Proxy bookings? Current AirBnB guest (in our home) may Not be the person (account) who booked the room. Do you ask for Photo ID to verify in these instances??
The current Guest looks like the account holder's picture...but a number of red flags are popping up like gophers at an 18-hole golf course.
Current guest didn't know about the AirBnB smartphone app at all, and doesn't have a laptop or computer (so how did he book the room?)
Upon booking, we get a message from the account holder ('Guest'): 'Can I have my fiance arrive Early and check in?' (We declined to allow this, BTW).
Upon arrival the Guest asks for our direct personal phone number ("So I can reach you, if I need to"). We say we prefer to have contact through the AirBnB app - but he says he just got a new phone (and number)...and his new number does not match the AirBnB account holder's phone number (another red flag).
The guest (according to AirBnB listing) is a LOCAL fellow...but the car he showed up in is from out of state Florida (plates).
We asked to confirm the Guests first & last name upon arrival, and he confirms his name. But again, he has a DIFFERENT phone number thant the account holder who booked the room AND he doesn't appear to have ANY access to AirBnB platform at all (no app, no laptop, etc).
We suspect this is a proxy booking (from a friend, perhaps).
Since arrival, we've gotten a LOT of text message requests from the Guest...very high maintenance.
Would you - as a host - ask for a photo ID / driver's license in this case?
We are fully aware that AirBnB's insurance covering us as Hosts does NOT cover us If we allow anyone Other than the account holder to occupy the booked room/space. So, if this 'Guest' is NOT the account hold, we are OUT OF LUCK in the case of damages, etc.
How do we protect ourselves in this type of situation?