How do you deal with questionable enquiries?‌‌

[Quincy]

Hello all,

Today, I would like to share one of the most reported cases on communication and fraud. There are sometimes guests who make enquiries to negotiate "off platform prices" or try to book a space for someone other than themselves. I’ve noticed that there’s an increase of said requests especially during the holiday and festive periods. 

Do you have experience with such enquiries? If so, do you have any advice for responding to such messages?

I look forward to hearing your answers. 

Quincy

[Ken346]

The best approach is to approve and respond with an invite then to reserve through the platform. If its a pricing issue you can send the a special offer. If they insist on paying or communication off the platform decline or block them and report. 

In the instance of booking for others, I decline and respond that they can share the link with the person that is making the reservation. I find its good to know who is staying in your property and also to prevent people from reserving with stolen credit cards. 

[Marian2332]

I know this isn’t the “correct” response, but I’ve had two guests who were both wonderful who tripped the flags of having someone else with no history book for them and wanting to talk on the phone. They were both traveling nurses staying for three month stints. One had hired an agency to take care of her placement and housing and the other was still in school so her dad was paying for it. I didn’t give them special prices (in fact I raised it on one of them) but I did chat with them before they booked through the app just because I don’t think it is unreasonable to want to connect before making a big commitment. 

Agree that in general anyone who is making themselves out to be extra work is at worst a scammer and at best going to be a pain. 

[Yolanda360]

I have been lucky since I live on the property and I make sure to let all know that my husband is a retired police officer, so I have no issues. However, for a time I was getting strange inquiries from 21-year-olds and felt it was more spam than anything. I politely told them that they have to have reviews from others as it is in my policy. I do not instantly book and guests must have I.D. and reviews. 

[Susan1246]

I have had inquiries about my place where they say they cannot use a CC but they'll send me a bank check prior to booking.  Asking some of my friends who host, I found that most of those inquiries are actually scams.  So, my response has always been that I'd love to have them stay but they will have to pay through AirBnB because AirBnB keeps track of and pays my taxes.  So, once they clear it with AirBnB, I'm good.  I never hear back from them.

[Sharon1233]

I have had such inquiries, and usually a red flag will wave in the back of my mind.  I will respond once to them but I will not continue dialogue if they do not book.  I had one party recently who kept asking and went so far as to say I was discriminating against her because she was trying to book for her son.   I'm always polite and to the point.

[Naomi141]

I will always reply to honest inquires.  As a Canadian I am  proud of the area where my AirBnB home is located in Quebec and I want those visiting the area to feel welcome whether they stay at my condo or elsewhere. However, I will never deal with those who want side deals. I have had photographers want to stay for free and in return I would receive photographs of my home. I even had the VP of a very large accounting firm want to "cut a deal" outside of AirBnB. Not only would I be dealing with tax evasion I want to protect my real estate investment. 

It was the owner of our cleaning company who warned me, when I was setting up the condo for rental, that the worst clients their staff most often had to clean up after were the ones who wanted deals.

Tremblant Retreat is our family retreat too. AirBnB has also captured some questionable potential guests and I have no problem flagging questionable ones either. If we all work together as hosts we help each other and host only ideal clients.

Naomi, Mont Tremblant

[Dobrota0]

Hi,

Yes, from time to time there are guests who hide their identity and seek contact in other ways applications or social networks. I have a unique answer for all of them, please contact only through the portal. Please recognize in time such unreliable guests who are hiding behind some other intention. Thanks for your cooperation

Best regards

[Julie1496]

There was a recent news article about people using Airbnb’s as a front to accept packages of money from people being scammed. The perpetrator would book an Airbnb for the shortest time possible, use that address for the packaged shipment, then wait outside the space for the package to arrive, sometimes never even entering the Airbnb. I believe a camera system is NECESSARY for the entrance to any Airbnb. All my guests have been quite accepting of it as I tell them it is for their security as well as mine.

[Peter2873]

History after let them in (My place is in Los Angles):

● Pay by cash?

6 Reservations: Smoke (40%)

4 Reservations: Party (25%)

2 Reservations: Damages (13%)

1 Reservations: Drama (6%)

2 Reservations: Normal Guest for saving money (13%)

● Grandfather's 80 birthday?

3: Party

● Backyard Private? Big?

6: Party

3: Smoke

1: Jumper

● House separate? Apt? House?

4: Party

● BBQ at backyard?

5: Party

2: Smoke

1: Normal Guest

● Young kids can't book. than use parent's account book?

3: Party (Loud Music)

1: Party (No Loud Music but smoke)

1: Party (Parent involved and help)

● I am a good film school student and need a short filming?

2: Party

1: Party + damages

● I offer my space to change your place for filming?

