CouchsurfingReviews of couchsurfing.com

After having enjoyed the service for many years, I stopped my membership in Couchsurfing. The 'normal behavior' of surfers is not to reply as soon as they find another hosting opportunity. Even hosting offered on 'public trips' will go unanswered... Not even a 'thank you for considering'. It makes me feel like a disposable and that is not what I like. I have been a member of hospitality groups since the 80s, but this is not the group that I want to be part of.

I recently gave the Couchsurfing app a try, and it's safe to say that I now understand why it has garnered such low ratings on platforms like Trustpilot (1.1 stars) and Google Play (2.6 stars). While the concept of Couchsurfing initially seemed like a fantastic way to connect with people and find affordable accommodation, my experience left me questioning the legitimacy and safety of this platform. The primary issue I encountered on Couchsurfing is the prevalence of freeloaders who blatantly abuse the system. Instead of offering a "couch" to crash on, many users on this app seem more interested in securing a completely free private room. This completely goes against the spirit of Couchsurfing, which is meant to be about sharing experiences and forming connections, not just finding a free place to stay. To make matters worse, if you encounter a guest who proves to be problematic or rude, and you decide to address the issue and ask them to leave, be prepared for potential retaliation. Many users resort to writing revenge references or reports, making it challenging for hosts to maintain a positive reputation on the platform. It's especially frustrating that these revenge reports are sometimes unfairly favored towards guests, causing harm to the reputation of well-intentioned hosts. Additionally, there is a disturbing trend of gender bias on Couchsurfing. Male hosts seem to be at a higher risk of being banned from the platform, as they are often accused of inappropriate behavior or intentions without proper evidence or due process. This unfair bias not only damages the reputation of genuine male hosts but also raises questions about the platform's commitment to fairness and safety. Contrary to its name, Couchsurfing is not entirely free. While you can use some features without payment, there is a subscription model that offers additional perks for a fee. This adds to the sense of deception, as the platform often portrays itself as entirely free. Furthermore, the prevalence of fake accounts and the lack of robust verification processes raise serious safety concerns for both males and females using the app. The reviews on the platform highlight numerous instances of uncomfortable and even dangerous encounters, leaving users feeling vulnerable. In conclusion, the overwhelmingly negative reviews of Couchsurfing cannot be dismissed as baseless complaints. There are genuine issues with freeloaders, revenge references, gender bias, and safety concerns on this platform. My experience, combined with the reviews of many others, paints a bleak picture of what was once a promising idea. Before considering Couchsurfing, I would strongly advise potential users to read the reviews and carefully weigh the risks and benefits. Your safety and peace of mind should always come first.

I had just became a member of Couchsurfing.com to become more involved in the travel community, I felt OK paying the 14 € yearly fee they require as it was reasonable on September the 27th. 2023. I received a receipt in my email and all was well. I completed my profile and did not re-entered my credit card information nor did I save the information on the site (saving it was not an option). Not even a minute later I get a notification they charged me 56 €. When I asked the Support for a refund, they told me this is not possible. In the European Union you have 14 days to cancel any online transaction and within the first 7 days you don’t have to give an explanation. Paywalling a homepage is also illegal in Europe.

Bonjour, Étant tombé dans le piège également des 56€, je les harcèle depuis plus d'un mois pour récupérer mon argent. Il est hors de question que mes 56€ aillent dans les poches d'une société qui ne fait pas preuve d'honnêteté envers les clients. Je suis donc en train de les spammer de mails à toutes leurs adresses e-mail : support at couchsurfing.com, privacy at couchsurfing.com, couchsurfing at datarep.com, stripe at couchsurfing.com S'ils ne veulent pas me rembourser, alors on doit agir ! C'est 56€, juste pour une vérification cela n'a aucun sens. D'autant qu'ayant travaillé pour la RGPD française, leur site internet n'est pas du tout aux normes en termes de légalité.

It was good service, I have hosted before pandemic several dozen people via CS. And I would be glad to invite new travelers. But now this service does not allow you to invite people to your place without a subscription. Why should hosters, in addition to inviting guests free of charge, have to pay for it? Hosters are the basis of couchsurfing, thanks to them this whole system is supported.

This company seems to have a history in ripping off people and i am absolutely determined to go further with this as they just charged me for a subscripition i asked to be cancelled an year ago when i first tried it for which i paid almost £60-70 as a first time fee or smth like that and once i actually tried it for a few days and i understood the system did not fit my needs i asked for a refund and subscription cancellation and they denied it throwing in my face terms and conditions. Now, for the second time, this greedy company told me i accessed the app which I didnt and even forgot about it until i saw the charge in my email and when i requested my refund as the system failed in their advantage and i didnt even use the app so i unwillingly paid for a new subsciption whcih as a reply to my tefind request they cancelled my subscirption immediatly but refused to give me my money back!!!! So in their business politics people unwillingly pay for a service they are able to cancel in just a sec but not pay back due to their system errors Completely unsustainable company built on making USE of sustainability principles and on greedy ass decision to just rip off people.

cancelled my suscription months ago and still taking money from my bank account. Don't suscribe !

I made 56€ by mistake because I already contributed a fee of 3.5 € and i got confused. Why do they have a verification of 56€ after 3.5€, this is misleading. Be careful! Thanks