BoRo FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Every question, by category. Looking for a quick answer? ask the Help Center.
Getting Started
What is BoRo?
BoRo lets neighbors rent things to each other. Someone near you owns a pressure washer, a projector or a tent they use twice a year. Rent it for a few days instead of buying it. They earn money on something sitting in a closet.
Where does BoRo operate?
Charlotte, North Carolina. We are starting in one city so the first thousand rentals go well.
Who can use BoRo?
Anyone 18 or older. Teens aged 13 to 17 can use BoRo only through a parent or guardian's account. The parent verifies their own ID, signs the agreements, and stays responsible for everything on it. Under 13, no.
What do I need to sign up?
Browsing takes a name and an email. Verification starts the first time you book or list: a government ID, a quick selfie to match it, and a card on file. You are about to meet a stranger and hand over something you own. Everyone here passed the same check.
What is the BoRo Wallet?
Where money owed to you lands — rental earnings, a forfeited Commitment Hold, a Shield payout. You cash out to your bank from there.
Safety & Trust
How do I know the person I am meeting is real?
Everyone who books or lists has passed ID verification and a live selfie match. Profiles also show a completion rate: how often someone actually follows through on bookings they accepted. If they are sitting at 60%, you will see it.
Where do we meet?
BoRo picks the options. You each enter your address, we find the midpoint, and we offer safe public places nearby with parking and restrooms. You choose from that list. Never a stranger's driveway unless you both want that.
Does the other person see my address or phone number?
No. Chat never shows your phone number, last name or exact address. Everything happens in the app, and you meet at a public venue.
What is the QR scan at the meetup?
It proves you are both there. One code per booking. It only appears within 100 feet of the meetup, and only works when both phones are in that zone at once, so nobody can screenshot it and pair from home. Scanning starts the rental, releases both Commitment Holds, places the Shield on items over $100, and starts the 45-minute session. Same scan at return.
What if I do not feel safe at a meetup?
Leave. There is a Report a problem button and a contact-BoRo button in the chat. Every message, timestamp and location is on record. No booking requires you to stay anywhere.
What stops someone from just keeping my item?
They are ID-verified. They have a card on file. On items over $100 there is a live hold on that card for the item's full value, running the whole rental. If it does not come back, that hold pays you. And they lose their account.
Do you check what people list?
Yes. Every listing is screened when posted and again every time it is edited, so nobody can post something allowed and quietly change it later. Banned categories are blocked. Banned words stop the listing and send it to a person. But screening is a compliance check, not an inspection or an endorsement. Look the item over yourself.
What if I take the deal off BoRo?
Your choice. But you lose the Shield, the Commitment Hold, the photo record and any help from us. Whatever happens off BoRo is between you and the other person.
How a BoRo Rental Works
Walk me through a rental.
You message the lender and request dates. They accept. About a day before, you both tap to confirm, which places the Commitment Hold. You meet, scan the QR code, the holds release and the Shield goes on. The lender photographs the item, you check it, you accept, and the rental is charged. At return you meet again, scan again, both submit photos, and BoRo settles.
How long can I rent something for?
Up to 30 days. Items at $100 or less run straight through. Items over $100 run in six-day blocks — tap once every sixth day to refresh the Shield.
What is the 45-minute session?
Your inspection window. There is one at pickup and one at return. At pickup it belongs to the borrower: check how it looks, then check that it works. At return it belongs to the lender, same two things. The clock starts at the QR scan and never pauses. When it ends, no more claims for that handoff.
What should I be checking in my 45 minutes?
How it looks, then how it works. Compare the item to the lender's photos and the listing — scratches, dents, missing parts. Not what you expected? Decline right there and pay nothing. Happy with it? Now test that it works.
Can I take the item away to test it?
Yes, if the lender allows it on that listing. A leaf blower or a PlayStation 5 cannot be tested in a parking lot. Read this part carefully. Your 45 minutes keep running while you are gone. No pause, no extension, and driving time counts. If the clock hits zero while you are away, the rental is accepted and it is yours, even if you never plugged it in. Work out the round trip before you leave. If it is tight, test it at the meetup or decline.
