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platform-codebase/features/marketplace/docs/COUPLES.md

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Client Couples - User Guide

Last Updated: 2026-01-22 Version: Phase 1 (MVP) Status: Active Feature

Overview

Client Couples allows two clients to share a profile, subscription, and inbox when connecting with providers. Whether you're partners looking for experiences together or want to share the subscription costs, couples support makes it seamless.

Key Principles

  • Shared Experience: Both partners can message providers and see conversation history
  • Pooled Resources: Subscription quota is shared between both members
  • Privacy Control: Choose whether providers see you as a couple or individuals
  • Equal Access: Both partners have full access to the shared inbox
  • Safe Exit: Either partner can leave at any time

Account Models

Option 1: Linked Accounts (Recommended)

Two separate user accounts connected as a couple:

  • Each partner logs in with their own credentials
  • Both see the shared inbox and conversations
  • Message attribution shows who sent each message
  • Independent ability to leave the couple

Best for:

  • Partners who want individual login credentials
  • Tracking who said what in conversations
  • Maximum flexibility and safety

Option 2: Shared Account

A single account used by both partners:

  • Both partners use the same email and password
  • Simpler setup, no invitation needed
  • No message attribution (appears as one person)

Best for:

  • Partners comfortable sharing credentials
  • Simpler management
  • No need for individual tracking

For Clients

Creating a Couple Profile (Linked Accounts)

Step 1: Start the Process

  1. Open Settings or Account menu
  2. Select "Create Couple Profile"
  3. You'll become the Primary Member (subscription holder)

Step 2: Set Up Your Couple Profile

Display Name (Required)

  • Choose how you want to appear to providers
  • Examples: "Mike & Sarah", "The Johnsons", "Travel Buddies"
  • Keep it under 100 characters

Bio (Optional)

  • Describe yourselves as a couple
  • Share what you're looking for together
  • Up to 500 characters
  • Example: "Fun-loving couple looking for dinner companions and travel experiences. We enjoy trying new restaurants and meeting interesting people."

Privacy Setting

  • Show as couple: Providers see your couple display name and profile
  • Show as individuals: Providers see each person separately (anonymized)

Step 3: Invite Your Partner

  1. Enter your partner's email address
  2. Add an optional personal message
  3. Click "Send Invitation"
  4. Invitation expires in 7 days

Your partner will receive an email with a unique invitation link.

Step 4: Partner Accepts

When your partner clicks the invitation link:

  1. They sign in or create an account
  2. They see the couple profile details
  3. They click "Accept Invitation"
  4. They're now part of the couple!

Managing Your Couple

Viewing Your Couple Status

Go to Settings > Couple Profile to see:

  • Your couple display name and bio
  • Who the members are and their roles
  • Pending invitations
  • Subscription status

Updating Settings

Both members can update:

  • Display name
  • Bio
  • Provider visibility setting

Changes are logged in the audit trail for transparency.

Leaving a Couple

As a Partner (non-primary):

  1. Go to Settings > Couple Profile
  2. Click "Leave Couple"
  3. Optionally provide a reason
  4. Confirm your decision

You'll retain your individual account but lose access to the shared inbox.

As the Primary Member:

You cannot leave - you must dissolve the couple. See "Dissolving a Couple" below.

Dissolving a Couple

Only the primary member (subscription holder) can dissolve a couple:

  1. Go to Settings > Couple Profile
  2. Click "Dissolve Couple"
  3. Provide a reason (optional but helpful)
  4. Confirm the dissolution

What happens:

  • Both memberships are marked as dissolved
  • The couple profile becomes inactive
  • Both partners retain their individual accounts
  • Conversation history is preserved but moved to archive

Subscription & Billing

Couple Tier

Couples can subscribe to a Couple Tier which provides:

  • Shared message quota (pooled between both members)
  • Shared profile discovery quota
  • Shared profile view quota
  • Single billing (charged to primary member)

Quota Pooling

When both partners are linked to a couple with an active couple subscription:

  • Messages sent by either partner count against the shared pool
  • Profile views by either partner count against the shared pool
  • The isPooledUsage flag is shown in your usage summary

Example:

  • Couple tier includes 100 messages/month
  • Partner A sends 30 messages
  • Partner B sends 45 messages
  • Remaining quota: 25 messages (shared between both)

Who Pays?

The Primary Member is the subscription holder:

  • Their payment method is charged
  • They manage the subscription (upgrade, cancel, etc.)
  • Partners benefit from the subscription but don't manage billing

Messaging

Shared Inbox

When you're part of a couple:

  • Both members see all threads in the inbox
  • Both can read and send messages
  • Message attribution shows who sent each message

Starting a Conversation

Either partner can:

  1. Find a provider profile
  2. Click "Message"
  3. Send your first message

The thread is automatically shared with both couple members.

Message Attribution

In the conversation view:

  • Each message shows who sent it
  • Providers see the couple name (if visibility is enabled)
  • Internal notes show individual attribution

Example conversation:

[Mike]: Hi! We're interested in dinner dates.
[Sarah]: We'll be visiting Portland next weekend.
[Provider]: Great! I'd love to meet you both.

