Asking, and being asked.

Anything a member does and is willing to do for another: photography, design, translation, tutoring, research, repairs, pet sitting, house sitting, guiding, accountancy, therapy, event work, and whatever else people here turn out to be good at.

A member may choose to charge other members less than they usually charge. That is their offer to make, not something bayn asks of them or funds.

The person listed does the work. bayn does not provide it, supervise it, or employ anyone to do it. A listing creates no employment relationship between bayn and the provider, and none between bayn and whoever hires them.

If the work needs a qualification, a licence, a registration or insurance, holding it is the provider’s responsibility. For regulated work — therapy, healthcare, legal advice, certain financial and accounting work — the provider must comply with the professional rules that apply both where they are and where their client is, which is not always the same place.

Unless a profile says in so many words that bayn checked a credential, and says what was checked, nothing here has been verified. Being on bayn is not a qualification. We may ask to see proof, and we may remove a listing if we are not satisfied.

When you ask the community for help, say what you are offering, honestly. It can be any of these:

• nothing expected;
• a coffee or a drink;
• a meal;
• returning the favour;
• a small thank-you payment;
• paid work;
• we can agree together.

A favour is one thing. A week of pet sitting is another. Think about the time, the skill and the responsibility you are asking someone to take on — if it is substantial work, professional expertise, or looking after a living thing, offer to pay for it properly.

We may require a request to be posted as paid work where calling it a favour would be taking advantage of somebody.

Before any work begins, both people should have agreed:

• what is being done, and what is not;
• the price, and when it is paid;
• when it happens, and by when it is finished;
• who covers expenses;
• what happens if either of you cancels.

A disagreement afterwards is between the two of you. Serious misconduct is something to report to us.

bayn is not a healthcare provider and is not a crisis service. A therapist or any other health professional listed here is responsible for deciding whether they are legally and professionally able to see a particular member at all, including across a border.

If you need urgent medical or psychological help, use the emergency or health services where you are. Do not wait on a message here.

• anything unlawful;
• regulated work without the licence it requires;
• sexual services;
• anything violent or dangerous;
• anything discriminatory;
• academic cheating;
• anything that helps somebody exploit another person.