The largest, cross platform survey to date about User Satisfaction in the Sharing Economy. This is part of FTC public comments submitted for the sharing economy hearing on June 9th.
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TrustCloud : Satisfaction in Sharing Transactions 06092015
1. Satisfaction in Sharing
A Cross-Platform Study and Research Report
on User Interactions
Release date: June 9 2015
2. Cross Platform Survey
56.1%
Goods penetration
14.1%
Transport
penetration
10.1%
Money
penetration
5.1%
Space
aka Rooms, offices
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
10.1%
Services
penetration
3. Polling Methodology
>10,000
Total populace in
sample
24%
Spent over
$500 56% Female
44% Male
.5k
Completed
entire survey
Age 18-44
58% of sample
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
13%
Spent over
$1k
4. Public Responses
Sharing Economy Workshop, Project No. P15-
1200. Questions - summarized
1. Disadvantages to Consumers using Sharing
2. Disadvantages to Providers
3. How do Platforms develop a successful marketplace?
4. Pass. No data.
5. Factors affecting durability of platform dominance.
(Staying at Scale)
6. How Platforms might evolve to earn higher profits / serve
participants better?
5. Q1 Disadvantages to Consumers
Thea-Doctor: Theres
no referee to
adjudicate contested
claims.
Toni-Teacher: There is [Cross
over risk].
If someone was a bad actor
on one platform, there is no
third party who flags this to
the next platform
Jack-Lawyer: Data is
held in platform silos.
Consumers dont get to
easily see good
behavior on relevant
platforms/tasks.
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
6. Q1 Supporting Data
Representative comments sample
The room I rented was very different from the pictures and description.
Owner of the house clearly never checked in on the property.
Painter never followed up after complaint. Platform was not responsive.
Sitter was never actually background checked- missed a possession charge in CO.
18.4%
were not satisfied or
completely
dissatisfied
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
7. Q1 Supporting Data
Estimated $.6 billion of annualized transactions
where users were not satisfied and had no recourse
$600M
Of dissatisfied
sharing transactions
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
8. Q 2. Disadvantages to Providers
Henri: Ill have to create a whole
new profile- and data- to work on
another platform.
Ralph; my data on Yelp is
great. But it does me no
good on Angies or Rabbit
Serge: My data is locked in
one place, but Im not
making enough there.
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
9. Q3. Stages / Market Development
1
2
3
Stages of successful
marketplace development
1. Achieving adoption of the
offering.
2. Balancing the network for
demand/supply liquidity.
3. Scaling satisfaction experience for
users
Adoption
Liquidity
Satisfaction
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
10. Q5. Issues at Scale
In House
Guarantees
While helpful in the early
stages to address user
concerns, in house
guarantees lose
effectiveness at scale.
Claims decisions do not
align well with in house
profitability
Referee
Conundrum
How to fairly adjudicate
legitimate satisfaction
complaints if there is no
third party
Locks in providers early,
but creates cross-over risk
and adverse selection to
new entrants
In House
Satisfaction
Early platforms chose this
at launch, as there we no
other 3rd party options
available
Siloed Data
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
11. Q5 Supporting Data
Majority of respondants were (are) satisfied with
their in-house adjudication of satisfaction claims.
18.4%
Of respondents
were not satisfied
and had no further
recourse
66.2%
Of respondents
were somewhat or
fully satisfied
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
12. Q6. Platform Evolution
Off-Load Customer Satisfaction Disputes
In house customer satisfaction is a drain on
resources for platforms, and a potential conflict of
interest with user satisfaction
Promote Happy : Even
when things go bad, they
turn out good
Technology aside, humans are the ones
who transact on sharing platforms. And
humans can be human.
When bad things happen, there can still be
a good resolution.
Enable data to cross platforms
Providers cite multiple instances of
feeling their good data is trapped.
