How to Tell If a Local Guide Platform Is Trustworthy: A Checklist

First, are payments held in escrow by a licensed payment institution? Client payments should not go directly into a personal account and should be settled only after the service is completed. Second, is there a verifiable legal agreement or a framework developed with a law firm’s assistance, clearly worded and not replacing defined responsibilities with “we guarantee everything” marketing? Third, are there clear refund and complaint channels, with rules published in the app or on the website?

You should also check whether the company behind the platform can be verified, whether service providers are reviewed or screened in person by the platform, and whether services require meeting in public places, location check-in and communication on the platform with records kept.

Our agreements and compliance framework were developed with the assistance of Dacheng Law Offices; Dacheng is not a guarantor, nor an “exclusive authorization” endorsement. Transactions use a deposit and a balance payment, with funds held in escrow by a licensed payment institution; if an order is not accepted in time, the deposit can be refunded to the original payment method. Services involve location check-in and mutual reviews, and clients can file complaints and request refunds.

To check specific items, read the basic safeguards on our Safety page, or see the FAQ entries on payment safety, the service process and the trust checklist. Enterprise clients can also use our invitation-only business channel, whose service information is never made public.