FAQ/Help

Glossary

"Account"  - your "bank" of time credits and your user information

"Make A Payment" - the sending of time credits for a service received from another member

"Log A Transaction" - to acknowledge the exchange, and allow the system to send or receive time credits

"Offer" - services you would like to offer to other members in exchange for time credits

"Want" - services you would like to receive from other members in exchange for time credits

 

How do I?

Update my member profile

  1. In the right hand column, underneath your name, you’ll find “My account.”
  2. Click and it will take you to a page that lists your account information. Click the “My Info” tab in the dark bar under your name.
  3. Change any info you would like to.
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit “Save.”
  5. The page will refresh, and there will be a banner at the top above our name that says “message: The changes have been saved.” If you still need help, please open this tutorial with screenshots: How to Update Your Profile. You may find it helpful to open it in a new window and look at it side by side as you work.

Create an Offer or a Want

  1. In the right hand column, underneath your name, you’ll find “Register offer” or “Register want”
  2. Click and it will take you to a page where you can fill out a form.
  3. Fill out the fields “I have” and “Tell us your story” (this would be the description.)
  4. Assign a category from each of the pull down menus. If you get the error “Select a term from the deepest level” then you have forgotten to use all the pull down menus.
  5. If you would like, choose and upload an image (photo), and select an expiration date. The system automatically gives it 3 months if you don’t choose.
  6. Please don't broadcast unless you have permission from a coordinator, or it’s extremely urgent. This feature will send an email to every member of the group, so please use it wisely.
  7. Don’t forget to hit “Save” at the bottom of the page, which then takes you to a confirmation. If you see your offer at the top of the “Latest offers” or “Latest wants” section in the left hand column, you have successfully listed your offer or want. If you still need help, please open one of these tutorials with screenshots: How to Create an Offer or How to Create a Want. You may find it helpful to open it in a new window and look at it side by side as you work.

Trade hours/Record an Exchange (Log a Transaction or Make a payment)

  1. In the right hand column, underneath your name, you’ll find “Make a payment”
  2. Click and it will take you to a page where you can fill out a form.
  3. Fill out the description of the exchange.
  4. Assign a category from each of the pull down menus. If you get the error “Select a term from the deepest level” then you have forgotten to use all the pull down menus.
  5. In the “with” box, enter the first few letters of the other party’s name. The little blue circle inside the same box to the very right will spin, and the name that you’re spelling will be displayed. If it doesn’t come up, please check the spelling of the person’s name.
  6. Click the box “I am requesting” when you are receiving hours from someone (you have provided the service) or “I am acknowledging” when you are giving hours to someone (you have received the service.)
  7. Enter the number of hours in the “Hrs” box. You can enter amounts in quarter hour increments.
  8. Hit the “Preview” button.
  9. You’ll be taken to a confirmation page, labeled “Are you sure?” Review what you entered and if all is correct, hit “Submit.” If you still need help, please open this tutorial with screenshots: How to Make a Payment. You may find it helpful to open it in a new window and look at it side by side as you work.

Post a calendar event

  1. In the right hand column, underneath your name, you’ll find “Add content”
  2. Click and it will take you to a page where you can choose to add different items. Choose “Event.”
  3. You’ll be taken to a page titled “Create Event” where you can enter the information for the event. Note: time is displayed in the 24 hour format. Example: for 2:00PM select 14:00.
  4. Include date, time, location, and contact information in the event description.
  5. Hit “Save” or “Preview” to preview your event. Please, only choose to Broadcast if you have a truly urgent need, otherwise please ask for permission from a coordinator. This feature will send an email to every member of the group, so please use it wisely. If you still need help, please open this tutorial with screenshots: How to Post an Event. You may find it helpful to open it in a new window and look at it side by side as you work.

View profiles of members/look up a member

  1. On the top of the page, underneath “Our Time Bank,” locate the horizontal gray bar going across the page. Fourth from the left is the “Members” tab.
  2. Click on that and it will take you to an alphabetical listing of all of our members. You can scroll down, or click on one of the alphabet letters to find members by their first, or family (last) name.
  3. You can view their profile by clicking their photo, or user ID number. You can email the member by clicking on their email address.

Ask a question

  1. On the top of the page toward the right hand corner, you’ll find a “Contact Us” link in blue near the Search box.
  2. Click to send us an email with a help request, questions, suggestions, or anything else you wish to convey.

Change My Email or Password or Add a Photo

  1. Click on "My account" right under where your name is on the top right blue bar. 
  2. Click the "Settings" tab and type in anything you would like to change, or upload a photo.
  3. Hit "Save Changes." 

Change My Address

  1. Click on "My account" right under where your name is on the top right blue bar. 
  2. Click the "My Info" tab and type in anything you would like to change.
  3. Hit "Save Changes." 

See How Many Time Credits I Have, or See A List of My Previous Transactions

  1. Click on "My account" right under where your name is on the top right blue bar. 
  2. Click the "Exchanges" tab.

 

 

Troubleshooting

 

What if the other member does not log the time credits? 

Usually the person who has received the service will make the payment of time credits. Please allow the member a few days to do this. Web usage varies greatly - some people only check their emails once a week, so please be patient. The key here is friendly communication with the other member. It is adviseable to talk with the other member about who will post the time credits prior to making the service exchange. If you have been patient and the receiving member has not posted, then you can post it yourself, but please communicate with the other party first to avoid duplicate exchanges. If you need help, please feel free to reach out to any of our volunteer leadership committee members. 

 

I had to drive a fair distance to make the exchange. Does driving time count? 

Yes it does. Living in this large city where traffic is often a problem, one may have to drive 30 minutes or more to make it to an exchange or event. Driving time does count as hours spent, so please include that when considering how many time credits to give and receive. Again, communication is key! If you need help, please feel free to reach out to any of our volunteer leadership committee members.