Exchanging bad data would prevent
bad providers from skipping platforms
Appoint a Referee
45% of respondents cited the
possibility of a better outcome if a
third party referee was involved
Offer Satisfaction Guarantees
45% or respondents said this
would have influenced
satisfaction levels
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
13. Q6 Supporting Data
Of those with shortfalls in satisfaction:
45% favored a third party referee
18% would purchase a third party satisfaction guarantee
5% cite data silo issues as relevant to these issues
22.4%
Dissatisfied users
thought referee
would have helped
19.4%
All users thought
satisfaction
guarantee would be
helpful next time
Data available for public use
*Breakdown by platform available for Partners
16. (74) Additional Comments
A Guarantee would have given me added protection
yes, offers greater psychological confidence in the transaction. A feeling of a higher standard of due diligence on the part of the counter party in the
transaction.
A Guarantee would have given me added protection
Dealing with unknowns is stressful
That would be fantastic. Just someone there to verify or document what happened or what's going on and to help with issues
Gives an element of security.
Third party handles all the issues for you
Well anything you do or buy at all is much more soothing to the soul when there is a guarantee included.
A guarantee is very important to the consumer
"Satisfaction Guaranteed" tells me there is a level of confidence -- that's reassuring and builds my confidence. "Satisfaction Guaranteed" also
communicates that a serious effort is being made to ensure satisfaction.
I think it would have been nice to have received money back for the books that were not in the condition they were described as. It would make me
more likely to take that risk in the future, knowing that the products' price would be refunded if it was not as described.
In response to what went wrong/tell your story:
my experience with [Redacted] was bad last time I used it. The room i rented was very different from the pictures and description. The owner also
falsely accused me of damages that I was not even related to. It was very hard for me to disprove it. I was claimed to pay for the damages which I
denied but i am still waiting to hear back from [Redacted].
The owner of the house clearly never checked in on the property. The coffee maker was moldy, everything was pretty dirty, and the house didn't lock
properly.
Homes were as described, clean, well stocked, easy entry and easy communication with host.
Tried to prove my identity by uploading multiple videos. [Redacted] site refused to accept any of them. Their help/FAQ didn't tell me what I was doing
wrong, how to fix it, or provide a contact so that a human could help me figure out what was wrong.
Can anyone recommend any other alternative booking sites that worked for them? I feel horrible that I highly recommended [Redacted] to friends only
to have this huge invasion of privacy imposed on users. Past [Redacted] user now and I would like to find a new booking site that anyone has a
remarkable experience with. Please and thank you.
I've backed many projects on Kickstarter; more than 30. They don't always turn out the way I'd hoped - but some of them greatly surpass my
expectations. I continue to support new ideas through this platform.
Ride was good, driver got lost a bit
I wish that I had seen this before I spent the day trying to book through [Redacted]. Just exactly the same thing as previous posts. Too much data
mining, humiliation almost, and a worrying authorised payment to cancel. It is clear when you speak to the company that every single call is about the
same issu
Like so many others here have stated, I will NOT submit to [Redacted]s ridiculous demands just to save a few dollars on an upcoming trip. I see
absolutely NO reason why they would need to manage my Gmail contacts except to spam everyone on my contact list. Nu-uh boys, aint gonna happen
I have been using [Redacted] for many years. I can understand that hosts will want to have the strongest security. As a consequence I expect it will
mean fewer people will want to use the service. Sadly I will be one of them.
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17. Additional Comments
Anyone who is stupid enough to send their passport image or drivers licence to a commercial enterprise like this gets what they deserve. I wish these people
would just disappear. The world was much better when these things were done over Craigslist. It worked, and people could sus each other out the normal, old
fashioned way. Criminals will have no difficulty getting around any chaff the likes of [Redacted] can throw in their way. And as for the rest of us, good luck to
anyone who leaves their passport on a commercial website like this. Talk about the ultimate source for identity theft!
I would just add that I tried using the [Redacted] app. I signed on using Google+ and it wanted access to two parts of my digital life. First it wanted access to my
Google Drive folder. What on earth do they need access to Google Drive for? I have valuable work and personal documents in there. It would probably be a
breach of my duty to others to give them access, but in any case why on earth would I do this? More importantly, why on earth are they asking for this? The
second thing they were demanding was not only access to, but the ability also to manage, my Google contacts? Are these guys insane? I have never seen such an
egregious example of an attempt to breach privacy on a flimsy pretext as this. If I had more time I think it might be worth running a campaign against them, but I
have a life to live. Time to unfriend [Redacted] I feel
Feels to me as if [Redacted] is geared for towards kids, not grownups. If I was a highschool student with a thousand facebook friends it would be smooth sailing.