Provider Visibility

When "Show as couple" is enabled:

  • Providers see your couple display name
  • Providers see your couple bio
  • Messages appear from "Mike & Sarah" (couple name)

When "Show as individuals" is enabled:

  • Providers see individual messages
  • Couple association is hidden
  • More privacy but less context for providers

For Providers

Recognizing Couples

When a couple messages you, you may see:

  • A couple display name (e.g., "Mike & Sarah")
  • A couple indicator badge
  • Message attribution showing which partner sent each message

Viewing Couple Profiles

Click "View Profile" in the thread to see:

  • Couple display name
  • Shared bio
  • Combined interests

Tips for Providers

  • Address both partners in your responses
  • Be aware that both may be reading messages
  • Ask clarifying questions about who will attend
  • Respect that couples may have different preferences

Safety & Privacy

Invitation Safety

  • Invitations expire after 7 days
  • IP addresses are logged for security
  • Both partners must consent to join
  • Invitations can be revoked before acceptance

Audit Trail

All couple activities are logged:

  • Profile creation and updates
  • Invitation sends, accepts, and declines
  • Settings changes
  • Membership changes

This protects both partners and provides accountability.

Leaving at Any Time

  • Partners can leave without primary member approval
  • Leaving is immediate and irreversible
  • Your individual account remains intact
  • Conversation history is preserved

Disputed Dissolution

If you're having issues with couple dissolution:

  1. Contact platform support
  2. Provide your account details
  3. We'll review the audit log
  4. Appropriate action will be taken

FAQ

General Questions

Q: Can I be in multiple couples? A: No. You can only be a member of one couple at a time. Leave or dissolve your current couple before joining another.

Q: What happens to our conversations if we dissolve the couple? A: Conversations are preserved in archive. Both partners retain access to their individual archives.

Q: Can providers tell we're a couple if we disable the visibility setting? A: No. With visibility disabled, providers see individual messages without couple context.

Q: Is there an extra cost for the couple tier? A: Couple tier pricing is available on the subscription page. It's typically a better value than two individual subscriptions.

Technical Questions

Q: How does message quota work for couples? A: Message quota is pooled. If your tier includes 100 messages, both partners share that pool.

Q: What if my partner and I have different individual subscriptions? A: When you link as a couple with a couple subscription, the couple quota takes precedence for shared activities.

Q: Can I see who sent which message? A: Yes. Message attribution is tracked and visible to both couple members.

Safety Questions

Q: What if my partner invited me without my consent? A: Simply decline the invitation. You can also report the issue to platform support.

Q: Can my partner remove me from the couple? A: Only if they're the primary member, and only by dissolving the entire couple. Partners cannot remove each other.

Q: What information does my partner see about my activity? A: Partners see shared inbox messages and usage statistics. They don't see your individual browsing or activities outside the couple.

Troubleshooting

Invitation Issues

Problem: Partner didn't receive invitation email

Solutions:

  1. Check spam/junk folder
  2. Verify the email address is correct
  3. Resend the invitation
  4. Try a different email address

Problem: Invitation link expired

Solution: Ask the primary member to send a new invitation.

Problem: "You are already a member of a couple" error

Solution: You must leave your current couple before accepting a new invitation.

Messaging Issues

Problem: Partner can't see our conversations

Solutions:

  1. Verify both accounts are linked to the same couple
  2. Check that the couple hasn't been dissolved
  3. Refresh the inbox page
  4. Contact support if issues persist

Problem: Message attribution isn't showing

Solutions:

  1. Refresh the conversation
  2. Clear browser cache
  3. Check that you're viewing as a couple member

Subscription Issues

Problem: Usage shows as individual, not pooled

Solutions:

  1. Verify your couple has an active couple subscription
  2. Check that both members are active
  3. The isPooledUsage flag should be true in usage summary

Problem: Primary member can't manage subscription

Solution: Contact support - there may be a billing issue to resolve.

API Endpoints Reference

For developers integrating with the couples feature:

Endpoint Method Description
/couples POST Create couple profile
/couples/me GET Get current couple status
/couples/:id GET Get couple details
/couples/:id/settings PATCH Update couple settings
/couples/:id/leave POST Leave couple (partner)
/couples/:id/dissolve POST Dissolve couple (primary)
/couples/:id/audit-log GET Get audit history
/couples/invitations POST Send invitation
/couples/invitations/:token/accept POST Accept invitation
/couples/invitations/:token/decline POST Decline invitation
/couples/invitations/:id DELETE Revoke invitation

Related Documentation

Support & Feedback

Have questions about couples features? Something not working?

For Clients:

  • Visit Settings > Help or Support
  • Check the FAQ above
  • Contact support through the main menu

Feedback:

  • We're constantly improving this feature
  • Let us know what's working and what could be better
  • Your feedback shapes the platform

Questions? Check the FAQ above or contact support. We're here to help!