Payment question

[Mindy160]

I have a guest inquiry wanting to book for 21 days for vacation. He states that his employer will pay for the stay with a company check or certified check is this possible? If so how do I accomplish this? He is asking for mailing address?  Thanks, Mindy

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Mindy160 

Red Flag!

Not a good idea, at all, to go off platform ~ I consider this to be very fishy.

They may be innocent and uninformed, but I still would consider this a huge red flag.

Better, imho, that the guest pay and get privately reimbursed by the employer.

If I were to accept a reservation, at all,  from them. 

Too many ways this can go south, I personally would not go there. In fact, I'd note that this is an Inquiry, and would respond appropriately that we don't do this sort of arrangement. My bet is that they will quietly go away.

For me, this casts doubt on the prospective guest and I'd seriously consider not accepting a reservation from them if they send a request to book. 

The platform does not give out our addresses to the public, to protect us from fraud and theft, this is important to me, for sure.  

Asking for your mailing address is a huge red flag to me. 
Best wishes and lovely holidays to you.

[Paula]

Hello @Mindy160,

Our host @Kitty-and-Creek0 has given some excellent advice! Please keep us posted when you have had the chance to read it. Hopefully, it’s not too late.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Alicia753]

Hi Mindy,

Airbnb does not allow payments outside its platform. Inform the guest that all payments, including those made by third parties such as employers, must be processed through Airbnb's secure system. This ensures compliance with the platform's policies and protects both parties. Direct the guest or their employer to use an acceptable payment method on Airbnb, such as a company credit card. Avoid sharing your mailing address or accepting checks to prevent potential scams and maintain safety.

Best Practice for Handling This Inquiry - Politely explain to the guest that all payments must be made through Airbnb's secure payment system. This ensures their payment is protected, and your reservation is fully backed by Airbnb.

Example Response:

Thank you for your inquiry! Airbnb requires that all payments are processed through their secure platform for the safety and protection of both guests and hosts. Unfortunately, I cannot accept payments via company or certified check. Please let your employer know that they can use a credit card or another payment method through Airbnb to book the stay. Let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with the booking process!

Then block the guest to avoid more interaction with that guest.

Following Airbnb's guidelines will ensure your protection as a host and provide a safe and legitimate transaction for your guest. If the guest is genuine, they will understand and comply with the platform's policies.

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Upfish Management

[Helen3]

If an employer wants to pay for an employee they book via the platform using Airbnb at Work @Mindy160 

as you know it's against Airbnb's T&C for you to accept direct payments for a booking  made via themselves and is in any case most likely a scam . 

direct him to Airbnb at Work - most likely you will never hear from him again 😀😀