Or if I had a linked in account with hundreds of meaningless links
But because I am a grown up, who thinks my email and phone number and credit card should be enough to rent a room (it has been for the last 40 years of my
life) and because I am not interested in providing them my damned passport I can no longer use [Redacted].
[Redacted] is for the birds
Currently in the process of booking through abnb for the first time. Have paid 贈900 for three nights at a house which will be central to funeral we are organising.
The online verification is a nightmare. I denied their FB option the right to access my friends which just led me up numerous blind alleys. In the end, had to
contact their customer experience team (found the number through Google as its hidden on the site if its there at all) They blamed Safari, but the process
didnt work on Chrome or Firefox.
They didnt call back when promised and finally having uploaded a video they have phoned to tell me Im verified, but my booking still isnt confirmed nearly
24 hours on
I hope their hosts know they are losing valuable bookings because of a system which although perfectly sensible in theory is a disaster in practice. And quite a
nasty one
Am spending some considerable time waiting for the ID verification to uploadWhy so long? Also, there is NO mention of this at the beginning of the process
We have booked previously with [Redacted] and not had to go through this. Now I am wondering if I should cancel my booking after reading other peoples
comments here and still waiting I have SO much stuff out there on who I am that this extra stuff is ridiculous!!!
They are even lying now that the host is requesting verification. I asked my host why do you need my ID she said she doesnt its probably [Redacted] thing, she
never requested tha
Ive been using [Redacted] for several years and have now decided now to stop. Like everyone else here, I got asked for verification and feel uncomfortable
giving over my photo ID only to get told like so many others have to scan bills, make a video, rub your tummy while patting your head, etc! Come on, you are
just a booking site (like thousands of other booking sites who dont insist on gathering such sensitive personal information). Only a couple of days ago I booked 2
apartments in Switzerland with [Redacted] with no problem. Then I went to book an apartment in Copenhagen and all of a sudden this message comes up to
verify.
Well sorry [Redacted], you are just a booking site and without customers you have no business! I have excellent feedback as a guest and these are the type of
clients you wish to lose? Yep, theres a smart business plan. I live in the UK and there are many self catering sites available for the Eurozone and beyond and btw,
you are not the biggest nor the best over here.
I use(d) your service on average once every 2 months. well bye bye
I found a wonderful apartment in Nice, France for my wife and I but was completely foiled by [Redacted]s ridiculous self verification software. Took a photo of
my passport using ipad and it could not be accepted. Took a better photo using Nikon camera and that wasnt acceptable. Overall spent 4 days messing about
and talking to the owners of the accommodation who held the booking for 7 days but in the end just got too frustrated and found another place on another site.
Lesson: dont have anything to do with [Redacted]!!
What other booking site did you use? I am also an past [Redacted] user and want to find an alternative. Dont feel comfortable submitting to this required
service. Would like to book soon, so if you dont mind providing the link? Thank you so much from TEXAS!
I do not use my gmail account, it was only established for apps on my android device, I do not have a facebook account and am not a member of LinkedIn. I
booked [Redacted] accommodation before April, now have 3 messages I cannot read as I cannot verify my identity as my gmail account has not had enough
activity. How do I circumvent the issue 17
18. Additional Comments
My problem is also with the verification system.
My bookings were held while I tried to complete the process but the process was fraught with problems.
Once I had provided my passport (and I think this is a lot to ask) and my phone number, I was asked to upload a photo. (Why? Its on my passport) The choice
was this or a webcam shot.
However, while the buttons for the two options remain on screen, only one appears active.
I have no choice but to use the webcam.
However, I cant. I live in Saudi Arabia and everyone knows the connectivity problems, censorship and cultural restrictions of this country.
Even if I could connect to a web came, who is to say that the face on the screen is mine..or that it is me representing myself?
Anyway, it seems I cant complete either of my bookings.
I have spent days trying to complete the process to make Air BnB happy. It has been a huge frustration and a complete waste of time.
