Terms of Service

Terms of Service – Maintenance NI
Effective Date: 05/03/2026

Welcome to Maintenance NI (“Maintenance NI”, “we”, “us”, “our”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of our website and services at maintenanceni.com (the “Platform”). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to these Terms.

IMPORTANT: Maintenance NI is a directory/marketplace platform. We do not provide trade services ourselves. Any contract for work is solely between the customer and the tradesperson/service provider.

1. About Maintenance NI
Maintenance NI helps people and businesses in Northern Ireland find and contact service providers (e.g., plumbers, electricians, gardeners, builders) through search and an interactive map. The Platform may allow:
- browsing and searching listings;
- contacting service providers directly;
- posting requests/jobs/questions that service providers may respond to;
- service providers creating and managing listings.

2. Definitions
“Post” means either a tradesperson service listing or a help request.
“Customer” means a user seeking services or posting a request.
“Service Provider” (or “Tradesperson”) means a user or business that lists services or responds to requests.
“Content” means any text, images, posts, reviews, messages, or other material submitted to the Platform.

3. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or list services on the Platform.

By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older.

If you are under 18, you may only use the Platform with the permission and supervision of a parent or legal guardian and you must not create an account or submit posts.

We reserve the right to suspend or remove accounts if we reasonably believe a user is under 18 or has provided false information about their age.

4. Accounts & Security
Some features require an account. You agree to provide accurate information and keep it up to date.
You are responsible for all activity under your account and for keeping your login details secure. Notify us immediately if you believe your account has been compromised.

5. Platform Rules & User Responsibilities
You agree:
- to provide accurate and lawful information when creating listings or requests;
- not to post misleading, defamatory, discriminatory, abusive, or illegal content;
- not to impersonate others or misrepresent qualifications, licensing, insurance, location, pricing, or availability;
- not to scrape, copy, or reuse posts/data without permission;
- not to attempt to bypass security or interfere with Platform operation.

Service Providers also agree:
- you are responsible for your own services, pricing, quotes, scheduling, and communications with customers;
- you will comply with applicable laws, safety standards, and any licensing/insurance obligations relevant to your work;
- you have the right to advertise the business/services you list and to use any phone numbers, addresses, images, logos, and content you provide;
- you will only upload images/content you own or have permission to use.

Customers agree:
- you are responsible for selecting a provider and checking suitability (including experience, reviews, qualifications, references, insurance, and licensing where applicable);
- you will use appropriate caution and common sense when arranging work, inviting someone to your property, or paying for services.
Maintenance NI is not responsible for verifying the identity, age, qualifications, licensing, or insurance of users.

6. No Endorsement / No Vetting
We may display posts, categories, reviews, badges, “trending” sections, or search/map results. These are not endorsements.

We do not guarantee that any Service Provider is licensed, insured, qualified, available, safe, or suitable. You use the Platform at your own risk and must make your own checks.

7. Quotes, Payments & Contracts
Unless we explicitly state otherwise, Maintenance NI does not provide trade services and does not act as an agent for any user.

Any quote, booking, agreement, warranty, service dispute, or work arrangement is strictly between the Customer and Service Provider.

Maintenance NI acts solely as a technology platform that enables Customers and Service Providers to connect and arrange services. Maintenance NI is not a contractor, employer, insurer, broker, agent, or representative of any user or Service Provider.

Service Providers operate as independent businesses or individuals and are solely responsible for their own services, conduct, pricing, communications, taxes, legal compliance, insurance, permits, warranties, refunds, and dispute resolution.

Customers accept full responsibility for evaluating, selecting, and engaging any Service Provider and acknowledge that they do so entirely at their own discretion and risk.

Maintenance NI may allow online payments, subscriptions, featured listings, promotional services, or other paid platform features through Stripe or another third-party payment provider. Payment processing is handled securely by Stripe and may be subject to Stripe’s own terms, policies, and privacy practices.

Maintenance NI does not store full debit or credit card details on its own servers.

Subscription fees, promotional payments, featured listing payments, visibility upgrades, and other Platform-related payments made to Maintenance NI are non-refundable unless otherwise required by law.

Users are responsible for reviewing subscription details, billing terms, renewal terms, pricing, and cancellation options before purchasing.

