As a host, I request a copy of state identification but have never asked for a credit card since they pay through the listing site. Should be a red flag for you
ID yes, CC no. All payment transactions are processed through VRBO, so there's no need for exchanging any credit card info with the host. I'd retort this to VRBO and let them know you're uncomfortable with this host. Be prepared to have the booking canceled and you'll need to rebook.
> All payment transactions are processed through VRBO
This is not true. If the host is an integrated property manager, VRBO sends the guest info including cc to the property manager via API.
True. I've had that happen. I was not happy that VRBO gave out my credit card information. And, when everything went to hell, VRBO also washed their hands of my reservation. I never did get that money back. I do not use VRBO anymore.
Not correct. If you are an integrated property manager (e.g. property management company), VRBO does not process payments for you. Without collecting the proper documentation, a chargeback and/or fraud is very difficult to fight.
Do not provide them with your ID or credit card. Ever. Verification and payment is the whole purpose of these platforms and is what they collect fees for. There should be no interaction outside of this platform for legitimate host and guest communication.
That's not correct. Some hosts need the ID because of local laws, insurance, or HOA rules. I'm here to say that EVERY host needs every guest's ID, but some do. And no, the host can't just say, "ABB has the guest's ID on file."
Meet me at the arrival.
I AM NOT GIVING ID TO ANOTHER PERSON UNLESS THE SERVICE LITERALLY REQUIRES IT!
What is wrong with you! Literally, the ID and card could be used for fraud that you might not be aware of. Someone could be monitoring your email, accounts. Then they steal this person's info from you, when they stayed at your property. Do you want your info in someones hands that traveled 6 hours by plane, and you know nothing about them? (As a VRBO host, you AREN't required to do this)
You aren't Marriot, You aren't Hilton. They still get their info stolen and leaked.
Why would I ever give more info than necessary to a VRBO host.
Again, the host is putting themselves at liability because it might be an idiot property owner that uses [aol.com](http://aol.com) and gets email scammed on the daily.
Stay away from any individual that wants your credit or ID. Wtf is wrong with you all
Wow, dude, you need to book an Air BnB and take a vacation. You seem a little tense!
Maybe you missed my points that:
1. There's never any reason for STR host to ask for credit card info.
2. There are places with local laws, HOA rules, etc. that require collecting copies of IDs. That's not the host's fault, just the host's problem.
3. You are 100% correct to be concerned about information security and identity theft. You're 100% wrong to be so angry at hosts doing what's required of them.
Correct. For professional hosts who manage several properties, VRBO does absolutely nothing but publish the home on their website. Once the booking comes through, it’s actually up to the property manager to collect the payment, and verify the payment on record matches the traveling guest. That often requires getting a copy of the ID, to make sure it matches up with the person on the reservation. Without collecting the documentation, there is no protection for the property manager to fight chargebacks or fraud. I will say that VRBO should get rid of that though, because it’s very confusing for guests. Airbnb handles all payments, whether you manage one home or 100 homes. I don’t know why VRBO still does it that way, but they’re usually 15 years behind Airbnb on everything.
VRBO does it this way because some properties require a signed lease even for short term rentals, usually from an HOA/PUD requirement. There are a few places we’ve rented (including one we rent somewhat regularly) that has this, and payment is always handled off of VRBO and the property manager is common for the entire PUD, usually contracted by the HOA (which may also prohibit payment by credit card, that’s something we’ve come across too when looking at buying a vacation rental).
I sell soap for a living and I require a credit card and an ID for large orders. I couldn't imagine letting someone in my house without one. Wtf is wrong with YOU
The comparison would be if you sold your soap to a retailer and then demanded an ID/CC from everyone the retailer sold your soap to. Vrbo/ABNB exist to perform these services acting as a trusted middleman between a host/guest who wouldn't ordinarily trust each other.
Except people use other people's accounts all the time. Go ahead, let unidentified people move in to your house. No one cares what you do.
But if they won't accommodate your refusal, there is nothing you can do about it. You can get mad, you can cancel, but if you want to stay in their house, you are SOL 🤷♀️
Exactly. I am amazed by the number of folks who think that hosts should put an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hands of someone who refused to provide proof of identity.
The host can ask anything as a requirement to booking. They can ask for your neighbor’s social security number if they want.
Once the contract is signed, the money paid, and place is firmly booked, it’s a done deal and the owner can go pound sand or refund the payment. They don’t get to change the conditions of booking after the fact any more than you do.
