Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of LocalConnect ("Platform", "we", "us"). By registering, logging in, or using any feature, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account independently. Users under 18 may only use the Platform under supervision of a parent or legal guardian who accepts these Terms on their behalf.

You must provide a valid mobile number and accurate basic details. Fake identities, impersonation, or multiple fraudulent accounts are prohibited.

3. Platform Role & Nature of Service

LocalConnect is a location-based discovery and communication platform operating in India. We enable users to create profile cards (Personal, Work, Service, Business) and connect with nearby users through in-app Message or WhatsApp links.

We act as a technology intermediary — not as an employer, agent, broker, contractor, or guarantor of any transaction between users.

• We do not verify every skill, qualification, or business claim made by users.
• We do not guarantee employment, service quality, pricing, or business outcomes.
• All offline meetings, payments, and agreements are solely between users.

4. User Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.

You may activate or deactivate your account from the Account section. Deactivation hides your profiles from public Discover until you reactivate.

• Keep your contact details and location information up to date.
• Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

5. Profile Cards & User Content

Every user is on the Free plan by default — Personal, Work, Service, and Business cards can be filled and activated from Profile Center. Discover visibility is controlled by each card's ON/OFF toggle.

Free plan includes rolling 30-day limits: 100 unique Message contacts and 50 unique WhatsApp opens across all cards (inbound + outbound; bilateral check for new contacts). Limits reset automatically after each 30-day period. Journal auto-Premium at 20 messages is per-thread lifetime.

The Free plan is ad-supported. You are solely responsible for all content you submit — including name, photo, skills, services, rates, business information, and messages.

• Content must be accurate, lawful, and not misleading.
• Do not post offensive, discriminatory, defamatory, or illegal material.
• We may review, restrict, or remove content that violates these Terms or applicable Indian law.
• You grant LocalConnect a non-exclusive licence to display your profile content on the Platform for discovery purposes.

6. Subscriptions & Payments

All users are on the Free plan by default. Personal, Work, Service, and Business profile cards are included — Discover visibility is controlled by each card's active toggle in Profile Center.

Free plan limits reset every 30 days per user: 100 unique Message contacts and 50 unique WhatsApp opens combined. Existing message threads are always exempt. Journal threads auto-move to Premium at 20 total messages (lifetime); Premium subscription required to compose after that transfer.

The Free plan is ad-supported. Premium subscription (Work ₹49 / Service ₹99 / Business ₹199 per month, bundle discounts available) unlocks unlimited Message/WhatsApp, Journal compose, search Boost, and additional features. UPI / authorised payment gateway — Coming Soon.

Historical subscription payments may appear in Payment History as read-only records.

• Premium benefits activate only after successful payment through an authorised gateway.
• UPI and payment gateway integration — Coming Soon. Until then, Free plan limits apply as described.
• Fees paid are generally non-refundable except where required by applicable consumer protection law in India.

7. Discover Feed & Visibility

The Discover feed displays nearby profile cards based on location data, search queries, and filters. Results depend on GPS accuracy, user settings, and card active toggles.

You control individual card visibility through Profile Center toggles. We may adjust ranking, visibility rules, or feed layout to improve platform safety and performance.

8. Messaging & Contact

Users may contact each other through in-app Message (Inbox) or via WhatsApp links displayed on profile cards. These channels connect users directly — LocalConnect is not a party to conversations or agreements made outside the app.

• Do not use messaging for spam, harassment, threats, or unlawful solicitations.
• We may monitor or act on reported abuse in accordance with applicable law and our policies.
• Always verify identity and terms before any offline meeting or payment.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to misuse the Platform. The following are strictly prohibited:

• Creating fake profiles or misrepresenting identity, skills, or business credentials.
• Harassment, hate speech, fraud, or promotion of illegal goods or services.
• Scraping, reverse engineering, or attempting to disrupt Platform infrastructure.
• Circumventing platform limits or abusing Free-plan features.
• Any activity that violates the Information Technology Act, 2000 or other applicable Indian laws.

10. Intellectual Property

The LocalConnect name, logo, app design, software, and original content (excluding user-submitted profile content) are owned by or licensed to LocalConnect. You may not copy, modify, or distribute Platform materials without written permission.

You retain ownership of content you submit but grant us the right to display it on the Platform as necessary to provide the service.

11. Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law in India:

• We are not liable for loss arising from user-to-user interactions, offline deals, or third-party services (including WhatsApp).
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
• Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable Indian consumer protection law.

12. Suspension & Termination

You may stop using the Platform and deactivate your account at any time.

We may suspend or terminate access if you violate these Terms, applicable law, or if required for platform safety — with or without prior notice where permitted by law.

13. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Subject to applicable consumer rights, courts in India shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising from use of the Platform.

For data handling practices, please also read our Privacy Policy in the About & Legal section.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Material changes may be communicated through the app or other reasonable notice channels.