I have used [Redacted] successfully in the past but that is where our association is going to remainin the past. Unless they get real about how much ID
verification makes a potential guest a safe prospect
Yes, the Cross- Over risk in one that seems obvious to many here but hasnt been solved (were working on it)
I was extremely upset and unhappy about having to jump through the hoops [Redacted] now requires to make a booking. I felt as if I had done something wrong
in having to send a photo of myself, my passport, do a short video and have my phone number vetted. I felt invaded, and now that they have my information, I
dont trust that it wont be released to an insecure site. I mean, are they who they say they are??? All in all an unsavoury experience
perhaps airbandb are collecting this information as another lucrative business line, namely the sale of personal data. Anyone dumb enough to give them access
to their Facebook and Linkedln contact list deserve what they will get increased junk mail, more pfishing scams mail and ID theft.
Am I being a tad cynical or just realistic
I wouldnt share a photo of my passport on the web due to security reasons and absolutely agree with the above article. Im facing bog problems with
[Redacted] in booking a place right now due to their new requirement for ID verification. [Redacted] has the data of my credit card. My bank is checking my
identity non stop. Why [Redacted] cant use credit card info as verification tool and why even the hosts told me that they do not need this verification
[Redacted] still insist to upload a scanned copy of my passport? Definitely most probably I wouldnt book through [Redacted] of there is no other option for
verification and wouldnt recommend it
I booked an [Redacted] for 2 of my students on a trip for 3 months. Took my first month payment and seemed things were fine. Went to log in to pay for month2
and it wont let me without verificaiton for which it is now asking for a photo my driver license. Not really comfortable with that but students are already
there. But my comfort did not did not really matter, thier software wont take the license photo and provides no error messages why.
Bait and switch .. I wont be using their services again
I booked a unit through [Redacted] two weeks ago for close to $2,000. There wasnt any issue with payment, setting up profile, etc. Yesterday I attempted to
book just 1 night at another location for this same vacation, I emailed the host, all was fine and they said they were going to pre approve me. Long story short
[Redacted] suddenly asked for ID Verification. I feel that they should have said this upfront and saved me hours of searching for another unit. I also feel that
their having my email address, phone number and credit card information is more than suficient. I couldnt even figure out how to do what they were asking as I
am not that technical. I wrote to them and they said that they approved the first booking because I fell through the cracks. Amazing! End result, I dont have
the unit and the Host doesnt have the rental and [Redacted] still doesnt have my facebook , etc. Just simply unbelievable and
If I have to give up that much info, then I expect to pay a lot less! I also do not see why teachers and other professionals with FBI checks, should have to give up
so much personal info. It makes the whe process suspicious and unsavor
I am currently experiencing this problem with [Redacted]. They will not allow my request for a reservation to continue without offline verification. I am willing to
send a copy of my drivers license (grudgingly) because it is a limited, public document. They dont stop there, however. They demand to be linked to some social
media account in my case google. They want total access to it! They state up front that they want to be able to have access to and manage my contacts!! There
is absolutely no reason they need access to my contacts, nor, for that matter, access customers accounts period. If they have a license, photos, birth dates,
reviews, etc they are just pushing this to the nonsensical when they demand the right to gather detailed information on you and everyone you are in contact
with! Down with [Redacted]!
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19. Additional Comments
Thinking of taking the family to Southern California over Spring Break. Looked at some very attractive places, interested in one, sent
a query to the host on a question about parking.
However, that process stopped cold when I was asked for my drivers license or passport.
Ive been in intelligence and defense for several decades, have had clearances, and wouldnt THINK of uploading that information to
some third party, no matter what they warrant is their 21st Century protective capabilities. In this cyber-insecure environment,
with ardent hackers out there? Under no circumstances.
If [Redacted] can provide some lesser form of one-way kimono-opening, Id be interested, but not as it stands
this verification is a complete mess!!!
Im not on facebook or linkedin (gmail Account not active enough?)
so verification is imposib
What a shame! There are property listings that look perfect for our upcoming trip to the UK but there is no way I would upload a
copy of my passport or ID card. No way. [Redacted] loses here because my family often rents flats and houses from individuals.
Lost a rental I wanted because I would not send passport page.this [Redacted] v辿rification does not garantee anything!