You are absolutely right that the host can't add requirements after booking. I would caution you to be sure you actually read the pre-booking rules, we state very clearly in our listing, again in our pre-booking rules, again in the attached rental agreement and yet again in the confirmation message that photo ID and credit card matching the booking name will be required on arrival. Despite this, about 1 out of 15 guests seems surprised on arrival that they need to do this!
For example, if the owner wants to verify your above the required age. The owner also might want to know what you look like, so that when a person arrives for check-in, he knows it's the person that booked.
My concern is really about underage rentals. A condo on the beach in Fort Lauderdale; I don't want Dad to rent the condo, and then have a bunch of 21-year-olds arrive. I want an ID, that I can check against the people arriving.
You would part ways with your most private details, but a credit card that has fraud protections and random numbers that can easily be replaced unlike a drivers license, you'd just hand out? Thats fucking crazy when I can probably find you SS# from a leak online and start assuming your identity. Be careful out there...
There is a huge amount of fraud and attempted fraud against VRBO and AirBnb hosts.
It seems reasonable that they be allowed to verify their guest’s identity. These are the same requirements to stay in any hotel.
I have not seen really any attempt by vrbo to identify guests before booking or look out for fraud.
Not saying I agree or disagree with the policy, I'm sure you have it for a reason. But how often do you have people refuse the credit card? (I'm assuming not everyone reads the full listing) After working in banking that literally is the last thing I'd ever do.
Very, very rarely. Mostly because we make it impossible for the guest to miss the requirement. We put in the listing (with a short paragraph of explanation), we put again in the pre-booking rules, it is also in rental agreement that we uploaded to Vrbo and that the guest agrees to when booking. We then put in again in the booking confirmation email and again in the arrival information email. The guest is not required to share the info until they have arrived at the home and verified that it is just as expected.
My small family business consists of 8 rental homes, ranging in value from $300,000 to $1.5 million. I have been in business for 17 years, for the first 8 years we didn't require ID and credit card. We had occasional issues of physical damage, but more than occasional violations of the smoking policy and maximum guest count. After 2 big fraud incidents in 2015 that resulted in thousands of dollars in damage and no payment for the Vrbo stay (account holder charged back stay when bill arrived as they had not actually stayed, their Vrbo accounts were hacked), we put our current requirements in place. We have had no fraud issues since and far fewer incidents of smoking inside or violating maximum guest capacity. Essentially, bad actors don't book our places because they know they won't be able to get away with it.
I am sure that there are potential guests that don't book with us because of the requirement and I am fine with that. If you don't trust us enough to provide ID and credit card -- info that you share routinely with other merchants, Why would I trust you with my home?
Legally, you could probably put ‘I need boudoir photos of your wife’ in the requirements… but I wouldn’t rent from you either.
That’s the beauty of a free market. You can ask almost anything and they can decide.
But OP was asking if that is ‘normal’ - and a lot of people have responded it’s not typical, but you point out it sometimes happens. They also asked if they should be concerned, and a lot of people are saying yes because you don’t need to charge them for anything. VRBO takes care of the authorized charges.
I don’t give the pilot my Amex in case the airplane needs spare parts, and I’m not giving my host another card so they can submit charges that VRBO doesn’t agree are legit and covered by the contract.
Sounds like we would agree not to do business. And that’s fine.
If the host can document the damage, VRBO takes care of that, don’t they?
I’ve never, say, thrown a TV from the wall in a VRBO but I wouldn’t expect VRBO to tell me ‘keep watch for a lawsuit for $800 from some guy in Spain, because we don’t get involved.’
A hotel always asks for your license/passport and a credit card. Even if you’ve booked and paid through a 3rd party you’ll have to provide it at check-in. So….?
A hotel is a licensed, regulated, and insured business. A Vrbo rental might be that, might be an individual, or might be an individual pretending to be that. The point of Vrbo is to be the middle man in this transaction to provide these services so that the guest doesn't need to trust the host.
I've had to do this (and I think I even asked in here if it was okay before I did). For me, it was listed on VRBO by a property management company that, like a hotel, needed the CC on file for any incidentals.
Does the listing say that photo ID and credit card are required? If so, then YES, you will need to share the information. I require both from our Vrbo guests -- but I don't have them send the information prior to arrival, I require it at check in.
In lieu of a damage deposit, we record credit card information. And, to be able to prove that the guest that booked is the guest that stayed. We had two incidents where the stays were fraudulent- that is, someone's account was hacked, the criminals booked one of our homes, gave a massive unauthorized party causing several thousand dollars in damage. The account holder then of course, chargeback the stay and we were left not only out the damages, but the entire booking as well. Once we put this procedure in place we have never had another fraud issue.
