Airbnb

[joustmaster]

Why do they need it? What does it prove?

like it says above in that tweet - it shows that the account is real.
different data added over time, etc.

I didn't know it included thumbnails.
Where did you get that metadata info from? is it what google drive gives access to, or do they have their own standard.

 

[Fez909]

like it says above in that tweet - it shows that the account is real.
different data added over time, etc.

I didn't know it included thumbnails.
Where did you get that metadata info from? is it what google drive gives access to, or do they have their own standard.

https://developers.google.com/drive/v2/reference/files

 

[joustmaster]

https://developers.google.com/drive/v2/reference/files

OK. I agree.
(unless a restricted set of data is given to external parties)

Bad.

I signed up to Airbnb last year, and linked it to my google plus profile. (It didn't want any further share of data, back then.)
After I sent my booking request, I realised that my profile picture was one of me completely mentalled off my balls on strong drugs, and it was used by airbnb in my profile.

They still accepted my booking though.

 

[Fez909]

OK. I agree.
(unless a restricted set of data is given to external parties)

Bad.

I signed up to Airbnb last year, and linked it to my google plus profile. (It didn't want any further share of data, back then.)
After I sent my booking request, I realised that my profile picture was one of me completely mentalled off my balls on strong drugs, and it was used by airbnb in my profile.

They still accepted my booking though.

My profile picture could do with changing as I also look mental. I'm dressed as a zombie circus ringleader with latex 'skin' peeling off my face

 

[2hats]

https://developers.google.com/drive/v2/reference/files

Which suggests one can edit the metadata?

 

[Fez909]

Which suggests one can edit the metadata?

nah

 

[2hats]

nah

No. I meant you, not them. Weave your own.

 

[Fez909]

No. I meant you, not them. Weave your own.

Ah, I see.

They're not getting access to my Drive so no need to, but handy to know I guess.

 

[Boudicca]

My profile picture could do with changing as I also look mental. I'm dressed as a zombie circus ringleader with latex 'skin' peeling off my face

You could stay at mine, I don't mind zombies.

 

[Fez909]

No. I meant you, not them. Weave your own.

I suppose it makes a mockery of using it to ID someone, too. Anyone so inclined could fake a load of stuff including the dates.

Yet another reason for them not to ask for this.

 

[Fez909]

You could stay at mine, I don't mind zombies.

Do you live in Whitby?

 

[Fez909]

Anyway, fuck Whitby (I'm going Saturday and Sunday)

 

[Boudicca]

Do you live in Whitby?

Alas no, Bournemouth. The weather forecast here is slightly better, but I'm fully booked this weekend. Otherwise you would be welcome with only your numerous posts on urban as a verification of your good character.

 

[Belushi]

Would they accept an urban profile as verification?

 

[Fez909]

Would they accept an urban profile as verification?

Only if you have the 10 year trophy

 

[Boudicca]

Would they accept an urban profile as verification?

No, but I would. With some exceptions, of course. Maybe we could start urbbnb and find Fez someone in Whitby.

I could remove my insistence on verification, but then if I don't accept someone with a completely blank profile, I get punished by the airbnb algorithm and get demoted in the rankings for my area. I have accepted two people without pictures and they both turned out to be very nice, but I do much prefer it if they have offered up a mug shot.

 

[Fez909]

I want to continue ranting about my Airbnb experiences, so here you go:

Now that I have 'verified' my phone number and seeing as I already have the app installed, I get three notifications everytime something happens: on the app, via text and an email.

What a fucking joke.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

We booked with AirBnB for the first time a couple of months ago, and I wasn't asked for any of that verification stuff. I just registered a new account with them and confirmed the email address, then was able to make a booking. The owner confirmed the booking a short while later, and that's been the extent of it - no providing passports or giving access to any other online services.

Is the amount of hoops you have to jump through indicative of the paranoia of the host, do you think, rather than AirBnB themselves?