What if the item is not as described, or does not work?
Looks and function are handled differently. The line is the moment you take the item away. Before that, condition is your call: decline, pay nothing, everything releases. After that, you have accepted how it looks, so cosmetics are closed. What stays open is whether it works. If it does not, tap Report a problem inside your 45 minutes. Real fault: the rental unwinds free and the lender pays the dispatch. Not a real fault: you pay it.
What if the 45 minutes run out and I have done nothing?
Depends where you are. Still at the meetup: the item goes back to the lender and you both confirm. Already left with it: the rental is accepted and it is yours. Doing nothing counts as yes once you have gone.
What am I checking when my item comes back?
You get your own 45 minutes to test it and confirm it still works. Do that there, not at home later. If it is broken, report it inside the window and photograph it. Say nothing and the return settles clean. Once the clock ends, settlement is locked and anything you find later is yours.
What photos get taken, and who sees them?
At pickup the lender takes up to five photos and one video, all timestamped. They show on your screen and you confirm they match. At return you both photograph the item, and neither of you sees the other's. Both go straight to BoRo, so nobody can tailor their evidence.
Can I extend a rental?
Yes, any time during the rental, in blocks of 6, 12, 18 or 24 days, up to 30 days total. The full extension fee is charged when you commit.
What if the lender does not show up to collect their item?
Tell us in the chat. The transaction freezes and the lender gets two more hours. If they still do not come, a BoRo team member collects the item and does the return inspection, so you are released. The dispatch fee and daily storage are on the lender.
Reviews & Ratings
Can I leave a review?
Yes. After a rental is completed and settled, both sides can rate each other and write a review. Only people who actually completed a rental together can review each other.
When do reviews go live?
You both write independently and neither sees the other's first. They publish once both are in, or when the review window closes. Same idea as our return photos: it stops revenge reviews.
What shows on my profile?
Your rating from completed rentals, next to your completion rate. The rating says what you were like to deal with. The completion rate says whether you turn up.
Can I respond to a review, or get one removed?
You can reply publicly to any review, and your reply sits with it. We do not remove a review because you disagree with it. We do remove personal attacks, private information, off-BoRo disputes, and reviews used to pressure someone.
Do ratings affect anything else?
Yes. Your rating and completion rate feed our trust and safety review. They can affect how visible your listings are and which features you can use.
Fees & Payments
What does BoRo charge?
10% of the rental, split. Borrowers pay 7% on top. Lenders have 3% taken out. That is the whole platform fee.
What does a rental cost me as a borrower?
Three things: the rental price, our 7% fee, and the card processing cost. Take a tool at $18 a day for three days. Rental $54.00, BoRo fee $3.78, card processing $2.04, total $59.82 — rounded up to the nearest cent. That total is shown before you book. Nothing is added afterward.
Does BoRo mark up the card processing fee?
No. It is passed through at cost. Stripe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and that is exactly what you pay. We add nothing to it. Processing sits on the borrower's side so the lender receives the price they set, and BoRo earns nothing either way. We make money on the 10% platform fee and nowhere else.
What do I take home as a lender?
Your price minus 3%. On that $54 rental you get $52.38. Travel money and any Shield payout come on top.
When do I get paid?
Once the return settles, your earnings transfer to your bank on Stripe's standard payout timeline. If you want the money sooner, instant payout costs 1.5% of the amount, minimum $0.50, taken out of your payout.
Who pays for the driving?
Meeting halfway is the default and free — you each drive to the midpoint. If one of you goes past it, the other pays for the extra miles at $0.75 per mile, one way, each leg priced separately. BoRo takes nothing from travel. It all goes to whoever drove.
What if the lender delivers, or I collect it myself?
Lender delivers: you pay them for the miles past the midpoint. You collect: you get a credit for the miles you drove, taken from the lender's payout. If that credit would wipe out the lender's earnings, the option is not offered and the screen says why. Meeting halfway is always free.