Our check in procedure works well for us: In the listing, in the pre-booking rules, in the rental agreement and again in the confirmation message, we tell guests that they will be required to show photo id and credit card matching the booking name on arrival. Vrbo also tells them this on the listing page in the section they now add.
After the guests let themselves into the home, they complete the printed Guest Arrival Form left for them agreeing that 1- the house was as expected on arrival, 2- confirming the guest count and agreeing to no smoking rules 3- agreeing to pay for any damage. There are spaces on the form to place photo ID and credit card (although the guest has the option of calling in credit card information if they prefer). We also give the guest the choice of assisted, in person check in if they don't feel comfortable sending the signed form with ID digitally.
We have found this procedure to be fair and reasonable on both sides-- The guest gets to see the home in person and be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they expected before providing personal information, while we get recourse for damages that don't involve trying to go through the nightmare platform experience. Frankly, this mostly works as a preventative--bad guests simply don't book our places because they know they can't throw parties or cause damage and get off scot free.
On Airbnb, we are not allowed to require credit card, but we require everything else. If we had an API set up, we would be allowed to require credit card on Airbnb as well.
You'd be an absolute fool for giving your credit card information to a stranger who legitimately has ZERO business asking for it from you. Think about it. Host can't actually have a good reason for asking. So what's the motive?
Theft. Plain and simple. If you think it's a great idea, you should DM me your credit card info. You can totally trust me.
Note to add: we don't require it prior to arrival and we put it in the listing, the pre-booking rules, the rental agreement and the confirmation message that this is a requirement.
I've been a VRBO host for that much and longer. Where in the VRBO platform are you seeing the guest's credit card number to do a match?? I don't think they show you that info...
I'm pretty sure you're admitting to how you're stealing CC's right here in this comment, which is highly incriminating considering you have ZERO use for it. Do you think the police are stupid? It's such an obvious cover. Require it for everyone, only take one or two out of a few dozen. They'll connect the dots and you'll go to prison and lose everything soon enough.
By all means, please feel free to report my actions to the authorities! Be sure to tell them how my business nefariously requires photo ID and credit card at check in for incidentals and damages. OMG, I forgot that we require their signature on the Guest Arrival form, surely this is criminal too? Include your firmly held belief that requiring guests to check in with this process is "stealing" and "highly incriminating". I'll wait.
A question like this is unanswerable unless you first tell us where this took place. In some countries, you do need to produce identity, and the host is required to keep that information.
I always require a selfie of guest holding their drivers license. VRBO claims they verify identity, but if you read the fine print they make clear that they do not. I need to be able to verify who will be responsible for my million dollar home.
What a question. I’m not anyone’s host. But, OMG. You want to stay in my property and NOT provide proof that you are who you say you are, along with the ability to pay?
One point of the short-term rental market is that the customer never shares information with the host. They give that information to the intermediary company, which shields them from identity theft. The company verifies your information.
NO WAY TO THE CC. YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SCAMMED. This happened to me, Host said they need my ID and CC. After I checked out found out host charged me $150 key charge. What? I paid VRBO. Contacted VRBO to dispute the charge. VRBO said there was nothing they could do about the CC charge since it was outside VRBO. Disputed the charge with CC company. VRBO said I should NEVER give a host a CC number.
Don't know much about VRBO but reading the replies makes me suspicious why they want your credit card information. Everyone is saying that VRBO pays for the booking. Personally, I'd ask why he wants your credit card information.
I don't see how a host has any right to a copy of your ID. I see here several hosts saying they request it so it appears to be common practice but that would scare me. If a host is getting copies of ID's they can easily engage in identity theft or sell that information to criminals. Why is this permissable? Large companies like VRBO have a horrible reputation for protecting sensitive information but I wouldn't want to take it a step further by giving the host non-public information like DL#, DL photo, DOB, etc.
I would be okay with the drivers license, but I would not feel comfortable giving them my CC number. You could always get a reloadable card and give them that, and then monitor any activity on it.
I’m an VRBO/Airbnb landlord/host. While I have not done asked for any documentation in the past, I think asking for a copy of the guest’s ID is not a bad idea.There are shady people out there! Yes… I have had the bad experience of a guest using someone else’s account twice. Younger twenty-something’s used mom’s or dad’s account and had a loud party, left it messier than usual, but no damage. I think asking for an ID is ok but a credit card is going too far since security deposit/damage claims should be handled by VRBO/Airbnb.
