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Fake Reservations

Most of my reservations are being cancelled a day before cancellation policy goes in effect. Does anyone else have same issue?


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CamelBack para… 3 years ago

This has been absolutely rediculous! Does anyone else have this issue? Does anyone know what Booking.com does about it?

 

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pibomarco 3 years ago

I don't, because my bookings are pre-paid (Payments by Booking.com) and I have strict cancellation policy. 

 

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Marita 3 years ago

I had 2 fake reservations. Both around $900-1000.  I texted the guest and no respond, then I called on the day of arrival and phone was not correct.  Then no one arrived. I was wondering why they paid close to $1k and no responds. When second time it happened, I called and the phone was acting like fax machine. I find out that Guests didn't pay at all. Booking..com said because they booked before my bank settings got approved.  I lost close to $2K and time.  Still don't understand why fake reservations got happened and what they gain...

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CamelBack para… 3 years ago

What they gain is us out of market. Someone doesn’t like to play fair game and to lose to competitors, so by “booking” you reducing supply of rental properties. Airbnb at least wets it’s guests by obtaining copy of ID. Don’t know if you can create 2 accounts. Here seems to be nothing ! 

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Marita 3 years ago

I wish we would better protected by Booking com from such fake bookings. It does really hurt our business

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pibomarco 3 years ago

You can protect yourself from fake bookings if you properly set your policies and payment methods. 

 

If you have flexible cancelation policy, you accept only cash and you don't take credit card details or deposits from the guest there is a bigger chance to receive fake bookings, late cancelations and no-shows. 

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Marion Holmes 2 months ago

Yes, I seem to have had a second fake reservation (judging by the garbled name) in about 3 weeks. I have a strict reservation policy but with the last one, the credit card charge would not go through - it was invalid so I lost big time. Unfortunately I cannot set for prepayment here in South Africa - so not sure what else I can do. 

Phone number garbled on the last one but this one goes straight to a generic voicemail. I always send the clients a message to confirm certain things when they book - but these did not answer. The current one is within 48 hours so IMPOSSIBLE to request cancellation online. Trying to call the number in SA is also impossible as it seems to only be geared up for clients and not hosts.