What are the BoRo charges on my bank statement?
They all start with BORO and say what they are: DEPOSIT for a Shield hold, RENTAL for the rental, RECOVERY for a recovery fee. Check the app before disputing anything with your bank.
What about taxes?
Delivery and travel charges carry North Carolina sales tax, based on the delivery address. Mecklenburg County is 8.25%. Any tax due is shown on your booking screen before you pay. Lenders handle their own tax obligations on what they earn. We may send a Form 1099-K where the law requires it. We do not give tax advice — ask your own advisor.
The Commitment Hold
What is the Commitment Hold?
A hold that makes sure both people turn up. Not a payment, not a fee. It is a temporary hold on your card that disappears when you meet and scan.
How much is it?
20% of the rental, minimum $10. On a $100 rental, that is $20. It has to be a card — a Wallet balance cannot cover it.
Do lenders post one too?
Yes, the same amount. A no-show should cost a lender what it costs a borrower.
When is it placed and when does it come back?
You both tap to confirm about a day before the meetup, and that places it. It releases when you scan the QR code. If either side never taps, the booking cancels and nobody is charged.
What if I do not show up?
Cancel 12 to 24 hours before and half your hold is taken. Under 12 hours, or a no-show, all of it. That money goes to the other person's Wallet — every cent. BoRo keeps none of it.
BoRo Shield
What is BoRo Shield?
A hold on the borrower's card for the full value the lender declared. A $400 camera carries a $400 Shield. It sits untouched all rental. If the item comes back fine, it releases and nobody pays. If it does not, it makes the lender whole.
Is BoRo Shield insurance?
No. It is a contractual, deposit-based protection built into the platform. Not an insurance policy, not underwritten by an insurer, and not a replacement for your own insurance.
Why do some items have no Shield?
Items at $100 or less do not get one. A hold on a $25 rental means repeated authorizations, declines and support calls over an item worth less than the trouble. Those rentals are covered by the borrower's saved card instead, which can be charged up to the declared value for damage, loss or theft. Either way the borrower is ID-verified.
When is the Shield placed and released?
At the QR scan, when the item actually changes hands — not when the lender accepts. It releases when the return settles clean. Placing it at the handoff keeps the hold alive for the whole rental instead of expiring early.
What is the Refresh Tap?
On items over $100 rented past six days, you tap once every sixth day for a fresh Shield. The new hold is confirmed before the old one releases, never the other way round. So you will briefly see two holds. We tell you on screen every time.
What can the Shield be used for?
Damage beyond normal wear, total loss, theft, late return, non-return, misuse, or fraud. It does not cover knock-on losses — lost income, loss of use, inconvenience, stress. It covers the item. On a clean return it is not touched.
How much can be taken if something is damaged?
In tiers. Minor damage 25%, moderate 50%, total loss or theft 100%. On a $120 Shield that is $30, $60 or $120. Every dollar goes to the lender's Wallet. BoRo takes no cut of a Shield capture.
Who decides?
BoRo, using the blind photos from both sides, the timestamped pickup record, and our own transaction data. The decision is made once, at the close of the return session, and it is final.
What is the most I can get back as a lender?
The value you declared. Not a dollar more. Understate what your item is worth and you have capped your own recovery. On items over $100, if damage exceeds the Shield, the borrower's saved card is the backup — still capped at the declared value.
Does my home insurance cover renting my stuff out?
Probably not. Most homeowners and renters policies exclude business pursuits, and renting your property for money likely counts as one. Call your carrier before you list. BoRo Shield is not insurance and gives you no liability coverage.
Cancellations, Late Returns & Disputes
Can I cancel a booking?
Yes, any time before pickup. More than 24 hours out: full rental refund. Between 2 and 24 hours: half. Under 2 hours or a no-show: none. The 7% borrower fee only comes back in the full-refund tier.
What if the lender cancels on me?
You get everything back, including the platform fee. BoRo collects nothing. Lenders who make a habit of it lose listing visibility, then their account.