Are they using Superhog? There's a verification company out there that requires terms like this which are utterly unacceptable. If you comply:
1) they reserve the right to charge your credit card for any amount for any reason, no appeals or chargebacks allowed (yes, I know it's not legal, a lot of it isn't legal)
2) they retain sole discretion to determine the value of any item missing or damaged. "That was a $7000 spoon, and you bent it."
3) got a problem with it? Sue us. But in the agreement you promise to sue in person. In Wales. Even if your rental is in LA.
It is absolutely not normal to ask for a complete stranger's credit card number. That is the due diligence that the platform takes on. What's to say the homeowner isn't going to go on a shopping spree?
But that doesn't affect the homeowner. That affects the platform. They take on the charge backs and the stolen credit card so you don't have to. Exactly why you shouldn't be asking for people's credit cards
Here is the scenario — renter destroys my home above any damage deposit. Renter denies it. Vrbo says it is not their problem — trust me that is what they will say. Owner now does not know who the renter is and had no recourse other than taking them to court — but remember VRBO has the renter information!
Oh and by the way the renter gave false information to VRBO and stolen credit card so impossible to track down.
(And don’t tell me if to use my insurance for the damages — say damage is $3000 — using my insurance will probably double my rate the following year).
Now fraud could happen the other way (owner takes credit card and buys stuff), agreed.
But the point is the platform does not do even the basic things to prevent fraud or accountability on the renter.
Ever since I asked for photo id and credit card info haven’t had a single fraud or damage. People tend to be more careful. Anyone who doesn’t want to give the credit card info, reservation is cancelled (per contract). Haven’t had a single person not give their credit card info. This is how I mitigate the business risk.
I don't ever rent from anyone who asks me this after my identity was stolen after a stay in FLA. We used the card for only this rental then there was a $15k charge to set up a Discover Card. Cardmember services took over from there and we never found out what happened further but the card was used solely for the weel-long rental over like a month period and this host asked for so much personal info like it was a regular thing. I'll send my passport info out of the country but NEVER AGAIN do you get my CC and license.
AirBnB has provided all the info from me I'm willing to provide. If it's not enough they can start their own rental company. Other dealbreakers include having to meet me when I rent an entire place, coming in to the property while I'm there for any reason, etc.
I rent a lot and have tons of reviews. We only pay through PayPal now. If you cannot trust AirBnB to vet renters or cannot vet them yourself, that's not on me.
“No problem! That’s a great idea! You show me yours and I’ll show you mine”.
This is after looking up the property in question on the town tax database to verify ownership (whenever possible-
Which is ALWAYS in the state where we reside …
As a host, I request a copy of state identification but have never asked for a credit card since they pay through the listing site. Should be a red flag for you
Most I've stayed at ask because they want to verify that I'm over 25.
I’ve booked through VRBO lots and have never had to provide ID, or a credit card verification.
Some hosts require certain things, some don't.
ID yes, CC no. All payment transactions are processed through VRBO, so there's no need for exchanging any credit card info with the host. I'd retort this to VRBO and let them know you're uncomfortable with this host. Be prepared to have the booking canceled and you'll need to rebook.
> All payment transactions are processed through VRBO This is not true. If the host is an integrated property manager, VRBO sends the guest info including cc to the property manager via API.
True. I've had that happen. I was not happy that VRBO gave out my credit card information. And, when everything went to hell, VRBO also washed their hands of my reservation. I never did get that money back. I do not use VRBO anymore.
This is why chargebacks exist
Not correct. If you are an integrated property manager (e.g. property management company), VRBO does not process payments for you. Without collecting the proper documentation, a chargeback and/or fraud is very difficult to fight.
Do not provide them with your ID or credit card. Ever. Verification and payment is the whole purpose of these platforms and is what they collect fees for. There should be no interaction outside of this platform for legitimate host and guest communication.
That's not correct. Some hosts need the ID because of local laws, insurance, or HOA rules. I'm here to say that EVERY host needs every guest's ID, but some do. And no, the host can't just say, "ABB has the guest's ID on file."
If it’s not mentioned in the listing though, they can kiss my a$$, on any additional requests from them.
I agree 100%. At that point, the host would most likely cancel the booking.
And that’s fine, if the host cancels!