This is the first time Im using [Redacted] and I just saw the information theyre requiring for verification of my identity. Although
the rental looks perfect for me, I am unwilling to give up my passport or drivers license ID. Therefore, I may have to pass on this
rental if the owner doesnt agree to an alternate method of verification
What a stupid policy. Your credit card number IS VERIFICATION!!!!! Sorry, idiots! Not everyone has a Facebook account. I guess they
dont want my money
No, I wouldnt trust them with my passport or driving licence. I did try to upload my driving licence but it didnt work and on
reflection I am glad. Owners of Bed & Breakfast establishments in the UK have managed to be very safe for decades and decades
without prospective guests having to submit their ID for a booking to be accepted. Air BnB already has enough information credit
card verification with address etc.
My main concern is the potential security risk over the internet of my ID who knows where my ID could end up!
My second concern is why are guests being asked for this information and hosts are not?? !! It is a two way street. We, as guests,
are taking the same risk as the host. Arguably guests are taking more of a risk than hosts, because if a guest ended up booking a
room in the home of a psychopath or religious zealot or any other weirdo, (or come to that an ID thief) just remember the hosts are
in familiar territory and you, the guest are not
Honestly, no point giving up your ID to air bnb. They are not promising that they will not use your details or handover it to third
party. Despite my requests to show me privacy statements and how will they deal with my ID, they have failed to give me any
satisfactory response. So better find places to stay somewhere els
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20. Additional Comments
[Redacted] is a very dangerous organization. Not only they act as dictators, but they use their power to force people to provide private information, which
they dont need.
I have been an [Redacted] hoster for 3 years now, and I am disappointed with their business philosophy.
Anyone who respects values like Freedom will not work with them.
I have closed my account, although I had lots of great comments.
Too bad for me, but too bad for [Redacted] too.
I will not stop criticizing this website until they start having decent business manners.
And for the first time of my life, I hope governments around the world will close this company who has more chance to grow in dictatures than in democracies
Its really interesting. When you complain they come back with, oh what a shame you are leaving our community. As if you have been exiled from the land of
the chosen or some such thing. What gumph. They are no more a community than I am an oyster. But this is highly manipulative language that will make many
feel unsure about their (entirely appropriate) precautionary instincts. And lets consider what kind of a community they would be if their presumption were true.
It would be a community which is managed solely for the commercial gain of a computer based facilitator. That facilitator would have arrogated to itself the
right (which it exercises liberally) to censor all communications (even the word Google got removed from a message I sent). They would be a community in
which the participants have no rights at all in terms of organisation or governance. If you do ever see a community like that run away, as quickly as your little
legs will carry you
Totally agree theyve screwed up. Heres what happened to me.
I requested a reservation, the host accepted the booking and [Redacted] took the money from my card.
Next time I logged in to check the details the system demanded Government Id and wouldnt let me access my booking.
When I queried it with [Redacted] they said do what the system says. That was never gonna happen. So I queried it again and they just cancelled my booking!
Unbelievable.
Thats it with [Redacted] all over.
There is NO WAY!!! One less site to look for rentals.
I do not like putting personal data on the web. It wont be too long before someone thinks there is useful information there and beats [Redacted] security. Then
what?
I do not have or want Facebook entries
Actually [Redacted] keeps asking for more identity after having your credit card with its security through address verification. Even with your drivers license, the
access to facebook is not even enough, it says not enough activity-must mean if you dont tell facebook everything, its not enough for them. Seasoned users says
that after all that, now they want your passport. Its too bad that renters will not get the business from this website model, which seems to really be just data
mining.
I have sent [Redacted] a copy of my passport and feel really stupid now for doing so. I am terribly worried that this Information will be used for other reasons
and could kick myself for being so naive!! But HOW can I revidate this?
We have just booked an apartment in NYC for 2 nights and after paying online with a Visa card we have been asked to provide ID in the form of a scanned drivers
licence. We worked out how to do this and completed the request and thought the booking could be successfully processed but we now find that we are
required to produce a video online as an extra form of i.d. from our fairly limited knowledge we do not think we have the necessary software to take a video.
