In order to trade, you need to be a full member of Furzedown LETS. Use the How to Join link on the left side to find out how to become a full member. The following instructions assume that you are already a full member.

1. Enter your offers and wants on the Offers and Wants page. Be creative and list all your skills, etc. Download the Inspiration List from the Downloads page for ideas. Tip: When entering your offers and wants, make the title as descriptive as possible. For example, if it's urgent, include the text "Urgent" in the title, etc. Indicate the standard of services you are offering. There are three standards - Professional, Competent and Willing. You decide which level is appropriate. Bear in mind that when offering a service, you are offering to do this to the best standard you can. By doing a job well you are more likely to be recommended and vice versa. The Golden Rule is to ask yourself 'Would I be happy with this'!

2. Study the offers and wants that other people have entered. Use the Offer Type and Category selectors at the top of the page to make the list more manageable. Click the magnifying glass on the left of each item to view the full description and contact details of the member.

3. Choose the item or service you want and then contact the member offering or wanting the service to discuss availability, price etc. and confirm the details if they agree to trade with you. Just like when you use the Yellow Pages, you need to satisfy yourself that you trust your trading partner and that any legal requirements, such as insurance, etc. (if relevant) are met. If relevant, ask about qualifications and experience or ask to see references.

4. Trade / use the service.

5. After the trade is complete or if the trade takes place over a number of months, at key points during the trade (see note below), you must fill out a Furzedown LETS credit note (you can download these as a Word document from the Downloads page and then print them yourself) and make it payable to the member who has supplied the trade – the 'seller', and give it to them. If you agreed that part of the payment would be in cash, this part of the transaction is between you and your trading partner and you do not need to notify Furzedown LETS of that part of the transaction.

6. Always keep a record of your LETS spending.

7. The 'seller' is responsible for sending the credit notes they receive for their services to Furzedown LETS c/o 63 Dahomey Road, London, SW16 6NB. (If this is not done, the central accounts cannot be updated with credits earned.)

8. If the thing you traded was a "one-off" item (e.g. you wanted someone to feed your cat while you were on holiday or you traded your child's old bike), delete the item on the Offers and Wants page. When you click the magnifying glass icon on one of your own items, there is a Delete button at the bottom.

And that's it!

Note: If the trade takes a number of months to complete you may want to split it into instalments. For example, suppose you loan a child's car seat to another member for three months. You may want to split the payment into two halves, one of which is made at the start and the other at the end of the transaction.

Trading Tips
  • Get started as soon as possible, do not worry about 'debts'.
  • Be clear about what you want or expect and what you are offering.
  • If you are paying part cash and part Furze, clarify exactly how much each will cost before trading.
  • Ask about qualifications or experience before trading if this concerns you. Members have various levels of competence and it is your responsibility to assure yourself they are capable of the service you want.
  • If a job involves a potential risk, for example plumbing or electrics, you should ensure you are aware of any insurance liabilities should the worst happen. A professional may well have separate insurance to cover liability, but a non-professional might not hold insurance against damage. Always check insurance details if this concerns you.
  • Always respect and treat other members as you would wish to be respected and treated yourself.
  • Be open and honest. You are never under any obligation to agree to a trade. If you cannot do something because you are too busy, say this up front. It is acceptable to turn down trades but not to let people down after agreeing to trade.
  • Help run the group – it's the best way to have your say.
  • Tell others about the benefits and encourage them to join. The more members we have, the more skills and services on offer and people to trade with.