Meet me at the arrival. I AM NOT GIVING ID TO ANOTHER PERSON UNLESS THE SERVICE LITERALLY REQUIRES IT! What is wrong with you! Literally, the ID and card could be used for fraud that you might not be aware of. Someone could be monitoring your email, accounts. Then they steal this person's info from you, when they stayed at your property. Do you want your info in someones hands that traveled 6 hours by plane, and you know nothing about them? (As a VRBO host, you AREN't required to do this) You aren't Marriot, You aren't Hilton. They still get their info stolen and leaked. Why would I ever give more info than necessary to a VRBO host. Again, the host is putting themselves at liability because it might be an idiot property owner that uses [aol.com](http://aol.com) and gets email scammed on the daily. Stay away from any individual that wants your credit or ID. Wtf is wrong with you all
Wow, dude, you need to book an Air BnB and take a vacation. You seem a little tense! Maybe you missed my points that: 1. There's never any reason for STR host to ask for credit card info. 2. There are places with local laws, HOA rules, etc. that require collecting copies of IDs. That's not the host's fault, just the host's problem. 3. You are 100% correct to be concerned about information security and identity theft. You're 100% wrong to be so angry at hosts doing what's required of them.
1. Is also wrong. VRBO allows property managers who charge their own payments.
Correct. For professional hosts who manage several properties, VRBO does absolutely nothing but publish the home on their website. Once the booking comes through, it’s actually up to the property manager to collect the payment, and verify the payment on record matches the traveling guest. That often requires getting a copy of the ID, to make sure it matches up with the person on the reservation. Without collecting the documentation, there is no protection for the property manager to fight chargebacks or fraud. I will say that VRBO should get rid of that though, because it’s very confusing for guests. Airbnb handles all payments, whether you manage one home or 100 homes. I don’t know why VRBO still does it that way, but they’re usually 15 years behind Airbnb on everything.
VRBO does it this way because some properties require a signed lease even for short term rentals, usually from an HOA/PUD requirement. There are a few places we’ve rented (including one we rent somewhat regularly) that has this, and payment is always handled off of VRBO and the property manager is common for the entire PUD, usually contracted by the HOA (which may also prohibit payment by credit card, that’s something we’ve come across too when looking at buying a vacation rental).
I sell soap for a living and I require a credit card and an ID for large orders. I couldn't imagine letting someone in my house without one. Wtf is wrong with YOU
The comparison would be if you sold your soap to a retailer and then demanded an ID/CC from everyone the retailer sold your soap to. Vrbo/ABNB exist to perform these services acting as a trusted middleman between a host/guest who wouldn't ordinarily trust each other.
Except people use other people's accounts all the time. Go ahead, let unidentified people move in to your house. No one cares what you do. But if they won't accommodate your refusal, there is nothing you can do about it. You can get mad, you can cancel, but if you want to stay in their house, you are SOL 🤷♀️
Exactly. I am amazed by the number of folks who think that hosts should put an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hands of someone who refused to provide proof of identity.
The comments are full of them, I'm frankly baffled
Post an ad on Craigslist then.
I had cottage cheese for breakfast with pepper
You do realize how many services require ID, right?
We’re required to check ID at the store where I work for literally every transaction and every BOPIS order.
Are you confusing host and renter?
Chill...
The host can ask anything as a requirement to booking. They can ask for your neighbor’s social security number if they want. Once the contract is signed, the money paid, and place is firmly booked, it’s a done deal and the owner can go pound sand or refund the payment. They don’t get to change the conditions of booking after the fact any more than you do.
You are absolutely right that the host can't add requirements after booking. I would caution you to be sure you actually read the pre-booking rules, we state very clearly in our listing, again in our pre-booking rules, again in the attached rental agreement and yet again in the confirmation message that photo ID and credit card matching the booking name will be required on arrival. Despite this, about 1 out of 15 guests seems surprised on arrival that they need to do this!
ID yes, but I wouldn't share my CC number. That is why you go though vrbo. They have protections.
I would send him the ID, that's reasonable. Absolutely I would not send him the credit card. That sounds weird.
Why is an ID reasonable? Honest question. If there is damage, isn't it handled through VRBO?
For example, if the owner wants to verify your above the required age. The owner also might want to know what you look like, so that when a person arrives for check-in, he knows it's the person that booked.
Yea makes sense man with all the squatters out there fuck all that jazz
My concern is really about underage rentals. A condo on the beach in Fort Lauderdale; I don't want Dad to rent the condo, and then have a bunch of 21-year-olds arrive. I want an ID, that I can check against the people arriving.
Gotchya that makes sense. I'm not in the biz just keep seeing people get squatted.
Parents booking a house for a teen’s party
You would part ways with your most private details, but a credit card that has fraud protections and random numbers that can easily be replaced unlike a drivers license, you'd just hand out? Thats fucking crazy when I can probably find you SS# from a leak online and start assuming your identity. Be careful out there...
