Safety rules
GOT A COUCH? oversees every exchange so travelers and hosts can trust each other. Here's how, and what's never tolerated.
Verifications
Email, phone number, and ID can be verified. The "Verified host" badge only appears once all three are confirmed.
Protected contact details
Phone numbers, emails, external links, and off-platform payment requests are automatically detected and hidden in messages before a stay is confirmed.
Reporting and disputes
Any suspicious behavior can be reported in one click. Disputes about a confirmed stay are reviewed individually by our team.
Blocking
Blocking someone stops any further messages in both directions, immediately.
What we never show publicly
- A listing's exact address, before a stay is confirmed.
- Identity documents — never stored by GOT A COUCH?, never visible to other members.
- A member's email address.
- A member's phone number.
- Any banking information.
Prohibited behavior
- Asking for or offering payment outside GOT A COUCH?, for a free couch as well as a paid stay.
- Sharing contact details (phone, email, social media) before a paid stay is confirmed.
- Harassing, threatening, or making discriminatory remarks toward another member.
- Posting a fake listing or false information about a place, a price, or availability.
- Impersonating another person or providing false documents during verification.
- Asking for or posting a listing's exact address before a stay is confirmed.
- Using GOT A COUCH? messaging for commercial purposes unrelated to a stay.
- Trying to get around a block or re-contact someone who has blocked you.
Breaking these rules can lead to a warning, a suspension, or an account closure, depending on severity and frequency.
Need help?
Check our help center for common questions, or use the "Report" and "Block" buttons directly in a conversation for an issue with a specific person.
For an issue with a stay that's already confirmed, open a dispute from that stay's page.