Vouching on CouchSurfing

Vouching

The vouching system on CouchSurfing.com is a security measure. We take it VERY SERIOUSLY:

Respecting the significance of vouching is essential to the integrity of the network.

Vouching is a way for members to declare their trust in other members. It is always important to be cautious when you surf or host, and the vouching system is designed to help foster and promote a safe network. However, this does not replace or nullify the need for each of us to use common sense and direct communication with potential hosts/surfers. Be sure to do your due diligence when choosing a potential host or guest and read their profile and references. Vouching is one helpful tool for recognizing active, "trustworthy" CouchSurfers (according to other community members), but like anything in life, each and every CouchSurfer is responsible for the travel decisions they make. So, be safe, do your research, vouch with care, and have fun!

How it works

When someone is vouched for, it signifies an elevated level of trust in the community. The only way to become vouched for is to be extremely trusted by someone who has been vouched for by three other members. You must know each other in the real world. If you are a trusted friend, the vouched member can vouch for you. Once you have been vouched for three times, you can in turn vouch for members you sincerely believe to be trustworthy .

The Vouching Network

In version 2.0, we had to start the vouching system over from scratch and the first people to be vouched for are the CouchSurfing core team of Admins . They were able to vouch for people that they knew well and felt were trustworthy. From there it branched out into the community.

Are you new to CouchSurfing and don't know any members just yet? Easy. Go and surf with someone, or host someone, or just meet someone in your hometown who has been vouched for three times. After they meet you and get to know you, they can vouch for you.

Vouching for others

Once vouched for three times, you can vouch for any of your good friends. It is very important that you ONLY vouch for people that you have met in person and know well enough to believe that he or she is trustworthy.

DO NOT vouch for someone you have not met face to face, even if you have had deep or meaningful conversations with him or her online.
DO NOT vouch for someone if you have only met him or her in passing.
If you vouch for someone and we discover that you don't know each other in the real world, we will consider this a violation of the terms and you will be removed from the network!
If someone is vouched and then turns out to be untrustworthy, remember that it is a reflection on you as well, so please be selective.

To vouch for someone, simply go to your 'edit friends' and click on the 'Vouch For This Friend' button. It should make sense from there.

Similar to Vouching: Verification

A security alternative to getting vouched for is called Verification. Sometimes getting verified helps you get vouched for because more members will be willing to host or surf with you. More on Verification.