Potential guests with no reviews or profile

[Sarah883]

Hi there,

I have recently had three potentail bookings, all from people with no profile information and no reviews.

I'm wondering what other hosts do in this situation?

Thanks!

Sara

[Doyle1]

i have been a super host for 3 yrs and our property is rather open with other businesses downstair which required a lot of trusts from our guests. when someone trying to book last min. with no review i normally check if this person just join airbnb (you can see the year that they joined) if someone join this year, book 1 night, i normally asked them where they are from and sometime i give them a call just to see what they sounded like. pls don't let air bnb fool you, they will not take any responsibility if something happen to your property. go with your gut feeling. - lately i also ask for id check for guests with no review.  which most of the time they won't reply.

[Julie4]

I get very tired of receiving requests from blank profiles with names that don’t even match their request so I have a blanket response. I’m very careful who I allow to share my home and have been hosting for years and this is becoming increasingly worse. This helps me to discern and prevent potentially difficult or uncomfortable bookings. it’s just not worth it otherwise!

I am only able to accept bookings from guests with a completed profile and previous good reviews. This is explained in the listing.

When deciding on who to invite into my home I always consider previous host reviews, your profile information and an accurate photograph. I'm sure you can understand my reasons for this.

Based on you not being able to provide this information I’m sorry I can’t accept your booking.

So as to not waste your time and to make it easier for you to find the right accommodation I'd suggest always reading the listing information carefully as hosts generally provide essential information to help you before you make your booking request.

[Selma30]

Airbnb is so big now that it is out of control.

It is inacceptable and we should all report it.

Many friends deleted their airbnb listings because it is not safe anymore, so they say

[Rexanne0]

What do you tell the guest when you deny their request? I’m currently in this situation. 

[Jacqueline1014]

I would tell them why you are refusing.  Presumably it’s because you have a policy of not accepting bookings without certain criteria: reviews might be one.  I usually ask the guests to give me some information about themselves and why they are visiting.  If they are genuine, they will do this.  I haven’t had to refuse anyone (apart from some with children), and so far I have not had any bad experiences.

[Anne-Marie394]

Hi All

Completely new to this - I went live Tuesday night and had a booking for next day within hours - two tradesmen - seem nice enough and they are staying for a week - right away though we got enquirers for the full month of October. Both new with no reviews. One seemed dodgy right away so I shut that down. The other seemed pretty ok but constantly wanted to chat and tell me about himself - I realized after a day that he was treating air b n b like a dating site when he asked me for my whats app so we could chat more and quicker and I said I would provide mine and hubbies when he booked. His profile totally disappeared off abnb within hours of me writing this. I have now got a female wanting to stay for 2 months and I have asked for ref's from their work (they are both Londoners moving to the branch near me in Scotland but abnb wont allow me to give her my e-mail address to  her - Any advice?

[Lorina14]

People who try to take you off the airbnb platform are trying to get you to rent to them without the fees (host fee, service fee, cleaning fees).

I’ve had this happen and they wanted to talk off the platform and I advised them we book through the platform to protect them and us for liability and if they need help and we are not available the support will help them 24/7. They stopped messaging after I told them to only book through Airbnb.

There was also a TikTok about how to get around Airbnb fees by asking former Airbnb hosts you have stayed with and had a good experience with if they will accept payment direct without going through the platform.  This might be why some people are trying it more.

[Lorina14]

For the email address you just need to write it as follows: Lorina14(at)gmail.com. Airbnb will flag any @ sign if they are not a booked guest yet. 

[Marilyn489]

Hi, 

I was wondering the same thing too! I had an instant book last night but they had no reviews but it shows they've had 4 trips... so not sure why he was able to do an instant booking without me accepting or declining the request and now I'm afraid to tell him no or could make my rating go down. Does anyone know why this happened? is it because he had 4 trips (even though there was no reviews but it had no negative reviews is that why he was allowed to instantly book? I called customer service and I could hardly understand what they were saying and they said they were not sure and they have to further investigate but they have not called me back with explanation. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Selma30]

I refuse the instant booking. Not safe, you better chose who stays.

I am thinking to call airbnb admin and report this kind of requests and people  zero review can be for someone who just join but not for a person who had few trips and been regisyered for 4 or 5 years. And no.profile to speak a bit aboit themselves and introduce themselves is not right too. I only accept people with reviews, profile, ID verified,.phome number and email...and photo

[Rexanne0]

What do you tell the guest when you deny their request? I’m currently in this situation.  @Selma30 

[Selma30]

Hi Rexanne

Well to be honest i say the truth. Either i do not accept booking without photo ID verified 

Nor photo uploaded 

Nor zero.profile or reviews..

It happens also that the room gets better offer outiside airbnb

[Adriana1674]

Do you have to post this in your house rules before denying that you do not accept reservations without Zero profile or reviews?  Or can you just deny them without posting this information on your listing?  I'm assuming it will deter any negative potential guests

[Stephen1004]

The policy is to remove the booking if you are 'uncomfortable' with an instant book.

[Eugénie1]

Turn off instant book in your settings