Safety Guide
Stay safe while buying and selling on TiguleMarketplace
Buyer Safety
Protect yourself when making purchases on our platform:
- Always verify seller profiles and reviews
- Ask detailed questions about the item
- Request additional photos if needed
- Use secure payment methods
- Meet in public places for local pickups
Seller Protection
Keep yourself safe while selling your items:
- Verify buyer profiles before meeting
- Meet in well-lit, public locations
- Bring a friend for high-value transactions
- Don't share personal information unnecessarily
- Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, don't proceed
Payment Safety
Use secure payment methods to protect your money:
- Prefer cash for local transactions
- Use mobile money services (Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba)
- Avoid wire transfers to unknown accounts
- Never send money before seeing the item
- Keep receipts of all transactions
Safe Meetings
Guidelines for safe in-person transactions:
- Meet during daylight hours
- Choose busy, public locations
- Inform someone about your meeting
- Bring a friend for expensive items
- Inspect items thoroughly before payment
Scam Prevention
Watch out for these common red flags:
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Sellers asking for payment upfront
- Requests to communicate outside the platform
- Pressure to make quick decisions
- Unwillingness to provide additional photos
Report Issues
Help keep our community safe by reporting suspicious activity:
- Report fake listings immediately
- Flag suspicious user behavior
- Contact us about safety concerns
- Share details of any scams encountered
- Help other users by leaving honest reviews
Service Provider & Customer Safety
Important safety guidelines for hiring and providing professional services
Hiring Service Providers Safely
Protect yourself when hiring professionals:
- Check service provider reviews and ratings thoroughly
- Verify qualifications, licenses, and certifications
- Get written quotes before agreeing to work
- Agree on payment terms and timelines upfront
- Ask for references from previous customers
- Ensure they have appropriate insurance (for major work)
- Keep all agreements and receipts for your records
- Never pay the full amount before work begins
- Communicate through the platform when possible
- Report unprofessional or dangerous behavior
Providing Services Safely
Stay safe when offering professional services:
- Meet customers in public places for initial consultations
- Verify customer identity before visiting their property
- Share your work schedule with someone you trust
- Get clear agreements about work scope and payment
- Trust your instincts - decline suspicious requests
- Carry proper identification and credentials
- Use platform messaging for record-keeping
- Set professional boundaries with customers
- Don't work alone in unfamiliar or isolated locations
- Report threatening or inappropriate customer behavior
Service Quality & Standards
Ensure professional service delivery:
- Provide clear descriptions of services offered
- Set realistic expectations about timelines
- Communicate any delays or issues promptly
- Use quality materials and proper techniques
- Complete work to professional standards
- Respect customer property and privacy
- Provide warranties or guarantees when applicable
- Document work with photos (before/after)
- Address customer concerns professionally
- Follow up to ensure customer satisfaction
Handling Service Disputes
Resolve service-related issues properly:
- Attempt direct communication first
- Document all work done and agreements made
- Keep receipts, photos, and message records
- Contact platform support for mediation
- Be willing to negotiate fair solutions
- For major disputes, seek professional assessment
- Leave honest reviews to help other users
- Report fraud or serious violations immediately
- Consider legal action for unresolved major issues
- Learn from the experience to avoid future problems
Important Service Safety Notice
TiguleMarketplace is a platform connecting you with service providers. We do NOT employ these professionals or verify their credentials. Always conduct your own due diligence before hiring anyone.
You are an independent professional. Maintain appropriate licenses, insurance, and qualifications. Follow all applicable laws and regulations for your profession in Malawi.
Need Help Immediately?
If you feel unsafe or encounter suspicious behavior, contact us right away!
Available 24/7 for safety concerns