1: Party

● Dance practice?

2: Party + Loud Music

1: Small Party, OK

● AC there? (Summer time)

7: Smoking

1: Normal Guest

● Host locked Central Heat Max 70F and Guests still said "So cold, need higher"? (Winter time)

11: Smoke (no exception yet)

● We are at Costco (or wholesale place) and coming soon?

1: Party

● How's Parking situation? (if host already offer free parking)

2: Party (Bad, dirty)

1: Party (no crazy)

● I understand no smoke rule. Can my friend just smoke at yard?

4: Smoke (in the house still)

1: Smoke (follow rules)

● Only 1 person stay, visitors no more then 7-10 people?

1: Big Party (30+people)

5: Mid Party (20+ People) 83%

0: Small Party (7-10 people)

● TV there?  Fridge? Sofa good?

2: Party (Young kids who want Pre-approval)

1: Party (Would like to pay more price)

1: Smoke

● Can TV play Xbox?

1: Normal Guest

● Today available? Early check-in?  (Last min book, when price super low)

10: Normal Guest (less touch, check-out early) (55%)

5: Smoke

3: Drugs Addiction (or local motel guest)

2: Illegal Trade (1 involved police) (10%)

1: Crazy or Drama

1: No show

0: Party

● Make Fireplace at backyard for social?  (Summer time)

1: Smoke

● Ghost there? (Kid's Code)

1: Party (with paying higher price)

● Everything dirty, terrible, host rude!

3: Want to stay free or discount

(best way is simply reply. If talk more, they would bring more drama and still give you a bad review at the end.)

● No Profile photo (or use cartoon) without a review, and guest's age is very high? (After check guest's phone number on truepeoplesearch.com)

2: Party (Young Kids used grandparent's account to book)

0: Real Elder guest

● Where is the security camera?

1: Smoke (under 20 years old kids)

[Nick]

Interested statistics @Peter2873, you're what I would call the Red Flag Guest Whisperer 😁

[Qume0]

I also don’t negotiate with guests that do want a private deal. I refer them back to AirBnB. If I get any requests for accommodation that is not from a booking platform I advise them to make their reservation through AirBnB. 

[Donna453]

We recently had a guest check in with the correct number. They were visiting local relatives and three extra people stayed  the night. I charged them for the three extra guests after the fact. I can't say that she was thrilled about paying the fee, but she did. I would not accept them as guests again.

[MikeAndDebbie0]

I also remember when we booked a trip to Marathon FL, I was asked the names and ages of all those in my party that would be staying.  I did not mind providing this info.  I would love to do this with my rental as I always have high school students asking to book my place in summer, especially in May and June b/c kids are graduating.  Sometimes the parents are willing to book for them so I feel that I need to make it a point to say no parties,  and if my rules are not followed, they will be evicted.  We've also had to have our sofa cleaned as the arm was almost black - looked like they were working on a car and wipes it all on one arm of the sofa - we decided to go head and clean the carpets too.

[Helen575]

The happenings seems so similar, I've had guests ask for discounts but I cater for those who do so on Airbnb platform. For additional guests it's been a challenge to me as my guests get acquinted with the locals. It has happened once or twice but they'd pay through the Airbnb. My worry is those guests who use words for numbers saying it's their whatsapp number. These l normally ignore them. But of late I've started reporting  them. It seems as Airbnb is gaining popularity so are the guests wanting to pay less and less. Outside Airbnb. For safety we do not allow these requests since it's a shared listing. How do we do away with the bargain aspect?

[Dana-And-Daniel0]

I really try to stick to renting my home to people that have reviews preferably a few reviews that are shining. But I also come across someone who has zero reviews and sounds as though they have good intentions after I asked them to tell me a bit about themselves to make sure that they go over my house rules Because there is a question in there or they need to answer so I know what they have. I also mentioned that I’d like to be the first to give them a good review but a few more times than I would like they’ve ended up not being a good fit for our place in the high desert where if you have music to loud to late it  just carries through the valley.

And then those are the people that you end up writing an honest review of but then they never write a review for the house because they obviously know they’re going to get a bad review. That bothers me because I’m not sure how Airbnb can help there if there’s someone who just keeps renting without reviews.

as far as third-party I did reach out to a Nother host to see if she would allow me to give as a gift to my dad‘s caregiver and his wife and I would take full responsibility of them in her house. By my reviews I think she said OK and thankfully my dad‘s caregiver and his wife were exceptional guests. So I am glad that I was able to do that but I also understand that it might not turn out so great for some people.

in response to people wanting to nickel and dime and or ask for only one night stay or if they can go through me outside of Airbnb. I pretty much always say no and will recommend something else in the area.