What if something outside my control happens?
Tell us within 48 hours of the scheduled transaction. Hurricanes, declared emergencies and similar events can get fees waived or refunded. We look at these in good faith.
What if I am late returning something?
You get a free nine-hour window to sort it out with the lender in chat, and most late returns end there. After that BoRo Recovery can collect the item and the borrower pays: $25 flat plus $0.75 per mile on the booked distance. You see the total before confirming, and it is not refundable once a driver is moving. If it drags on, the item can be declared a total loss and the full Shield taken.
Can I submit edited or AI-generated photos?
No. Photos and video must be original, unedited, taken on your own device and timestamped. AI-generated or altered evidence kills your claim, forfeits your Shield coverage on that rental, and ends your account permanently. We check for it.
How do I dispute a charge?
Raise it in the app within 48 hours of the confirmed return. Going straight to your bank instead can get your account suspended, and the evidence never reaches anyone who can help.
What if I disagree with BoRo's decision?
Our settlement decision is final for how money moves on the platform. It does not decide your rights against the other person outside BoRo. Disputes with BoRo go to informal resolution first, then individual arbitration, with small claims preserved and an opt-out window.
Listing Your Items
What can I rent out?
Almost anything you own outright and can legally rent — tools, cameras, camping gear, party equipment, kitchen appliances, sports gear, baby gear, consoles. If it sits unused most of the year, it is a good listing.
How do I set my price?
We ask what the item is worth first, because that number decides everything: whether it gets a Shield, how big the Shield is, and the most you can ever recover. Then we suggest a daily and a weekly rate. Suggestions, not limits — change either one.
What is banned outright?
Weapons, drugs, hazardous materials, titled vehicles, adult items, stolen or financed property, counterfeits. Permanent. Never coming back.
What else is off-limits during the pilot?
Higher-risk things we cannot manage safely yet: machines that throw objects or get towed, stored fuel and indoor combustion, and anything the borrower has to assemble. Scaffolding is out, a ladder is fine — a ladder is finished, scaffolding is a kit nobody can inspect once built. Trampolines are out, bounce houses are fine — a trampoline stays up for months with kids and no adult, a bounce house is one supervised afternoon. These may open up as our insurance and operations mature.
Why are car seats and helmets banned forever?
Because what destroys them leaves no mark. A car seat that took a crash is microfractured and looks new. A helmet liner crushes once and never recovers, and the shell looks fine. No photo or checklist catches that, and the lender may not even know. Same reason for life jackets, climbing gear and medical devices.
What is a Tier 2 item?
Banned at launch, with the unlock conditions stated up front: written confirmation from our insurer that the category is covered, a real safety certification from the lender, and an acknowledgment from the borrower at booking. Nail guns, space heaters and drones over 250 grams sit here.
What if I list something banned?
The listing comes down and you lose the right to claim against the Shield or the borrower's card on any affected rental. You cover any recovery or dispatch cost we incur. Repeat violations end the account. The consequence is yours, not the borrower's — a lender's breach never takes a borrower's money.
What do I have to certify when I list?
That you own it or can rent it, that it is not under a safety recall, that it works as described, that you have disclosed any known defect or damage, and that you have checked with your insurer about renting personal property for money. You reconfirm the safety certification at every booking, not just once.
BoRo Shield is not insurance. It is a contractual, deposit-based protection mechanism operated by Aston Ventures Inc., a Delaware corporation, d/b/a BoRo USA. It is not underwritten by any insurer, creates no insurance coverage, and does not replace your own property or liability insurance. Most homeowners and renters policies exclude business pursuits, and renting personal property for compensation is likely to be a business pursuit under such a policy — confirm your position with your own carrier before listing.
This FAQ is a plain-language summary provided for convenience. It does not modify, replace or override the BoRo USA Terms of Service or Privacy Policy, which govern in full and control in the event of any inconsistency. Figures, fees and thresholds are current as of the effective date shown and are subject to change on thirty (30) days' notice.