive but that I'm clicking this reason because their idiotic UX design makes the block button available only via this route.

Today I tried following that process and noticed that after sending the report, there was no block button.

Does anyone know whether there still exists a way to block people who are pestering you on AirBnB?

[Quincy]

Hi there @Sean95, I've passed this on to the team yesterday, and they have recommended that you contact them again so that they can review this for you. 

[Sean95]

Ok I finally got to the bottom of it and all this confusion is coming from sloppy UX design.

It IS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE to block guests! However, there are some booby traps in the process.

In order to block a guest FROM A COMPUTER:

1. Go into the conversation with the guest.

2. Locate the PARTICULAR MESSAGE within the conversation that you want to report.

3. Click the flag next to that message and the "What's happening?" window will open.

From this point onwards, select "they're being offensive" and the rest of the process will work.

WHAT NOT TO DO: On the right hand side of your screen, there is a pane called "Reservation Details". If you scroll down within that pane, you will see some clickable items below the financial details. One of these items is "Report this guest". Do NOT click on that. If you do, it opens the exact same window as in step 3 above and presents an identical reporting procedure but once you reach the end, there will be no option to block.

In order to block a guest FROM THE APP:

1. Go into the conversation with the guest.

2. Locate the PARTICULAR MESSAGE within the conversation that you want to report.

3. Tap the message itself.

4. This opens an overlay window that contains a flag.

5. Click on the flag and the "What's happening?" window will open.

From this point onwards, select "they're being offensive" and the rest of the process will work.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Once you are inside a specific conversation with a guest, you will see a button at the top that says "Details". If you click on that, it will open a window that contains the same information as the "Reservation Details" in the pane mentioned in the previous section regarding the procedure from a computer. Do not submit a report from this window, or you will be provided with an identical reporting procedure but once you reach the end, there will be no option to block.

[Ramona-Bogdana0]

Hello @Sean95 

It is important what reason you selected:

'' Select the reason you want to report that person. If you no longer want to receive messages from him in the future''

Please, try again with other reason.

Have a great day!

[Sean95]

Hi @Ramona-Bogdana0 

The menu map for reporting a user is as follows:

1. I think they’re scamming or spamming me ->

a) they asked me to pay outside of airbnb

b) they asked me to communicate outside of airbnb 

c) they advertised or solicited something 

2. They’re being offensive ->
a) they’re being discriminatory

b) they’re being inappropriate 

c) they’re being abusive or hostile

3. Something else ->
a) something on this page is broken

It has always been the case that if any of the reasons fall under 1 or 3 above, then there is no option to block when submitting a report. In the past, if using reason 2C, then has always been an option to block but now that option has been removed, or at least it was absent when I made my most recent report a few days ago. I don’t know if reasons 2A and 2B are supposed to provide the block option, as I have never used them. 

When I made the most recent report using 2C, I tried from the app and there was no block option. Then I tried from a mobile browser and it was the same problem. I’m not sure whether the problem would occur from the desktop website because the report had already been submitted by the time I could check there. And the option to “undo” report submission is broken. 

[Ramona-Bogdana0]

Hello @Sean95 

Thank you for your reply, this is the process:

To report a message from someone or block any future communication from them:

1. Go to your Inbox and click the conversation with the person you want to block
2. Click the flag icon next to the message to report a user
3. You must select They're being offensive to block a user and follow the next few questions with the appropriate options
4. Describe the reason for blocking
5. Click Submit, then Block this person and OK

How do I report a message or block someone on Airbnb? - Airbnb Help Centre

Have a great hosting, and so sorry for this story with that guest.

[Sean95]

 

[Sean95]

[Sean95]

After submitting the report, this  is all I get. Just a greyed out button says “user reported” and no option to block. 

 

[Sean95]

And I tried viewing the user’s profile on the desktop website, hoping to undo and then resubmit the report (thinking that maybe if I do it from a computer, the option to block night appear, however the “undo” button shown in the screenshot does nothing when clicked)

 

[Ramona-Bogdana0]

Hello @Sean95 , 

To report a message or block any future communication with a person:

1. Go to Messages on airbnb.com and select the conversation with the person you want to block
2. Click Report under their profile picture
3. Select the reason you want to report that person. If you no longer want to receive messages from him in the future, click Next> Yes, block this person now.

If you choose to block a person, they will no longer be able to send you messages and booking requests or accept your booking request.

https://www.airbnb.it/help/article/2020/

And like this, the Guest will not see and find your listing, and cannot write to you, but regarding review will be able to write it.

Have a great hosting!

[Sean95]

@Anthony223 @Ramona-Bogdana0 

I followed the steps in that article, however, at step 6, there is no option to block. I submit the report but that does not block the guest. 

[Lisa8308]

Do you or anyone on here know how to block someone beyond this? i.e. from seeing your entire profile? Thanks!

[Colleen253]

@Sean95 The last time I tried to block someone this way, it didn’t give me the option to do so at the end. I wonder if they removed that option. 

It’s a given that low prices attract low quality guests. Raise your rate!

[Sean95]

@Colleen253 

Aaaahhh I can’t do that because my place is very small and heavily governed by a very long list of rules (I’ve stayed in 100+ other properties and never encountered as many rules as I have). 

My price is about $5-10 cheaper than similar size/quality private rooms in my area and this is to compensate for the fact that basically everything is disallowed, all amenities are excluded, and all you get for the money is a place to sleep, shower, store/heat up restaurant leftovers and then get out. It’s very much set up as a place to crash but not a place to hang out in during the day. 

I’d feel guilty trying to charge more for what I’m offering lol

[Colleen253]

@Sean95 Ahh, I see.

“I’d feel guilty trying to charge more for what I’m offering lol.” 

Yeah, but I’m sure those crap guests aren’t feeling any guilt for what they put you through. If you can still get bookings with a higher rate, you might be pleasantly surprised with an improving guest pool. If not, well at least you’d be earning enough to make suffering the crap ones worthwhile 😜May be worth experimenting. Just sayin. 

[Sean95]

@Nick @Lizzie 

 
Hey guys, could you please pass this on to your contacts at airbnb? The block button has disappeared, but the help article still indicates it that it should exist. I already sent feedback and tried reporting it to c/s but all they could do was send me the same help article as the one listed above, where step #6 is false because there is no option to block. 

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/article/2020/how-do-i-report-a-message-or-block-someone-on-airbnb

[Anthony223]

@Ramona-Bogdana0    Thanks very much Ramona. I also sometimes get bad guests that I want to block