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I use vrbo.com, as I will never ever give my ID to an online platform to "scan" and "verify". Regardless of statements of "But we delete it after" and "it's sa

I use vrbo.com, as I will never ever give my ID to an online platform to "scan" and "verify". Regardless of statements of "But we delete it after" and "it's safe", time has shown me, again and again, that these statements cannot be made reliably, no matter how much the company desires it. Even if the platform is 100% safe, patched, security is iron-clad, you still have rogue employees stealing and re-selling IDs. It's a game which cannot be played safely. So, VRBO it's been for me. And that said? It's overall been a reasonably good experience. They do have this: https://help.vrbo.com/articles/What-is-the-Book-with-Confidence-Guarantee https://help.vrbo.com/articles/What-is-the-Book-with-Confide... And, I've used it once to fight a minor issue. A renter decided they wanted me to sign a 'rental agreement' after I booked, paid, and was 24 hours out from arrival. Nope. VRBO quashed that. Their statement was "If you cannot get in when you arrive, and the renter cannot be reached/won't allow you in, call us. We'll relocate you / fix it." Problem went away. I also have had no issue getting in touch with VRBO, with a human being, whenever required. 5 minute wait is typical. Of course, I have absolutely no idea about how things are now, during/post pandemic. Lay offs? Confusion? Less revenue? I really do not know. So it could all be different now... sadly.

baby 6y ago
What’s the value in reselling an ID? And don’t you want a platform to have a bit more control than say craigslist in order to avoid scams?
- bbarnett 6y ago
  Uh, what? You've never heard of identity theft? Or did you ask the same question after Equifax was hacked? I'm not sure I can take that question seriously. As for ID or no ID, it seems odd that demanding ID, still ends up with all of these airbnb horror stories, yes? Thing is, VRBO checks out landlords more stringently than airbnb, and also charges slightly more. ID doesn't give control, although I suppose it gives the illusion of it.
  - baby 6y ago
    An ID is a public document, you show it to anyone asking for it (when buying alcohol, when signing something, when entering a bar, etc.) so if you were scared of identity theft...
    - bbarnett 6y ago
      I don't show my ID to "anyone asking for it", but to those whom I choose. Further, it is not a "public document". If it were public, I could demand that (for example) the license bureau give me a copy of yours. As well, there is a massive difference between showing it for a second to a person, and uploading a digitized image of it. In the former, there is no copy or record of it made. It is merely examined for authenticity, against my face or signature.. then immediately returned. Meanwhile, the digital copy can be further endlessly copied, and without me seeing it happen. I must trust that it is deleted, trust it is never copied, trust the org does not have a leak, trust all her employees, and the list goes on and on and on. Control, you see, is vital in this equation. Trust, and control. Trust, that I have control. Some of my ID has identification numbers on them. I do not want them to be recorded, and immediately snag back my ID if someone attempts to write them down. Can I see someone copying my digitized ID? Snag it back, if I mysteriously become aware of it? No, no I can not. FYI, I actually looked at some of your comment history, for I was absolutely certain you were a professional troll. I see you are not, yet this is how strongly my mind sits in a state of vast befuddlement. ID theft has been international news, countless laws exist to protect ID, identity. Yet, you just shrug this all aside, and 'meh' the whole thing?
      - baby 6y ago
        > Further, it is not a "public document". If it were public, I could demand that (for example) the license bureau give me a copy of yours. That's not what "public" necessarily mean, what you have in mind is published in a public registry, while public here means that there are no secrets involved. Your ID is being circulated, and scanned, and copied, between different people and companies and organizations that you want it or not, because there is no way you can get around in the US (or in most countries) without sharing your ID, or a photo of it, or a photocopy, or the content in it. > As well, there is a massive difference between showing it for a second to a person, and uploading a digitized image of it. In the former, there is no copy or record of it made. It is merely examined for authenticity, against my face or signature.. then immediately returned. It's a negligible distinction IMO, some people can make an effort to remember what's on the ID, or to sneakily have a way to take a picture of it. Once you're displaying your ID to somebody's eyes, or handing it to them, it's fair game.
- nobody9999 6y ago
  >What’s the value in reselling an ID? According to this analysis[0], about $20 (not clear from the source whether those are USD or AUD). [0] https://newsroom.kpmg.com.au/much-personal-identity-worth/ https://newsroom.kpmg.com.au/much-personal-identity-worth/ Edit: Clarified that the currency referenced might be USD or AUD.

baby 6y ago

What’s the value in reselling an ID? And don’t you want a platform to have a bit more control than say craigslist in order to avoid scams?

bbarnett 6y ago
Uh, what? You've never heard of identity theft? Or did you ask the same question after Equifax was hacked? I'm not sure I can take that question seriously. As for ID or no ID, it seems odd that demanding ID, still ends up with all of these airbnb horror stories, yes? Thing is, VRBO checks out landlords more stringently than airbnb, and also charges slightly more. ID doesn't give control, although I suppose it gives the illusion of it.
- baby 6y ago
  An ID is a public document, you show it to anyone asking for it (when buying alcohol, when signing something, when entering a bar, etc.) so if you were scared of identity theft...
  - bbarnett 6y ago
    I don't show my ID to "anyone asking for it", but to those whom I choose. Further, it is not a "public document". If it were public, I could demand that (for example) the license bureau give me a copy of yours. As well, there is a massive difference between showing it for a second to a person, and uploading a digitized image of it. In the former, there is no copy or record of it made. It is merely examined for authenticity, against my face or signature.. then immediately returned. Meanwhile, the digital copy can be further endlessly copied, and without me seeing it happen. I must trust that it is deleted, trust it is never copied, trust the org does not have a leak, trust all her employees, and the list goes on and on and on. Control, you see, is vital in this equation. Trust, and control. Trust, that I have control. Some of my ID has identification numbers on them. I do not want them to be recorded, and immediately snag back my ID if someone attempts to write them down. Can I see someone copying my digitized ID? Snag it back, if I mysteriously become aware of it? No, no I can not. FYI, I actually looked at some of your comment history, for I was absolutely certain you were a professional troll. I see you are not, yet this is how strongly my mind sits in a state of vast befuddlement. ID theft has been international news, countless laws exist to protect ID, identity. Yet, you just shrug this all aside, and 'meh' the whole thing?
    - baby 6y ago
      > Further, it is not a "public document". If it were public, I could demand that (for example) the license bureau give me a copy of yours. That's not what "public" necessarily mean, what you have in mind is published in a public registry, while public here means that there are no secrets involved. Your ID is being circulated, and scanned, and copied, between different people and companies and organizations that you want it or not, because there is no way you can get around in the US (or in most countries) without sharing your ID, or a photo of it, or a photocopy, or the content in it. > As well, there is a massive difference between showing it for a second to a person, and uploading a digitized image of it. In the former, there is no copy or record of it made. It is merely examined for authenticity, against my face or signature.. then immediately returned. It's a negligible distinction IMO, some people can make an effort to remember what's on the ID, or to sneakily have a way to take a picture of it. Once you're displaying your ID to somebody's eyes, or handing it to them, it's fair game.
nobody9999 6y ago
>What’s the value in reselling an ID? According to this analysis[0], about $20 (not clear from the source whether those are USD or AUD). [0] https://newsroom.kpmg.com.au/much-personal-identity-worth/ https://newsroom.kpmg.com.au/much-personal-identity-worth/ Edit: Clarified that the currency referenced might be USD or AUD.