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I was just on the phone to Airbnb because a guest booked without providing photo ID contrary to my booking requirements and also said they booked my place because they won’t have to share facilties (WTF I offer a room in my apartment),
Customer services said guests don’t have to upload a photo unless it is a requirement by the host that one is provided.
I thought everyone had to provide a photo as standard. Is this something new?
Were there other posts about changed verification requirements or photo IDs?
I don’t know if this is related but as I posted in another thread an Air rep called me yesterday and said they are having technical difficulties related to uploading photo IDs.
Hosts can select GOVT ID as an instant book requirement. Do you have that box checked?
Yes I do, but obviously we can’t see these.
I had thought that both hosts and guests had to upload a photo onto their profile and this is still what it says on Airbnb Help. However customer services told me that guests don’t have to upload photos.
I want to know that the person who books is the one who turns up at my door. I know this isn’t failsafe but having a photo of the person sharing my home makes me feel more comfortable. Also I have it as part of my rules for Instant Book that they do this.
@Helsi. I can not recall any requirement option for IB hosts to check to require a photo. Reviewing that screen again, it just doesn’t exist right now. Government ID and a photo are not the same thing. There is no such thing in the AirBNB vocabulary called PhotoID.
They need a profile photo, however, Airbnb doesn’t require it to be them. It could be a dog, cartoon, waterfall ect… Is this what you are asking?
As part of Instant Book you can add rules that guests needs to meet in addition to your house rules, as well as questions they need to answer - one of mine is that they have a full face photo of themselves as their profile photo.
I agree government ID and profile photo ID are separate items. That’s why I specify in my IB rules that they have a clear photo of themselves.
He didn’t have a profile photo at all. I thought as you said that they need to upload an image, but according to their customer services not.
@helsi Can you take a screen shot of that area? I don’t see it in my IB “requirements” at all. Could this be different depending on country?
Could be I’ll see if I can find it. It came up when I set up IB>
Ah, that is the post-booking message! That is not a requirement to actually book. I wonder if AirBNB honors this more than “Other Things to Note” in your house rules which they see pre-booking.
It’s actually something they see as part of the booking process rather than post booking I believe. It is part of the booking requirement and customer services confirmed if it was not provided I could cancel the booking.
