Process for Verifying Last Minute Bookings (Reservations less than 7 days from check in)

ACME's process to minimize fraudulent bookings and chargebacks

 

Last-minute reservations represent a significantly higher risk for fraud within the vacation rental sector. To proactively screen, help prevent, and address potential issues with same-week arrivals (bookings made 0–7 days in advance), the following enhanced verification process will be implemented:

Step 1: Reservations receives notification to process the booking (applicable to any reservation where payment is managed in-house).

Step 2: Apply the “Last Minute Res” tag to the reservation.

Step 3: Reservation Agent contacts the guest, introduces themselves, and communicates:

 – Recommended Language: “Because your reservation is close to your arrival date, we are reaching out to ensure a smooth check-in. Next steps include completing a rental agreement and providing a valid ID and selfie through our secure portal, Akia.”

Step 4: Akia issues the rental agreement to the guest.

Step 5: Guest completes and submits the rental agreement, ID, and selfie.

Step 6: Reservation Agent reviews the agreement and confirms the ID matches the selfie.

Step 7: A second Reservation Agent or Manager confirms that the provided ID and selfie are acceptable.

Step 8: If there are concerns regarding the ID or selfie, the Reservation Agent contacts the guest and provides a new secure link for updated images.

Step 9: If questions remain after this step, the Reservation Agent escalates the reservation to management for further review.

Important: Lack of guest response on the booking day for any last-minute reservation is a RED FLAG—pause processing and consult with management immediately.