Exchange Safety Guide

Practical guidelines for donors and requestors to stay safe when arranging a collection or handover.

Quick Safety Rules

1. Why These Guidelines Exist

FreeMarkit is built on community trust. Most exchanges happen without incident and leave both parties feeling good. These guidelines exist for the small number of situations where something could go wrong — and they apply equally to donors and requestors.

Following them costs very little and significantly reduces risk for everyone involved. Please read them before your first exchange.

2. For Donors — Handing Over an Item

Once you award a listing, the recipient will contact you to arrange collection. You control the time and the location. Use that control to keep yourself safe.

• Meet at your own registered address. The platform shows your approximate area to requestors. Use your actual address for the collection. Avoid agreeing to drop off at a third-party location you have not visited before.
• Do the handover at the gate. You are never obliged to invite anyone inside your home or property. Walk the item out to your front gate or driveway and keep the interaction brief.
• Daylight hours only. Arrange collection during daylight — mid-morning or early afternoon is ideal. If a requestor only offers late-evening times, it is perfectly reasonable to suggest a daytime slot instead.
• Have someone nearby if possible. Ask a family member or neighbour to be present, even just in the background. Visibility is a deterrent and company is a comfort.
• Check the requestor’s profile and rating. Before agreeing on a time, review their profile. Members with previous successful exchanges will have ratings. A blank profile on a brand-new account warrants extra caution.

3. For Requestors — Collecting an Item

When your request is awarded, the donor’s contact details are shared with you so you can arrange collection. Keep the following in mind as you plan your visit.

• Only go to the address shown on the platform. The collection should happen at the donor’s registered address. Be cautious if you are asked to meet somewhere completely different at short notice.
• Avoid unfamiliar or remote locations. If a donor suggests a deserted industrial area, empty parking lot, or any spot that makes you uncomfortable — decline. A legitimate exchange happens at a residential or well-known address.
• Go during daylight hours. Arrange a daytime slot. Avoid collections after dark, especially if you are going alone or to an area you do not know well.
• Take someone with you. If you can, bring a friend or family member. At minimum, travel during business hours when other people are around.
• Tell someone where you’re going. Share the address and the donor’s name with a trusted person before you leave. Let them know what time to expect you back.
• Verify the donor’s profile beforehand. Check their rating and history. If the profile looks incomplete or brand-new, proceed with extra care or contact us if you have concerns.

4. Rules That Apply to Everyone

Trust your instincts.
If something feels wrong before, during, or after the exchange — trust that feeling. Politely end the interaction and leave. You never owe an explanation to someone whose behaviour makes you uneasy.

Keep personal details private until the platform shares them.
Your contact details are only released after an award is confirmed through the platform. Do not share your home address, phone number, or personal email in listing descriptions or request messages.

No cash transactions.
FreeMarkit exchanges are free. No money should change hands at the collection point. If someone asks you to pay cash for an item listed as free, decline and report the listing to the administrator.

Report suspicious behaviour.
If another member applies pressure tactics, requests personal information outside the platform, or makes you uncomfortable in any way — please contact the site administrator. Your report helps protect the whole community.

5. Reporting a Safety Concern