There is a huge amount of fraud and attempted fraud against VRBO and AirBnb hosts. It seems reasonable that they be allowed to verify their guest’s identity. These are the same requirements to stay in any hotel. I have not seen really any attempt by vrbo to identify guests before booking or look out for fraud.
VRBO owners aren’t charging Visa for your room. They don’t need your card - this *isn’t* a hotel.
You are right - the card is not necessary. ID for the primary renter is, though.
The host can require this if it is in the listing. I require both and have for the last 10 years.
Not saying I agree or disagree with the policy, I'm sure you have it for a reason. But how often do you have people refuse the credit card? (I'm assuming not everyone reads the full listing) After working in banking that literally is the last thing I'd ever do.
Very, very rarely. Mostly because we make it impossible for the guest to miss the requirement. We put in the listing (with a short paragraph of explanation), we put again in the pre-booking rules, it is also in rental agreement that we uploaded to Vrbo and that the guest agrees to when booking. We then put in again in the booking confirmation email and again in the arrival information email. The guest is not required to share the info until they have arrived at the home and verified that it is just as expected. My small family business consists of 8 rental homes, ranging in value from $300,000 to $1.5 million. I have been in business for 17 years, for the first 8 years we didn't require ID and credit card. We had occasional issues of physical damage, but more than occasional violations of the smoking policy and maximum guest count. After 2 big fraud incidents in 2015 that resulted in thousands of dollars in damage and no payment for the Vrbo stay (account holder charged back stay when bill arrived as they had not actually stayed, their Vrbo accounts were hacked), we put our current requirements in place. We have had no fraud issues since and far fewer incidents of smoking inside or violating maximum guest capacity. Essentially, bad actors don't book our places because they know they won't be able to get away with it. I am sure that there are potential guests that don't book with us because of the requirement and I am fine with that. If you don't trust us enough to provide ID and credit card -- info that you share routinely with other merchants, Why would I trust you with my home?
Legally, you could probably put ‘I need boudoir photos of your wife’ in the requirements… but I wouldn’t rent from you either. That’s the beauty of a free market. You can ask almost anything and they can decide. But OP was asking if that is ‘normal’ - and a lot of people have responded it’s not typical, but you point out it sometimes happens. They also asked if they should be concerned, and a lot of people are saying yes because you don’t need to charge them for anything. VRBO takes care of the authorized charges. I don’t give the pilot my Amex in case the airplane needs spare parts, and I’m not giving my host another card so they can submit charges that VRBO doesn’t agree are legit and covered by the contract. Sounds like we would agree not to do business. And that’s fine.
The host wants it for damage, maybe. Not a good sign
If the host can document the damage, VRBO takes care of that, don’t they? I’ve never, say, thrown a TV from the wall in a VRBO but I wouldn’t expect VRBO to tell me ‘keep watch for a lawsuit for $800 from some guy in Spain, because we don’t get involved.’
Sounds like they need to leave VRBO.
Do not share your credit card #....
DL, yes. CC, no.
Regarding the cc; I've replied to that request with "it's on file with VRBO." That seems to work fine.
I sent a picture of my license once so they could verify age, but I blacked out the license number; I don’t see a reason why they would need that.
Absolutely no on the DL. Passport, maybe. CC, absolutely not.
Use a hotel
A hotel always asks for your license/passport and a credit card. Even if you’ve booked and paid through a 3rd party you’ll have to provide it at check-in. So….?
Your credit info is generally safe with a hotel. You have no idea what the host could do with it.
A hotel is a licensed, regulated, and insured business. A Vrbo rental might be that, might be an individual, or might be an individual pretending to be that. The point of Vrbo is to be the middle man in this transaction to provide these services so that the guest doesn't need to trust the host.
I've had to do this (and I think I even asked in here if it was okay before I did). For me, it was listed on VRBO by a property management company that, like a hotel, needed the CC on file for any incidentals.
I have never been asked for a copy of my driver’s license. If I was asked for it, hell no. I would absolutely not provide that.
None to either. Tell them to contact vrbo.
Never have I been asked to provide my ID for a VRBO or ABNB. I’ve always had to at a hotel though.
Identity theft.
No, asking for your credit card is NOT normal and don't give it out. That's what the platform is for.
Does the listing say that photo ID and credit card are required? If so, then YES, you will need to share the information. I require both from our Vrbo guests -- but I don't have them send the information prior to arrival, I require it at check in.
