Got a reference on your profile that doesn't seem right? If you think it crosses the line and violates Couchsurfing's guidelines, you can flag it for the Trust and Safety team to take a look.
How Do I Report a Reference?
Every reference on your profile has a report option. Here's how to find it.
On mobile:
- Go to your profile and tap References
- Find the reference you want to report
- Tap the three dots in the right-hand corner of the reference
- Tap Report and follow the prompts to submit
On the web:
- Go to your profile and click References
- Find the reference you want to report
- Click the three dots in the right-hand corner of the reference
- Click Report and follow the prompts to submit
You'll get a confirmation message once your report is in. When you submit, make sure to include: a link to your profile, the name of the member whose reference you're disputing, and the specific guideline(s) you think it violates. That gives the team everything they need to review it quickly.
One Thing to Know: You can only report references left on your own profile.
When Can a Reference Be Removed?
Couchsurfing doesn't usually step in on reference content — the system is designed to let both sides share their honest experience. But in rare cases, a reference may be censored, temporarily hidden, or removed if it clearly breaks the rules.
A reference may be removed if:
- Couchsurfing receives a court or law enforcement order to remove it
- The reference reflects the experience of someone other than the author
- The reference discloses private contact information, a medical condition, or a legal circumstance
- The reference is verifiably false, based on information within the Couchsurfing system
- The reference is anonymous (for example, left from a blank or fake profile created solely to leave it)
- There was no direct interaction between the author and the recipient, either in person or through the platform
- There are multiple references for the same completed stay from the same member; in that case, the first Stay Reference left will be kept
- The reference is clearly retaliatory, posted after the 14-day double-blind period solely in response to seeing the other member's published Stay Reference
What If I Disagree With a Reference But It Doesn't Violate the Guidelines?
You've got a voice here. You can add a response to the reference directly on your profile. One response per reference, and you can edit or delete it anytime. It's your chance to share your side of the story publicly.
One Thing to Know: Couchsurfing generally can't verify the accuracy of references that describe offline interactions. The team will only step in when a clear policy violation has occurred. If it's a disagreement about what happened, your response to the reference is the right place to share your perspective.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.