QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

This will vary depending on star/diamond ratings. Hosts for both Quality Rooms and other establishments must submit the swap form applicable to their establishment's grading. Choose one of the swap forms listed on the website working page.

On receipt of the form, the database will take care of the rest and inform both Host and Guest of the success or otherwise of the agreed transaction.

Owners of Quality Rooms would not be expected to provide meals — though this does not mean it cannot be negotiated or paid for separately. Quality Room establishments have the option to accept credits in lieu of payment for breakfast or other services. This option is not mandatory and can be negotiated at the time of booking.

There are checks and balances built into the system. When a request is made, you must immediately ask for the guest's Reference Number. If you are uncertain as to their legitimacy, you should check with the administrators before accepting the swap.

No — you can accept or turn down a swap request as you see fit. We do however expect all members to accept requests as often as they reasonably can. Once you have accepted a swap it will be binding on both Host and Guest (see Agreement and Code of Practice).

Absolutely — the credits are yours to use as you wish. However:

• Only the registered owner is permitted to request bookings.
• Friends or family cannot make a request on their own — all bookings must be made via the registered owner.
• The registered owner takes full responsibility and will be held liable by the Host for any damages or claims of misconduct by friends or family they have sponsored.

You can terminate your membership at any stage. Please note:

• There are no refunds on credits — remember there are no cash transactions.
• There is no refund on your yearly subscription.

Quality Room members can remain on the system until all remaining credits have been used, provided their yearly subscription fee is up to date, after which they will be removed from the Accommodation Swap database — unless they recruit one new member per year, in which case they are eligible to use the system for an additional year (repeatable annually).

Members understand that this arrangement is a privilege subject to potential alteration or withdrawal at management's discretion. This concession does not apply if you resign from Accommodation Swap for any reason.

The 6 credits awarded on registration are to get new members started. Thereafter the system is based on a careful balance of spending and earning credits. The primary method of growing credits is via hosting.

If through no fault of your own you run out of credits, there are two ways to recharge:

• Bonus system: Earn 3 credits for every new member you introduce to the scheme.
• Credit purchase: If there is no "strike" against your account (i.e. you have not turned away a booking request you could have accepted), you may apply to Admin to purchase credits — provided you have been a member for more than 1 year and your credit balance is below 8 credits. Admin will assess your account and advise accordingly.

Yes, provided you remain a fully paid-up member. Should you resign your membership for any reason, you will lose all your credits.

For Quality Rooms, choose the swap form labelled "Form for quality/single rooms only" found on the website working page:

• 1 credit for the entire room per night.
• Example: 2 people sharing = 1 credit charged.
• 1 person = rounded off to 1 credit charged.

Submit the relevant form as above. On receipt, the database will automatically handle the credit transfer and notify both Host and Guest of the outcome.

Your credits balance and swap form activities can be found in the members dashboard on the web site.

There are stringent security checks on anyone logging in. You will be given a unique reference number and password for your exclusive use. The registered member is solely responsible for the security of their reference and PIN numbers, and agrees to absolve the administrators of any liability in the event of their credentials falling into the hands of third parties.

Let us know and we will take disciplinary action against the wayward member. We will still credit your account as though the swap had taken place.

No. The modus operandi of Accommodation Swap is based on a totally cash-free stay, except for breakfasts, other meals, and activities — which can be negotiated between host and guest and paid for either by additional credits or cash.

We have tried to "compare apples with apples" by charging not more than one day's takings for two people sharing in a middle to upper class range (3 to 4 star) guest house.

On registration there is an initial joining fee that all new applicants must pay, plus a proportionate subscription fee for the months remaining until May. Thereafter an annual subscription fee is payable in May. Please visit the joining fees table for a quick reference on fees due when joining.

Our fees are structured to encourage you to remain a member — even if you don't trade credits for a couple of years, the membership fee is so low that you will make it all back with just one night's swap. For less than one day's takings, can anyone really afford not to join?

If you've seen enough and want to participate, go to our Registration page and follow the procedure.

Once the form has been processed and the joining fee validated, you will receive an email confirming your membership. This email will contain your personal, unique reference and PIN numbers — keep these in a safe place for all future contacts and queries.

You will then receive 6 free credits with which you can immediately start trading.

Don't forget to first read the membership terms and conditions as laid out in the Agreement and Code of Practice that all members must accept and pledge to abide by.