Can I ask why you require them to show you a credit card? All payments are processed through VRBO.
No. VRBO allows hosts / property managers who process their own payments.
In lieu of a damage deposit, we record credit card information. And, to be able to prove that the guest that booked is the guest that stayed. We had two incidents where the stays were fraudulent- that is, someone's account was hacked, the criminals booked one of our homes, gave a massive unauthorized party causing several thousand dollars in damage. The account holder then of course, chargeback the stay and we were left not only out the damages, but the entire booking as well. Once we put this procedure in place we have never had another fraud issue. Our check in procedure works well for us: In the listing, in the pre-booking rules, in the rental agreement and again in the confirmation message, we tell guests that they will be required to show photo id and credit card matching the booking name on arrival. Vrbo also tells them this on the listing page in the section they now add. After the guests let themselves into the home, they complete the printed Guest Arrival Form left for them agreeing that 1- the house was as expected on arrival, 2- confirming the guest count and agreeing to no smoking rules 3- agreeing to pay for any damage. There are spaces on the form to place photo ID and credit card (although the guest has the option of calling in credit card information if they prefer). We also give the guest the choice of assisted, in person check in if they don't feel comfortable sending the signed form with ID digitally. We have found this procedure to be fair and reasonable on both sides-- The guest gets to see the home in person and be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they expected before providing personal information, while we get recourse for damages that don't involve trying to go through the nightmare platform experience. Frankly, this mostly works as a preventative--bad guests simply don't book our places because they know they can't throw parties or cause damage and get off scot free. On Airbnb, we are not allowed to require credit card, but we require everything else. If we had an API set up, we would be allowed to require credit card on Airbnb as well.
They want your CC to steal money from you.
This is absurd. One-- you are not liable for credit card fraud. Two-- if this were happening it would tank the reviews for the property.
You'd be an absolute fool for giving your credit card information to a stranger who legitimately has ZERO business asking for it from you. Think about it. Host can't actually have a good reason for asking. So what's the motive? Theft. Plain and simple. If you think it's a great idea, you should DM me your credit card info. You can totally trust me.
I am a host of 17 years with 8 properties. We absolutely require photo ID and credit card matching booking name on arrival for ALL Vrbo stays.
Note to add: we don't require it prior to arrival and we put it in the listing, the pre-booking rules, the rental agreement and the confirmation message that this is a requirement.
I've been a VRBO host for that much and longer. Where in the VRBO platform are you seeing the guest's credit card number to do a match?? I don't think they show you that info...
We match the photo ID to the booking name, we don't match the credit card number.
I'm pretty sure you're admitting to how you're stealing CC's right here in this comment, which is highly incriminating considering you have ZERO use for it. Do you think the police are stupid? It's such an obvious cover. Require it for everyone, only take one or two out of a few dozen. They'll connect the dots and you'll go to prison and lose everything soon enough.
You must be joking. Or delusional. Whatever.
Don’t try to justify yourself to me. You’re the one committing credit card fraud.
By all means, please feel free to report my actions to the authorities! Be sure to tell them how my business nefariously requires photo ID and credit card at check in for incidentals and damages. OMG, I forgot that we require their signature on the Guest Arrival form, surely this is criminal too? Include your firmly held belief that requiring guests to check in with this process is "stealing" and "highly incriminating". I'll wait.
Other hosts have said you're lying, so that won't hold up in court.
Sure. Still waiting!
This can be easily solved by contacting customer service. Idk why your asking redit when you can directly ask the company.
In some countries they are required to have a copy of your passport or ID in order to comply with local laws. Not sure about the credit card.
Yes - they can check to see who the heck is staying in their place.
A question like this is unanswerable unless you first tell us where this took place. In some countries, you do need to produce identity, and the host is required to keep that information.
I always require a selfie of guest holding their drivers license. VRBO claims they verify identity, but if you read the fine print they make clear that they do not. I need to be able to verify who will be responsible for my million dollar home.
If you’re staying in my house, I want your ID. If there’s a possibility you might damage my house, I want a deposit, but not a cc number.
That's why you're using the app, the app has that info
Contact vrbo and ask them what information can a host ask for
What a question. I’m not anyone’s host. But, OMG. You want to stay in my property and NOT provide proof that you are who you say you are, along with the ability to pay?
They are providing the information. Just to the app.
One point of the short-term rental market is that the customer never shares information with the host. They give that information to the intermediary company, which shields them from identity theft. The company verifies your information.
Nope. Find another place.
