Effective Date: Dec 16, 2025
1. Acceptance of Terms
Your participation in the Long Beach Time Exchange (“LBTE”) requires acceptance of these LBTE Terms of Use, as well as the hOurworld.org platform Terms of Use, and the hOurworld.org platform Privacy Policy.
You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to participate in LBTE, unless you are under the direct supervision of an adult. By participating, you represent that you meet this age requirement or are properly supervised.
2. Code of Ethics
As a member of the Long Beach Time Exchange community, you agree to abide by the following code of ethics and conduct standards:
2.1 Core Commitments
You agree to:
- Recognize that your service is voluntary
- Respect your exchange partner’s home, property, and valuables
- Use the hOurworld database to log your time exchanges, or arrange to have another member or LBTE coordinator log your exchanges for you
- Seek out, via the hOurworld database, offers from other members that appeal to you
2.2 Prohibited Conduct
You agree NOT to:
- Ask for or accept money or tips for time exchange services
- Use the time exchange to sell for-profit services or engage in commercial activities
- Use LBTE for resale, rental, or other commercial purposes
- Smoke or use drugs in a member’s home without explicit permission
- Bring pets to any exchange partner’s home unless invited to do so
- Engage in any illegal activity or conduct that would violate any local, state, or federal laws or ordinances
- Engage in transactions involving any sexual conduct
- Engage in any offensive, fraudulent, dishonest, harassing, or inappropriate conduct
- Impersonate any person or misrepresent your qualifications
- Share financial information with other members
- Violate the privacy and confidentiality of other members
2.3 Member Conduct Guidelines
You agree to:
- Clarify all details of any time transaction before meeting with your exchange partner
- Make sure the other person understands what you are going to do before you start
- Contact the other member in advance if you must cancel
- Be patient and open, rather than critical and hurried
- Respect others’ religions, beliefs, and political viewpoints
- Pay for any parts, supplies, ingredients, or materials if requesting a service
- Check with landlords before arranging repairs if you are renting
- Wear seat belts when transporting or being transported by members
- Dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency
- Verify a member’s skills, background, and training as needed
- Disclose your own skill level honestly
2.4 Privacy and Confidentiality
All members must protect the privacy and confidentiality of other LBTE members. A member can be dismissed from LBTE for violating this rule. The only exception for sharing information is when a member believes that the health and/or safety of another member is in danger. LBTE reserves the right to share information as required by law or to protect the safety of our members and community.
2.5 Exchange Practices
Both parties involved in a time exchange should decide which person will log the interaction online through hOurworld. Accurate and timely logging helps maintain the integrity of our time banking system. The hOurworld platform provides in-context help for logging exchanges.
3. Waiver of Liability
You understand and agree that:
LBTE Does Not Guarantee Services: The Long Beach Time Exchange is a coordinated group of volunteers and cannot guarantee the performance of anyone who is referred. LBTE does not provide criminal background checks, screenings, or verification of member skills, licensing, or representations. You must take all necessary precautions in all interactions with other members.
Assumption of Risk: Your participation in LBTE involves services such as transportation, childcare, eldercare, plumbing, etc. It is your responsibility to ascertain the giver’s competency to their level of comfort. You understand that expenses for any materials used will be your responsibility and expenses will be agreed upon before the service is delivered.
Release from Liability: You understand that LBTE cannot be held responsible for any injury to persons, whether physical or psychological, or damage to property experienced while participating in the program. You agree to indemnify and hold LBTE harmless, as well as its officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, and volunteers, from any and all claims, injuries, or losses resulting from participation in any program transactions and/or activities.
Insurance Requirements:
- If you use your personal vehicle to transport LBTE members, you agree to maintain adequate automobile liability insurance in accordance with California law and to keep such insurance in effect at all times
- If you offer services of a professional nature through LBTE, you agree to comply with all applicable training, certification, and insurance requirements for such services
4. Time Credit Policies
Valuation: One hour of service equals one time credit, regardless of the type of service provided. Time credits can be given in 15-minute increments. In general, round up when giving time credits.
Spending Time Credits: Prior to setting up a service, exchange partners should come to a mutual agreement on the approximate number of time credits to be used in the transaction.
Travel Time: If travel time to a location is greater than 15 minutes, credit for both directions of travel should be given as part of the exchange.
Balance: Ideally, all members should aim to maintain a neutral balance over time. However, this is a long-term goal. You may need more help at certain points in your life, and that’s okay. It’s also okay to have a negative balance from time to time. For those who constantly give, remember that requesting help allows others to earn time credits while connecting with you.
5. Organization and Group Accounts
LBTE welcomes partnerships with community-based organizations. Organizations should elect a representative to coordinate exchanges on their behalf and ensure that participants log all time exchanged. Small organizations are permitted to carry a negative balance as “good employers” who keep the time exchange going, but are also encouraged to reciprocate through workshops, community events, providing spaces, and in-kind donations to LBTE.
6. Account Termination and Removal
LBTE reserves the right to terminate your membership and remove your access to LBTE services for violation of these Terms of Use, the Code of Ethics, or for conduct that LBTE determines, in its sole discretion, to be harmful to other members or the LBTE community. This is separate from and in addition to any account termination rights held by hOurworld for the platform itself.
7. Member Feedback
If you have a positive experience you’d like to share, or a complaint about a specific time bank member or the process itself, please contact LBTE as soon as possible via phone, mail, or email so we can address it promptly.
8. Dispute Resolution
Any disputes arising from or relating to your participation in LBTE activities, exchanges with other LBTE members, or these LBTE Terms of Use shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. You agree that the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any such disputes, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.
9. Modifications to Terms
LBTE may update these Terms of Use from time to time. Members will be notified of any material changes as soon as practicable. Your continued membership constitutes your consent and agreement to follow and be bound by any updated terms.
10. Contact Information
For questions about these Terms of Use or LBTE membership:
Email: lbtimeexchange@gmail.com
Phone: (562) 270-3928 (please leave a voicemail)
Website: https://timeexchangelb.com/
Platform: https://hourworld.org/
By joining the Long Beach Time Exchange, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these LBTE Terms of Use, as well as the hOurworld.org platform Terms of Use, and the hOurworld.org platform Privacy Policy.