Unless otherwise stated, refunds, chargebacks, cancellations, deposits, failed payments, payment disputes, or payment-related issues connected to services are the responsibility of the Customer and Service Provider.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise on the Platform, payments made to Service Providers are non-refundable once work has started or services have been delivered.

Any refund policies, cancellation terms, or deposit arrangements should be agreed directly between the Customer and Service Provider before work begins.

Maintenance NI may, at its sole discretion, assist with payment-related investigations or platform errors, but is not responsible for resolving disputes between users.

Where payments are processed through Stripe, refunds and chargebacks may still be subject to Stripe’s banking and payment network rules.

We are not responsible for:
- the quality or outcome of work;
- missed appointments, delays, cancellations, or price changes;
- payments, deposits, chargebacks, refunds, subscription renewals, or failed transactions;
- damage, injury, or loss arising from work performed by a Service Provider.

8. Safety & Due Diligence
Users are responsible for taking reasonable precautions, including:
- verifying identity, references, qualifications, insurance/licensing where appropriate;
- agreeing scope, price, timelines, and payment terms in writing;
- never sharing sensitive information unnecessarily;
- contacting emergency services if you feel unsafe or a situation is urgent.

9. Content, Reviews & Moderation
You retain ownership of your Content, but you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, reproduce, and distribute it on the Platform for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform.

We may (but are not required to) remove or restrict Content or accounts at any time, including for suspected policy breaches, fraud, safety concerns, or legal compliance. We do not guarantee that Content is accurate or will remain available.

10. Posts, Location & Map Data
Posts may include address/town, approximate location, and map placement. Map placement may not be exact and may be based on user input or third-party location data.

If the Platform uses third-party mapping services (e.g., Google Maps/Places), your use may also be subject to the relevant third-party terms and policies.

11. Privacy & Data (Summary)
We collect and process personal data to operate the Platform. Depending on how you use the Platform, this may include:
- payment-related information processed through Stripe, such as transaction references, payment status, billing details, and limited card/payment information provided by Stripe;
- account details (name, email, password hash);
- contact details (phone number, email, town/postcode, address if provided);
- post content (business name, categories, description, images, service area);
- communications and request information you submit (job descriptions, messages);
- technical and usage data (IP address, device/browser details, pages viewed, approximate location, cookies, analytics);
- moderation and safety data (reports, flags, account actions).

We use this data to:
- provide search/map features and allow customers and providers to connect;
- operate accounts, listings, and requests;
- prevent fraud/abuse and enforce these Terms;
- improve the Platform (analytics, debugging, performance);
- communicate with you about your account, requests, and support issues.

We may share data with:
- payment processors such as Stripe where needed to process payments, refunds, fraud checks, and payment disputes;
- service providers you contact or who respond to your request (as part of the connection);
- hosting, analytics, email, and map providers that help us run the Platform;
- law enforcement or regulators where required by law.

We keep data only as long as necessary for the purposes above, legal requirements, and dispute resolution.

For full details (including your rights, lawful bases, retention, cookies, and how to request deletion), please see our Privacy Policy.

12. Availability, Changes & Suspension
We may change, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these Terms, create risk, or for legal/compliance reasons.

13. Intellectual Property
All Platform content (excluding user Content), branding, design, logos, text, and software are owned by or licensed to us and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy or reuse them without permission.

14. Disclaimers
The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including fitness for purpose, accuracy, reliability, and non-infringement.

15. Limitation of Liability
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it cannot be excluded by law (including death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation).

Subject to the above, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Maintenance NI will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or economic losses (including loss of profits, loss of data, or reputational loss), or any losses arising from:
- services performed by Service Providers;
- user interactions, disputes, or agreements;
- reliance on posts, reviews, or map results;
- unauthorised access to accounts or user error.

If we are found liable in any matter, our total liability will not exceed (a) £100 or (b) the total amount you paid to us in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim (whichever is greater).

16. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold Maintenance NI harmless from any claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
- your use of the Platform;
- your Content;
- your breach of these Terms;
- any contract or dispute between you and another user.

17. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the Platform after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

18. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of Northern Ireland. The courts of Northern Ireland will have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms.

19. Contact
Support: support@maintenanceni.com
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