 

[Fez909]

We booked with AirBnB for the first time a couple of months ago, and I wasn't asked for any of that verification stuff. I just registered a new account with them and confirmed the email address, then was able to make a booking. The owner confirmed the booking a short while later, and that's been the extent of it - no providing passports or giving access to any other online services.

Is the amount of hoops you have to jump through indicative of the paranoia of the host, do you think, rather than AirBnB themselves?

It was confirmed by Boudicca above that the host has to opt in for this kind of checking.

 

[Boudicca]

We booked with AirBnB for the first time a couple of months ago, and I wasn't asked for any of that verification stuff. I just registered a new account with them and confirmed the email address, then was able to make a booking. The owner confirmed the booking a short while later, and that's been the extent of it - no providing passports or giving access to any other online services.

Is the amount of hoops you have to jump through indicative of the paranoia of the host, do you think, rather than AirBnB themselves?

No, I don't think so. You need to be pretty confident and grounded if you are constantly welcoming strangers into your home.

The problem, for me, is that you can't turn people down who sound a bit dodgy, without being penalised by airbnb. I started out not requiring verification, then I got a request from a guy who was flirty, called me 'princess' and tried to bypass airbnb and give me his email and phone number. No way did I want him in my house, so I 'declined' his booking.

Airbnb penalise hosts for not accepting guests is because there are a lot of hosts who have listed their rooms, but don't really have any intention of renting them out. Airbnb don't want new guests getting turned down the first time they try to book a room as they probably won't try again.

 

[Sweet FA]

I've been blown out loads recently. It's a right pain in the arse.

 

[mango5]

So does this mean I wouldn't have to jump through more than 4 hoops if I find a 'host' who doesn't require verification?

 

[Boudicca]

So does this mean I wouldn't have to jump through more than 4 hoops if I find a 'host' who doesn't require verification?

Yes, but I can't find anywhere on my listing which says that I do or don't require it, so you'd probably have to ask the host. This may ring alarm bells with them, of course.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

The problem, for me, is that you can't turn people down who sound a bit dodgy, without being penalised by airbnb.

That's not great - you can see how it might hurt their business model, but it's hardly supportive of the hosts. We're a family of 5 + dog, so maybe we don't fit the profile of someone needing extra checking.

 

[Fez909]

Press reports said the only way to hire a car is share your details via this verification process- but, tbh I've just created a new share code and can't see how to pretend to be a car hire company and verify the license, so what she told me might be um, would erroneous be a polite way to put it?

FYI: Just ordered a hire car. They called me up to verify my license (because they'd got my old post code, not because of the new verification process). They asked me for my code. I went to the website you linked, put my details in, and got given a code which I read out to them. That was it

 

[newbie]

FYI: Just ordered a hire car. They called me up to verify my license (because they'd got my old post code, not because of the new verification process). They asked me for my code. I went to the website you linked, put my details in, and got given a code which I read out to them. That was it

tvm. I'll climb down off that particular hobby horse and find a way to point out to my beloved that she's a blithering loon without provoking (too much) mayhem

 

[Fez909]

My profile picture could do with changing as I also look mental. I'm dressed as a zombie circus ringleader with latex 'skin' peeling off my face

Thank you for being such pleasant guests. It was lovely to meet you both. One thing I may suggest - your profile photo means we could not really get an impression of you, 'see you' - and so we felt we took a risk in saying yes to the booking. I think you may do better changing it - but that's just me. All the very best and I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

The profile picture:

 

[Boudicca]

 

[Greebo]

The profile picture:

Goddess knows what they'd think of my profile picture being a line drawing of a fictional (and very battlescarred) tomcat.

 

[Sunray]

AirBnB rocks. The hosts have always been lovely and I am happy to accept that they want a certain level of checks, checks the internet makes possible. You are being invited to their home. Can't really expect much else.

AirBnB isn't compulsory.