We now have to cancel the booking, find out how to complete the proof of ID request before starting again. Im not sure that we have the time or the energy! All
very frustrating and disappointin
I think something similar happened to me. The posts did not seem real. Ill follow up with the real person when I meet her in a few days. Something very odd
about the way this company is behaving. Why are they soooooooo keen to get all of this information. It all seems highly artificia
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21. Additional Comments
this is food for thought. i must admit i was a bit shocked to be asked for the verification data when i first tried to book a room with [Redacted],
especially as I have a listing with them. However, I uploaded a scan of my passport without much thought. I then offered up my facebook
account only to be rejected! as a middle aged mum who posts lots of mundane things to a community of over 100 similar middle aged mums this
came as a bit of a shock, but [Redacted] were adamant they then needed a video, plus at one stage they asked for a scan of a utility bill. I was
trying to find somewhere to stay at short notice in London on a night that seemed exceptionally busy for hotels 86% occupancy, with the
remaining beds at the top end of the price scale. I found a property, made contact with the owner, sorted it all out only to spend a very
frustrating few hours trying and failing to jump through the [Redacted] hoop. In the end i gave up, apologised to the property owner who was
also trying to help me at short notice while he was away from home, and went to bed. But I cannot believe they are trying to weed out people
like me! And with hindsight i am very uncomfortable that there is now a scan of my passport floating in cyberspace.
As a host I have had experience of good potential guests finding the verification procedure over-complicated. On more than one occasion
potential guests have found ways of contacting me to explain the delay in verification. Older potential guests find the verification process over-
complicated and (rightly or wrongly) potentially invasive. As I host I do wish to see a good quality photograph of my potential guest. Without it I
am disinclined to accept.
As a guest I am prepared to provide a photograph, my credit card details and (as I am a host) allow access to the personal details on my listing.
We were shocked and angered to find this ID requirement when trying to book [Redacted] in London. We have a record of being good guests
from the many places we have stayed, we supply our debit card details which is ID. I am sure as hell not going to risk identity theft by placing my
driving licence or passport for [Redacted] to possess. Equally angered that to prove my existence I am asked to provide Facebook and/or
Linkedin. I do have both as it happens but do not use either very much, (asked by a professional colleague to be on Linkedin and Facebook to see
my daughters photos more easily.) The modern version of Cogito ergo sum is now Habeat Facebook ergo sum. [Redacted] hosts are at no
more risk than normal Bed and Breakfast owners. If I want to stay at a B and B which I have seen advertised or reviewed or is in a B and B book,
I phone, arrange the stay, leave my card details and then arrive in their home at the appointed time. Exactly the same level of knowledge
between the B+B owner and client exists in this transaction. The only explanation for this [Redacted] policy is data mining, sheer greed. Well,
they may well have killed the Golden Goose.
Its overreaching and a terrible privacy intrusion. I like [Redacted] and have used it sucessfully but this is too much! I wont give that much access and dont think it will
really help their security.
I am not comfortable with the verified id process. to access paypal I must prove my identity through my bank security process. That should be
enough verification that I am who I say that I am. Please make this verification simpler and less invasiv
I have spent 35 years in the computer software business and I know from much experience that the best way to protect your identity and private
data is to simply keep it private. There are times when you must divulge data about your self (credit apps, medical, etc.). But there is no reason
at all to divulge it to some company who is trying to sell you their service, like [Redacted].
Whats worse is the very poor programming design of the Verify process. Examples; not everybody has a social media account (which is probably
the worst possible exposure for your personal data),. The design of the Verify process is terrible; it does not have continuity from function to
function, does not give the user feedback, does not acknowledge input and acceptance, some parts can not be completed without first doing
other parts first but this is not explained, and its all very confusing and often seems to be of no purpose. Inquiries and emails to tech support
either go unanswered or else are replied to with one-size-fits-all canned responses which are totally unrelated to the inquiry (giving the
impression that no one takes time to read or understand the point of the inquiry).
And as if all this isnt frustrating enough, just try get help by talking to a knowledgeable person on the telephone! With service like this you have
to wonder if [Redacted] wont someday go the way of so many has-beens in our industry. One might also reasonably ask what will happen to my
charged in advance deposit if [Redacted] decides to roll over and stick its feet in the air
no, i dont feel confidence to give my photo id online because theres so many identity theft .
i am a host myself. i want to disable my post because someone wants to rent my place but i cant disable now because it forces me to provide ids
before i can proceed
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