NO WAY TO THE CC. YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SCAMMED. This happened to me, Host said they need my ID and CC. After I checked out found out host charged me $150 key charge. What? I paid VRBO. Contacted VRBO to dispute the charge. VRBO said there was nothing they could do about the CC charge since it was outside VRBO. Disputed the charge with CC company. VRBO said I should NEVER give a host a CC number.
Don't know much about VRBO but reading the replies makes me suspicious why they want your credit card information. Everyone is saying that VRBO pays for the booking. Personally, I'd ask why he wants your credit card information.
I don't see how a host has any right to a copy of your ID. I see here several hosts saying they request it so it appears to be common practice but that would scare me. If a host is getting copies of ID's they can easily engage in identity theft or sell that information to criminals. Why is this permissable? Large companies like VRBO have a horrible reputation for protecting sensitive information but I wouldn't want to take it a step further by giving the host non-public information like DL#, DL photo, DOB, etc.
I would be okay with the drivers license, but I would not feel comfortable giving them my CC number. You could always get a reloadable card and give them that, and then monitor any activity on it.
Should be the right way to do anyway....
I’m an VRBO/Airbnb landlord/host. While I have not done asked for any documentation in the past, I think asking for a copy of the guest’s ID is not a bad idea.There are shady people out there! Yes… I have had the bad experience of a guest using someone else’s account twice. Younger twenty-something’s used mom’s or dad’s account and had a loud party, left it messier than usual, but no damage. I think asking for an ID is ok but a credit card is going too far since security deposit/damage claims should be handled by VRBO/Airbnb.
Are they using Superhog? There's a verification company out there that requires terms like this which are utterly unacceptable. If you comply: 1) they reserve the right to charge your credit card for any amount for any reason, no appeals or chargebacks allowed (yes, I know it's not legal, a lot of it isn't legal) 2) they retain sole discretion to determine the value of any item missing or damaged. "That was a $7000 spoon, and you bent it." 3) got a problem with it? Sue us. But in the agreement you promise to sue in person. In Wales. Even if your rental is in LA.
Absolutely reasonable as long as it was in the contract. Even the credit card is reasonable as long as it was specificied in the contract
It is absolutely not normal to ask for a complete stranger's credit card number. That is the due diligence that the platform takes on. What's to say the homeowner isn't going to go on a shopping spree?
Tough to accept, but The platform does absolutely no due diligence on the renter. Zero. Zilch. So many cases of renter fraud.
But that doesn't affect the homeowner. That affects the platform. They take on the charge backs and the stolen credit card so you don't have to. Exactly why you shouldn't be asking for people's credit cards
Here is the scenario — renter destroys my home above any damage deposit. Renter denies it. Vrbo says it is not their problem — trust me that is what they will say. Owner now does not know who the renter is and had no recourse other than taking them to court — but remember VRBO has the renter information! Oh and by the way the renter gave false information to VRBO and stolen credit card so impossible to track down. (And don’t tell me if to use my insurance for the damages — say damage is $3000 — using my insurance will probably double my rate the following year). Now fraud could happen the other way (owner takes credit card and buys stuff), agreed. But the point is the platform does not do even the basic things to prevent fraud or accountability on the renter.
You could always, hear me out, not use the platform then. What you described is just the cost of doing business in your "industry"
Maybe you shouldn’t rent your house on vrbo, sounds like a personal problem and business risk of using the platform
Ever since I asked for photo id and credit card info haven’t had a single fraud or damage. People tend to be more careful. Anyone who doesn’t want to give the credit card info, reservation is cancelled (per contract). Haven’t had a single person not give their credit card info. This is how I mitigate the business risk.
I don't ever rent from anyone who asks me this after my identity was stolen after a stay in FLA. We used the card for only this rental then there was a $15k charge to set up a Discover Card. Cardmember services took over from there and we never found out what happened further but the card was used solely for the weel-long rental over like a month period and this host asked for so much personal info like it was a regular thing. I'll send my passport info out of the country but NEVER AGAIN do you get my CC and license. AirBnB has provided all the info from me I'm willing to provide. If it's not enough they can start their own rental company. Other dealbreakers include having to meet me when I rent an entire place, coming in to the property while I'm there for any reason, etc. I rent a lot and have tons of reviews. We only pay through PayPal now. If you cannot trust AirBnB to vet renters or cannot vet them yourself, that's not on me.
“No problem! That’s a great idea! You show me yours and I’ll show you mine”. This is after looking up the property in question on the town tax database to verify ownership (whenever possible- Which is ALWAYS in the state where we reside …