Ambassadors Guide to Commonly Asked Questions
The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.
This is a list of questions commonly asked by ambassadors, and some answers to those questions.
(AMBs, there will be NO links to threads in this WIKI. They are independent areas. If you want to add to the text, go for it, but no internal links please. Thanks AMT)
CS Spam/Dating Requests:
Wiki on dating spam/dating on CS overall
Spam/Dating
What are the CouchSurfing Terms of Use?
I have a problem with a member:
Here are a few answers from AMT that you should read.
Member with offensive behavior, comments, actions:
- Member making offensive posts: Please make a note of the thread that this occurs in and use the CUQ page to direct it to the proper departments attention. You are also welcome, if you are capable, of encouraging everyone to read and apply the TOU for themselves. Remember that there are so many individual and unique points of view in the world, that words are the least easy to sometimes understand! Especially across so many cultures and languages. Honest, open, clear language! We recommend encouraging everyone to contribute, be positive and have a great time. If you have a problem, use the CUQ and let us help you get it fixed. The same goes for members that are disruptive in conversation or at meetings.
Multiple Profiles:
- Multiple Profiles: if you know of any, please let us know via the CUQ and we will handle that right away. We all know that it can and does happen, but we are watching all the time for this and when we see it, it is dealt with very quickly. Know your guests, know your hosts! You are placing a great deal of faith and confidence and YOUR SAFETY in their hands!
When should you issue a 'warning'?
- You should never issue a warning. That is not your role! Let us be the bad guys! Respond with peace, compassion and empathy. Let them know they are not making the best of their chances in our wonderful community, but keep it positive, encouraging, empowering and use common sense and as much diplomacy as you can muster. If something needs to happen that is a negative, we will handle that. Use your CUQs, it's our lifeline for this.
- Someone left a negative reference about a person in your city?
That sometimes happens. Reality now being served. You can please most of the people most of the time, but not everyone all the time! Screen your hosts/guests better! As AMBs, you cannot dissuade anyone to do this. It's their right and no one should be made to feel as though they will be punished for it.
- Members that delete their own profile are free to re-join. Those that have been removed by an ADMIN are not eligible. Please report via the CUQ about any that you may know of and we will address it accordingly.
A member in my city is doing illegal things:
We are not the police. We DO have an internal department called Member Disputes and Safety that handle issues like this. You are welcome to contact them at any time with your questions, comments or concerns.
Advertising on CS? When is it OK for a member to look for a roomie/offer a job/be a hostel:
It's fair to say that people on CS come from all walks of life, & that sometimes travel agents & hostel owners want to take part in hospitality exchange. CS is for everyone.
Let's compare what's OK & what's not OK for a few circumstances:
-OK: Roomates - If you're looking for a roommate, you want that roommate to be CS friendly so you can keep hosting. CS is a good place to find CS friendly roommates, no? -Not OK: We don't want brokers posting about apartments.
-OK: You run a white water rafting company & also host people. White water rafting is popular in your area. If a CSer stays with you, you can offer them a discount if it was something they were going to do anyway -OK: Mentioning that you offer this in your profile.
-Not OK: saying the CSer has to take your white water rafting tour in order to stay with you. -Not OK: Only using CS to promote your white water rafting company.
OK: Offering the name of a hostel in your area if you're not able to host. Not OK: You own the hostel
That last one is tricky - there are hostel owners on CS who host CSers and do not charge members or who host members in their home, but don't advertise themselves as hosts outside of CS so they can still make a living. We need to allow these members to earn their living so that they can continue hosting.
Exotic Couch??? What??:
More details
When you click the exotic couches link it takes you to a randomly generated list of exotic couches
Traveling Bands and Musicians???
Explanation/What are they?
List of Traveling Bands and Musicians
Verification:
The Verification Process is now under review and renewal. Please check back.
Vouching:
CouchSurfing Vouching Guidelines
I have a question about references:
CouchSurfing References Guidelines
Who do we leave references for?
Events:
Group for event organizers
Ideas for events
When to send invitations
Moderating my Group:
Want your city to have a wiki as well? Check out the wiki group
Can I get a hold of a high resolution CS graphic?
Percentage of CouchSurf Requests Replied to:
FAQ's and other miscellany:
Answers to some common Contact Us Questions
CouchSurfing Frequently Asked Questions
General CouchSurfing Guidelines
Who controls the Ambassador Teams?
There are over 1700 Ambassadors on the globe right now and they are overseen by a department made of global Ambassadors, and one Leadership Team member. The Leadership Team member is known as the Ambassador Management Coordinator and has responsibility for all Ambassadors.
