Is the Travel Assistant protected from liability?
Although gross negligence on the Travel Assistant's part will likely not
maintain the same protections afforded in the Terms of Service, the Travel
Clients agree via the Trip Trustees platform to the following excerpt:
"TRAVEL CLIENTS ALSO AGREE THAT THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY APPLIES TO ANY
POTENTIAL DAMAGES OR CLAIMS OF TRAVEL CLIENTS AGAINST TRAVEL ASSISTANTS.
TRIP TRUSTEES’ RIGHTS AND DEFENSES TO LIABILITY, INCLUDING THIS LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY, SHALL INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF TRIP TRUSTEES TRAVEL
ASSISTANTS, WHO SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY TO TRAVEL CLIENTS WHICH IS GREATER
THAN OR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF TRIP TRUSTEES."
Your Travel Facilitator Services start even before you depart on your trip
Make yourself the Conductor
One of the best ways to make your Travel Client feel confident about taking
a trip is to lead by example. By displaying your own confidence and
positivity, your attitude will be contagious.
Safety is your # 1 job
Ensure your Travel Client is safe and secure and that your Travel Client
knows how to contact you if you must run an errand without them. Of course,
ask for their permission to do so first. Make sure they acknowledge and
that they understand how long you plan to be gone and make sure their
immediate area and situation is safe before leaving. Provide a means for
the Travel Client to contact you to the maximum extent possible.
Plan an On-time Arrival
Punctuality is a great indication of your planning prowess. Suggest and
earlier start if you think your Travel Client would benefit from a slower,
less stressful pace.
Be Resourceful
No matter how carefully you plan, dilemmas may come up. Make sure your
Travel Client knows you’ll do your best to find solutions to the unknowns
that pop up during a trip.
Remind the Travel Clients of anything you feel is important such as packing
sufficient personal supplies for the trip, including sunscreen, bug
repellent and medications.
Travel Assistant Standards
Personal Standards can help you earn terrific reviews for your exceptional,
dependable Travel Facilitator Services. The feedback that your Travel
Clients provide will help others see if you are meeting the needs of your
Clients. The better the ratings, the more you’ll be in demand in your local
area.
Updated Availability
You should be able to commit to your calendar. If your availability should
change, update your calendar as soon as practicable.
If you're flexible you may want to consider being available for all the
trips in your area. You can always say no.
Acceptance & Response Rate
Your Response Rate is the number of times that you responded within 24
hours of a Travel Clients Initial Trip Request message compared to the
total number of requests you’ve received. If you do not respond within 24
hour on a regular basis as determined by Trip Trustees, your Listing may be
temporarily deactivated to limit discouraging an excessive number of Travel
Clients.
Every time a client contacts you, responding quickly shows that you’re an
attentive and considerate Travel Assistant.
Respond to Trip Requests as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours
after you first receive the Trip Request Message to maintain a favorable
response rate.
If you’re not interested in a trip after seeing the Clients Trip Summary be
sure to decline promptly, allowing ample time for the Travel Client to find
another Travel Assistant.
Communication
Provide guidance that addresses situations that will matter to you. For
example, if you don’t want Travel Clients to smoke in enclosed spaces you
occupy, tell them in advance.
Let them know if there are limits. For example, if you’re not comfortable
with nasal cannulas, oxygen bottles, cognitive disorders, pushing a wheel
chair, mobile homes or camping accommodations, etc.
Establish a Point of Contact for your Travel Client
If your Travel Client has appointed a family member or friend as a Point of
Contact that they would like to keep updated during the trip, remind the
client to touch base with their Point of Contact. You may also ask
permission to give the updates yourself. Some clients won’t be as familiar
with cell phones or email as you are.
Commitment to a Confirmed Trip
If you confirm a Trip Request and something about your availability
changes, tell your Travel Client as soon as possible. The Travel Client may
be flexible and able to alter dates of travel instead of cancelling
altogether.
When you confirm that you’ll provide Travel Facilitator Services for
someone, they’re relying on you to care carry through. An unexpected change
in availability can be very disruptive.
However, when there is a qualifying Extenuating Circumstance, Trip Trustees
may make an exception to the Travel Assistant cancellation penalties.
We want Travel Clients who use Trip Trustees to feel confident in their
plans, so cancellations are taken seriously. Try to avoid cancellations to
avoid not only disappointing Travel Clients, but also financial and rating
penalties assessed on the Travel Assistant.
Client Involvement
Keeping everyone involved in each decision along the way usually produces
the best Travel Client experience.
Give your Travel Clients clear, simple explanations of choices and options
and always allow them to participate in the decisions.
Accuracy
Sharing clear expectations before a trip helps to ensure you and the Travel
Client will make a good fit. Creating an informative profile and listing
will attract Travel Clients who more favorably align themselves with your
personality, style and expectations.
Use a high-quality photo and provide a good description of yourself.
Be honest about factors that will impact your Travel Client’s trip
If you’ll need to stay in constant touch with your family or friends by
texting or frequently checking Facebook or making phone calls your clients
deserve to know ahead of time. Unless it’s an emergency or done on a
limited basis, this type of distraction may deter some clients from
confirming a Trip Request. Others may be fine with it.
Travel Clients use the accuracy rating to trust they’ll meet the person
described in your profile and listing.
Your Travel Facilitator Services
One of the things that makes your Travel Facilitator Services preferred is
your set of personal qualities such as flexibility, resourcefulness,
responsibility and compassion.
