Safety Guidelines

Your safety is important to us. Please read these guidelines carefully before using MeetLocalGuru to find or offer tutoring services.

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Important: Please Read

MeetLocalGuru is a discovery platform only. We connect students with tutors but do not employ, supervise, or control any tutor. We do not conduct criminal background checks or guarantee the safety of any user. All in-person meetings are at your own risk. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of your children.

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For Parents & Students

🔍 Before Hiring a Tutor

  • Do your own research. Don't rely solely on the platform's verification badge. Independently verify the tutor's identity, qualifications, and references before engaging them.
  • Check credentials directly. Contact educational institutions to confirm degrees and certificates. Ask for references from previous students or parents.
  • Have a video call first. Before meeting in person, schedule a video call to get a sense of the tutor's personality, teaching style, and professionalism.
  • Ask questions. Inquire about their teaching experience, methods, availability, and how they handle different learning needs. A genuine tutor will be open and transparent.
  • Read reviews carefully. Look for patterns in reviews — both positive and negative. Be cautious of tutors with no reviews or only generic praise.

🤝 First Meeting Safety

  • Meet in a public place first. For your initial meeting, choose a public location like a library, café, or community center — not your home.
  • Bring someone with you. Have a family member or friend accompany you to the first meeting, or at least inform someone of where you're going and when.
  • Share the tutor's details. Send the tutor's name, phone number, profile link, and meeting location to a trusted person before the meeting.
  • Trust your instincts. If anything feels off or uncomfortable during the meeting, leave immediately. You are under no obligation to continue.

🏠 During Home Tutoring Sessions

  • Stay in common areas. Conduct sessions in shared/open areas of your home (living room, dining area) — not in bedrooms or isolated rooms.
  • Keep doors open. Ensure the tutoring space has an open door and is accessible to other family members.
  • Be present or nearby. A parent or guardian should always be at home during tutoring sessions, especially for younger students.
  • Check in regularly. Periodically check on the session, even if you're in another room. Ask your child how the session went afterward.
  • Set clear boundaries. Establish ground rules about session timing, breaks, and acceptable behavior from the beginning.

🚨 Red Flags — Stop Immediately If:

  • The tutor refuses to share their real identity or credentials.
  • They insist on meeting alone, in isolated locations, or at unusual hours.
  • They ask for large upfront payments, personal financial details, or access to your devices.
  • They make inappropriate comments, use physical contact, or behave unprofessionally.
  • They try to establish personal/romantic relationships with students or family members.
  • They discourage you from being present during sessions or insist on closed doors.
  • Your child seems uncomfortable, anxious, or reluctant to attend sessions.
  • Their qualifications, experience, or information doesn't match what was stated on their profile.
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Child & Minor Safety

For Parents of Minor Students (Under 18)

  • A parent or guardian must ALWAYS be present during tutoring sessions involving minor students, especially during the first few sessions with a new tutor.
  • Never leave your child alone with a tutor you haven't thoroughly vetted over multiple sessions.
  • Teach your children about appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Encourage them to speak up immediately if they feel uncomfortable.
  • Use accounts managed by parents. For children under 13, the parent must create and manage the account. Children should not communicate directly with tutors without parental oversight.
  • Monitor online interactions. If your child communicates with a tutor via messaging, review the conversations regularly.
  • Report any concerning behavior immediately — both to local authorities (dial 112) and to MeetLocalGuru at localgurustartup@gmail.com.

Tips for Young Students

  • Always have a parent nearby during your tutoring sessions.
  • Tell your parents immediately if your tutor says or does anything that makes you uncomfortable.
  • Never share personal information like your school address, daily schedule, passwords, or photos with your tutor beyond what's needed for learning.
  • It's okay to say no. If your tutor asks you to do something that doesn't feel right, you can always say no and tell your parents.
  • Study in open areas of your home, not in closed rooms.
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For Tutors

Professional Conduct

  • Maintain professional boundaries at all times. Your relationship with students and parents should remain strictly professional.
  • Be transparent about your qualifications, experience, and teaching approach. Never misrepresent your credentials.
  • Complete your verification. Getting verified builds trust. Submit accurate, genuine documents for verification.
  • Respect personal space and privacy. Don't access areas of a student's home beyond the designated tutoring space. Don't take photos or record sessions without explicit consent.
  • Be punctual and reliable. Honor your scheduled sessions and communicate promptly about any changes.

Your Own Safety

  • Share your schedule with a trusted friend or family member — let them know where you're going and when you expect to return.
  • Verify the student/parent. Before visiting a new student's home, have a video call or phone call to confirm their identity and discuss expectations.
  • Meet in public first. If possible, arrange the first meeting at a neutral, public location.
  • Trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or uncomfortable, leave immediately. You have no obligation to continue a session.
  • Avoid late-night sessions. Schedule sessions during reasonable daylight hours, especially for new students.
  • Don't share unnecessary personal information like your home address, financial details, or social media accounts with students/parents.

Working with Minor Students

  • Insist on a parent/guardian being present during sessions, especially for younger children and initial sessions with new students.
  • Conduct sessions in open, visible areas. Never close doors or move to isolated spaces with a minor student.
  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact. Maintain appropriate physical distance at all times.
  • Communicate through parents. For minor students, all scheduling and communication should go through the parent or guardian — not directly to the child.
  • Report concerning situations. If you observe signs of abuse, neglect, or concerning behavior in a student's home, report it to the appropriate authorities.
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Reporting & Emergencies

How to Report an Issue

  • Report to MeetLocalGuru: Email us at localgurustartup@gmail.com with details of the incident, the user involved, and any supporting evidence (screenshots, messages, etc.).
  • Report to Law Enforcement: For any criminal activity, harassment, assault, or immediate danger, contact local police immediately by dialing 112 (India emergency number). Do NOT rely solely on reporting to MeetLocalGuru.
  • Child Safety Helpline: If a child is in danger, call 1098 (Childline India) or 112 for immediate assistance.
  • Women's Helpline: For harassment or violence against women, call 181 or 1091.

In Case of Emergency

Police / Emergency

112

Childline India

1098

Women's Helpline

181

MeetLocalGuru

localgurustartup@gmail.com

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What MeetLocalGuru Does & Doesn't Do

✅ What We Do

  • Provide a platform to discover and connect with tutors
  • Offer optional identity verification (document review)
  • Enable in-app messaging for initial communication
  • Display tutor profiles, reviews, and ratings
  • Investigate reports of policy violations
  • Cooperate with law enforcement when required

❌ What We Don't Do

  • Employ, supervise, or control any tutor
  • Conduct criminal background checks or police verification
  • Guarantee 100% accuracy of verification or documents
  • Guarantee the safety, identity, or trustworthiness of any user
  • Mediate disputes or financial transactions between users
  • Accept liability for incidents during in-person meetings

Remember: MeetLocalGuru is a discovery platform — not a tutoring agency. All in-person meetings and tutoring arrangements are made at your own risk and responsibility. Always conduct your own due diligence, supervise sessions involving minors, and report any concerns immediately. Your safety is in your hands.

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