Post by High Priestess on May 28, 2016 21:06:55 GMT
Debbie & Manfred shared on New Hosts FOrum March 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-132778
Verified ID
I've only been hosting since January and have a question about verified ID. I had a guest who made a reservation and has a Verified ID (his first AirBnB booking was with me), but when he arrived he introduced himself with a different name. When I questioned him, he told me uses an "alias" for travel. I was very confused by this, so when he checked out this morning I asked him a little more about this. He said he did submit his driver's license and has Linked In account verification for his real name, but he has a separate email address for travel and his AirBnB profile use his "travel" name. I guess I just don't understand how he can use 2 different names. He will likely be booking with me again, and I have no problem with this particular guest and will gladly have him back, but I am concerned about trusting verifications and knowing that people are who they say they are. Appreciate feedback or any input.
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Apparently, the ID Verification does not check the name on the ID against the profile details. I guess It's conceivable that someone could use someone else's ID altogether. So while I do think it's a useful feature, we should by no means assume that it's foolproof.
Some hosts do requests that guests present ID upon arrival. I don't do this myself, because I have no plan for what I'd do if the guest didn't show one or if it didn't match their profile name.
In your case, I wouldn't worry about this particular guest, especially seeing as how you had a positive experience. I know many people who use a fake name for internet profiles for various reasons - privacy concerns, detachment from their digital footprints, etc.
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I have had this happen too, though I was aware of it at the time of booking. The guest said he didn't like using his real name online. I can understand that, though it is problematic for hosts, because one of the ways we hold guests accountable for damages or crime they cause on our property, is to have actual, real information about them, including their real name. I would think that as long as the guest uses their real ID for their ID Verification purposes, or provides their real name in some fashion, it doesn't matter if they use a nickname or alternate as their profile name.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
There are members with the name "new user" who had verified IDs: bit.ly/airbnb_verified_id
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Debbie & Manfred
Debbie & Manfreda year ago
Julie and Eric -- first of all WOW! -- second, how did you find all of that info? Whenever I try to do a search by typing something in the search field it seems to lock up, so then I end up just scrolling through all posts on the main screen, get side-tracked, and just give up. And I don't want to ask questions that have been asked over and over, when I know people have already answered them. I'd love to just read a thread like the one you posted. Does it depend on which browser I'm using?
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Hi guys – I have been at this for a while so have been compiling lists as they are posted. :-) I started making list of specific questions that seem to be asked many times, but have not been as diligent with them as I am with this one.
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Cathy
Cathya year ago
You've given me pause for thought here! There can be quite innocent reasons for 'two' names - I for example have my name by which I'm known professionally, and my 'other' name! Nothing sinister, just that I'd a long career, a few publications, and didn't want to change my name at work, but when I married, really wanted to share my husband's....I know, old fashioned and unusually traditional for me, but there we are! This mostly is not a problem, especially as my Airbnb-ing isn't related to my health career, either travelling, or hosting. Just wondering though what circumstances lead a person to have a special 'travelling' name?! Travel writer with a nom-de-plume? Door-to-door salesman? Secret service agent? Gigalo?!
Intriguing!
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
It's possible that this traveler is just very concerned about identity theft/fraud. In the last couple of years, whenever I put my information on the web, I do not use complete information or a real date of birth. Knock on wood, nothing has happened to my identity, but I sympathize with the desire to not publish real information. This is why I am not a proponent of verified ID. When they started the program, I was able to cover up information on my ID and get it verified without sharing things like my address, date of birth, signature, etc. - just my name and photo. I tried that recently with a test account and it does not fly.
Reply Like Delete
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-132778
Verified ID
I've only been hosting since January and have a question about verified ID. I had a guest who made a reservation and has a Verified ID (his first AirBnB booking was with me), but when he arrived he introduced himself with a different name. When I questioned him, he told me uses an "alias" for travel. I was very confused by this, so when he checked out this morning I asked him a little more about this. He said he did submit his driver's license and has Linked In account verification for his real name, but he has a separate email address for travel and his AirBnB profile use his "travel" name. I guess I just don't understand how he can use 2 different names. He will likely be booking with me again, and I have no problem with this particular guest and will gladly have him back, but I am concerned about trusting verifications and knowing that people are who they say they are. Appreciate feedback or any input.
7 comments
Following
Like
Delete
Hide
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Apparently, the ID Verification does not check the name on the ID against the profile details. I guess It's conceivable that someone could use someone else's ID altogether. So while I do think it's a useful feature, we should by no means assume that it's foolproof.
Some hosts do requests that guests present ID upon arrival. I don't do this myself, because I have no plan for what I'd do if the guest didn't show one or if it didn't match their profile name.
In your case, I wouldn't worry about this particular guest, especially seeing as how you had a positive experience. I know many people who use a fake name for internet profiles for various reasons - privacy concerns, detachment from their digital footprints, etc.
Reply Like Delete
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I have had this happen too, though I was aware of it at the time of booking. The guest said he didn't like using his real name online. I can understand that, though it is problematic for hosts, because one of the ways we hold guests accountable for damages or crime they cause on our property, is to have actual, real information about them, including their real name. I would think that as long as the guest uses their real ID for their ID Verification purposes, or provides their real name in some fashion, it doesn't matter if they use a nickname or alternate as their profile name.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
There are members with the name "new user" who had verified IDs: bit.ly/airbnb_verified_id
Reply Like Delete
Debbie & Manfred
Debbie & Manfreda year ago
Julie and Eric -- first of all WOW! -- second, how did you find all of that info? Whenever I try to do a search by typing something in the search field it seems to lock up, so then I end up just scrolling through all posts on the main screen, get side-tracked, and just give up. And I don't want to ask questions that have been asked over and over, when I know people have already answered them. I'd love to just read a thread like the one you posted. Does it depend on which browser I'm using?
Reply Like Delete
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Hi guys – I have been at this for a while so have been compiling lists as they are posted. :-) I started making list of specific questions that seem to be asked many times, but have not been as diligent with them as I am with this one.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Cathy
Cathya year ago
You've given me pause for thought here! There can be quite innocent reasons for 'two' names - I for example have my name by which I'm known professionally, and my 'other' name! Nothing sinister, just that I'd a long career, a few publications, and didn't want to change my name at work, but when I married, really wanted to share my husband's....I know, old fashioned and unusually traditional for me, but there we are! This mostly is not a problem, especially as my Airbnb-ing isn't related to my health career, either travelling, or hosting. Just wondering though what circumstances lead a person to have a special 'travelling' name?! Travel writer with a nom-de-plume? Door-to-door salesman? Secret service agent? Gigalo?!
Intriguing!Reply Like Delete
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
It's possible that this traveler is just very concerned about identity theft/fraud. In the last couple of years, whenever I put my information on the web, I do not use complete information or a real date of birth. Knock on wood, nothing has happened to my identity, but I sympathize with the desire to not publish real information. This is why I am not a proponent of verified ID. When they started the program, I was able to cover up information on my ID and get it verified without sharing things like my address, date of birth, signature, etc. - just my name and photo. I tried that recently with a test account and it does not fly.
Reply Like Delete
Deborah