Services you’re willing to provide should be clearly stated in your
profile, or discussed ahead of time. If you’re willing to drive when
needed, let the client know. If you’re willing to participate in planning
the trip details with the client, tell them. If you can help the client
stay in touch with their family, are bilingual or have past experience
with, or a special place in your heart for seniors, children or pets, let
them know.
Your Price
A competitive daily rate will be important to the Travel Client, but most
important will be the trust and integrity you offer. A lower rate may be
appropriate until you have established enough Travel Client reviews to
fetch a higher rate.
Appearance
A well kempt Travel Assistant exudes pride. If ever in doubt remember,
business casual or appropriate wear for the climate will help make the best
first impression. It’s gracious to ask your Travel Client if the attire you
plan to wear on the trip would be appropriate, even before the trip begins.
Overall Experience
You Travel Client will have the opportunity to rate their overall
experience traveling with you. The rating will appear when future Travel
Client search for Travel Assistants in your area, so a high overall rating
will make you stand out amongst your peers.
Travel Clients will remember you for the little things and details you take
care of for them.
Some Travel Clients will be out of their element when traveling, so try to
anticipate what they’ll want, what they’ll find confusing, and how you can
offer help and guidance along the way.
Personalize each Travel Client’s experience to suit their travel needs and
personality
Ask for feedback on how you could improve your Travel Facilitator Services.
Can I decide what dates I travel?
Yes, you can always decline trips you are not interested in or for which
you are not available.
How long do I have to respond to the initial Trip Request Message?
You must respond to the Travel Client’s initial Trip Request within 24
hours. You’ll get to see the Client’s Trip Detail Summary to help you
decide if you have any interest initially and would like to discuss it
further with the Travel Client.
Responding to the Initial Trip Request and messaging, even meeting in
person, does not commit you to the trip. It simply lets you start
discussing the trip with the Travel Client.
Go to your account and decline the Pending Trip immediately if you’re not
interested.
Messaging back and forth on the Trip Trustees platform can allow you to ask
questions and learn more about the trip and whether or not you’re
interested in pursuing it before possibly meeting in person.
When is a Trip Committed?
Neither party is committed to the trip until after both the Members have
returned to their accounts, individually, and made their final confirmation
to accept the trip. You must “accept/approve” or “decline” each trip you
are offered.
Do We have to Meet In Person?
No. Although the best assurance one can have is to know the person you plan
to travel with, you are not required to meet in person before committing.
We feel that being able to meet in person before committing to a trip, is
the one of the most important features of the concept of Travel Assistants
of local origin. Both parties benefit immensely from meeting each other
before committing to travel together. We want the experience to be a good
one for everyone involved.
Can Changes Be Made to a Confirmed Trip Request?
Yes, either the Travel Client or Travel Assistant can request from the
other party to make changes. Changes are much preferred over cancellations.
The changes must be mutually agreed upon by both the Travel Client and
Travel Assistant. If plans change, cost and earnings may also change if the
trip is lengthened or shortened. Ensure the Trip updates are accurate in
your account so Trip Trustees may adjust the amount collected from the
Travel Client and the amount paid to the Travel Assistant.
Providing Identification on Trip Trustees
Identity verification is kept confidential and is crucial to making the
Trip Trustees community safer for everyone.
All Members will be asked to provide a valid email address, phone number,
physical address, government ID with a photo (ex. driver’s license,
passport), and a valid profile picture for comparison.
Travel Assistants are additionally asked for a photo of their occupational
license (ex. Register Nurse, Fire Fighter, Law enforcement…) that clearly
shows their professional license number, state of issue and expiration
date. We will verify that your license is currently active and/or in good
standing. We will also ask you to give us permission to conduct a
background check.
What does this Verification Process Guarantee?
Other than doing our best to verify someone’s identity, the verification
process does not guarantee someone’s identity or that they present no
safety issues. It is incumbent on each member individually to use their
best judgment in deciding how, or if, they wish to proceed.
Travel Assistants are not employees of Trip Trustees. They act as
independent contractors. The introduction of Travel Clients and Travel
Assistants through the Trip Trustees platform is not an endorsement of
either party.
What Will Other Trip Trustees Members See?
Trip Trustees users and Members will be able to see your profile photo and
profile name, daily rate, the ratings you receive from Travel Clients and
any special details you provide about yourself and your services.
Privacy of Information
We use updated encrypted technology to ensure all information that we
collect from you remains secure. For details see our Privacy Policy.
How we use your Identification?
Our service providers may conduct background, criminal record, domestic
violence history, and driving record checks, as well as search sex offender
registrations. Additionally, for Travel Assistants, we may verify your
Occupational License (or DD-214 for retired military) to ensure it is in an
active status or in good standing in the state that you’re are registered.
While these checks mitigate many of the risks involved and deter fraud on
our platform, they do not guarantee that Trip Trustees users or Members
will be safe or without issues of concern. Good judgment and a thorough
familiarity of other Members is incumbent upon all Members who interact
with each other.
What if a Travel Assistant has to Cancel?
Because cancellations disrupt Travel Clients' plans and impact confidence
in the Trip Trustees community, penalties may apply.
When do I get Paid?
A Travel Assistant is paid after 24 hours has elapsed past the date of the
Trip’s scheduled completion.
Do I Have to Refund a Travel Client if They Complain?
It will be your responsibility as an independent contractor to try to work
out any issues before the Trip Trustees customer service department
attempts to propose a resolution, which would be binding by both parties as
per our Terms.
What if I Disagree with a Review?
Unless a review violates our User Conduct or Content Policies, we will not
censor reviews, but you may post a response to the review.
