 Poster: A snowHead
|
A workmate put me onto the Airbnb accommodation website today. She has used it and swears by it - it's a website that offers worldwide accommodation (from rooms to whole houses) where owners rent out directly to bookers at great prices.
Thanks to some great advice from Snowhead meh, we're off to Iceland for a couple of nights from next Sunday for some ski touring and sightseeing. Never been there so really looking forward to it. So I'm looking for digs in Reykjavic.
However....the website is insisting that I jump through hoops as never before to sign up - and verify my identity. I've had to register a photo of my passport and record a video to say who I am....fill in a Facebook-type profile...and more. Much more. Completely unbelievable. After 2 hours of going round in circles, the website is still saying that I'm not verified and my accommodation request has not been passed to the accommodation owner. Apparently I have 12 hrs to register/verify my ID or the booking is cancelled.
I have almost been at the foot through laptop stage of total frustration and fury... And there is seemingly no contact us info on the website for me to ask WTF is going on.
Has anyone any experience of this website or ID verification process??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Sorry I'm of no help.
But if it were me, I'm NOT uploading any photo of passport to some web site! 
Good luck with the booking though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@mountainaddict, there's a somewhat tedious but understandable process much as you describe to become an advertiser - but as a client? Seems odd...we've found them very helpful on the phone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@mountainaddict, I am verified on there as an owner. I certainly didn't need to do a video. It is common practice for owners to verify their identity. After all there has been a lot of accommodation scams going on. As for verifying guests, as many are welcoming you into their own homes, perhaps it gives some security. As an owner you can choose whether you wish to only accept verified guests or not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I've used airbnb many times with mainly great results
The reason they need so much ID is so they know who you are if an apartment gets trashed
A human has to verify your information at airbnb I don't think it's automatic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I had to verify recently for a place, its the 3rd time i've used it but the 1st the required verification. didnt cause me much hassle though
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My 3 sons have used airbnb all over the world, and apart from one been let down in Istanbul when he tried to book very last minute (his own fault) they have all had wonderful stays with accommodation exactly as described. They all had to register but did not seem to find it too much hassle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
It's tricky but stops weirdos fake booking. I love Airbnb and recommend it, it took about 14 goes to verify, but once it was done I have only had good experiences booking places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is a hassle but if you look at it from the accommodation providers point of view, makes sense. The reason it's cheaper is that they are not taking such risks. No such thing as a free lunch! But if you can't be bothered just go to the normal commercial providers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Thanks all. The point is that I am more than happy to comply with their validation process - BUT try as I might (& I also had two more IT savvy than me workmates looking at it it with me) I could not get beyond being advised that I had one more stage of the process to go. I'm wondering if it was all malfunctioning or something - especially as I've had an email mail from my prospective host (after I queried things with her via a former on the website) to the effect that I am shown as verified at her end and should have been able to book....
Other unbelievable bits of the process required me to:
- Ahem....create a symbol - to express my personality...
- 'Tell my story' - so that hosts could decide if they like me.
- Give my story a name - select from titles like adventure and happy....
Jesus. Talk about taking the pee. You couldn't make it up. In the end I got an email mail saying I had failed to validate my ID in the required 12 hrs so my booking request was cancelled. Fine by me....but wait! They've taken £185 payment in full for the non-booking (despite 80% of that being to to the property owner, not them!) and will refund it in 7 working days. The final insult. What cheeky ba*****ds!!
So I've booked with Booking.com - what a pleasure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
^^Probably to prove you're not a robot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@mountainaddict, I was only required to do passport and photo, no video, symbol or otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
I had trouble too but got in touch and they sorted it out. I only registered to give a review for my sister's place!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
I started to register with Airbnb about the beginning of May but found it such a hassle that I gave up. I can understand the reasoning behind their comprehensive registration process but I decided it wasn't worth the effort for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Get in contact with them, I swear by airbnb for when I travel, have never had to do any of what you have done though. A video seems a little extreme.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
It is the host that can dictate what level of verification. Likely if you choose another accommodation, you wouldn't need to upload your passport or do a video.
I don't have that level of verification on my place as it is indeed a deterent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
or a Basil Fawlty.
's go without saying!)
