Terms of Service

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY.

Welcome to VouchTrust Systems ("VTS", "we", "us", "our"). We are building platforms dedicated to a new standard of trust online. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the VTS websites, applications, and services, including our flagship product, Vouch4Me (collectively, the "Platform").

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

You may use the Platform only if you agree to form a binding agreement with VTS and are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction. You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction of residence) to use the Platform. If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. Description of the Platform

VouchTrust Systems provides a reputation management and identity verification platform designed to help service providers and businesses build trust with their clients. Through Vouch4Me, we offer tools for identity verification, secure profile management, and the collection and curation of customer feedback ("Testimonials" and "Actionable Feedback"). We provide the infrastructure to host this information, but we do not guarantee the quality of work provided by any Member on the Platform.

3. Your Account, Security, & Privacy

• a. Account Registration: You must provide us with accurate and complete information during registration and keep it updated.
• b. Identity Verification: To become a "Verified Member," you must successfully complete our identity verification process, which is conducted by a third-party Identity Verification (IdV) service we verify. You will be required to provide a government-issued photo ID and may be required to take a "liveness" selfie. VTS does not collect or store your raw ID documents.
• c. Account Security (MANDATORY): You agree that your account is a high-trust asset. As a condition of becoming a Member, your account must be secured with one of our approved high-security login methods (e.g., emailed "magic links" or One-Time Passcodes sent via SMS). You are responsible for safeguarding your device and authentication method.
• d. Account Recovery: If you lose access to your account, or lose access to the specific email account or mobile device required to receive One-Time Passcodes (OTP) or magic links, we may require you to re-verify your identity (e.g., via a live selfie check) to prove ownership before we can restore access.
• e. Privacy: Our Privacy Policy governs how we collect and use your data. Our core promise is that we will not sell your personal data.

4. Subscriptions, Payments, Renewals, and Refunds

• a. Fees: We charge an annual subscription fee for our "Verified Member" service. All fees are posted clearly on our pricing page.
• b. Payment: You agree to pay all fees when due. All payments are processed by our third-party payment processor. No payment card or banking information will be collected or stored directly by VTS.
• c. Renewal: To ensure uninterrupted service, your profile must be manually renewed each year. This includes paying for another year of service and repeating the identity verification process through our chosen IdV provider.
  • If you do not complete the renewal process within 30 days of your renewal date, your profile will be hidden from public view.
  • After 90 days of inactivity following a missed renewal, your information is subject to permanent deletion.
• d. Refunds and Authorization Holds:
  • Satisfaction Guarantee: Once you have completed all required steps to create or renew your profile, you will have 30 days to request a full refund if you find the Platform is not suitable for your needs. After 30 days, no refunds will be provided.
  • Incomplete Profiles: Failure to complete all required steps to create your profile within 7 days of initial sign-up will result in the automatic deletion of your account. Any payment authorizations or pending charges will be released. (Note: Availability of funds after a refund or authorization release depends on your financial institution's policies).

5. Your Content (User Generated Content)

• a. You Own Your Content: You retain all ownership rights to the text, photos, and links you post to your profile ("Your Content").
• b. Our License to Your Content: By posting Your Content, you grant VTS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content on and through the Platform.
• c. Testimonials and Actionable Feedback: As the owner of your profile, you are entitled to request feedback from your customers regarding the services you have provided to them.
  • Testimonials: Feedback received with a high rating will initially be set to "private" mode. You may choose to publish it publicly to your profile.
  • Actionable Feedback: Feedback received with a lower rating is designated as "Actionable Feedback." This will be presented to you privately with an option to resolve issues with your customer. Actionable Feedback will never be published to your public profile by VTS.

6. Acceptable Use Policy & Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Service to:

• a. Violate the Law: Post any content that is illegal, libelous, defamatory, or fraudulent.
• b. Post Prohibited Content: Post any content that is hateful, threatening, indecent, or incites violence.
• c. Harm Minors: Exploit or harm minors in any way.
• d. Infringe on Rights: Violate the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.
• e. Manipulate the Platform: Engage in any activity designed to artificially inflate your reputation (e.g., submitting fake testimonials or reviewing yourself).
• f. Act in Bad Faith: Spam, phish, or attempt to "hack" or reverse-engineer the Platform or its users.
• g. Coerce or Harass for Testimonials: Strictly Prohibited. You may not coerce, extort, bribe, persuade, threaten, harass, or annoy another person (customer, client, associate, etc.) to give a Testimonial.
  • You must not demand a Testimonial as a condition of service or require a Testimonial before work is completed.
  • Testimonials must be given freely and honestly.
  • Repeatedly contacting a client who has declined to leave a review is considered harassment under these Terms.

7. Our Brand & Your Limited License

We grant you, as a Member in good standing, a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use personalized assets (badges, QR Codes, links, and other related assets) that we provide to you through your profile, for the sole purpose of promoting your reputation as a business owner.

• a. You MAY use only the specific assets generated for and provided to your account on your website, business cards, email signature, vehicles, and social media.
• b. You MUST NOT alter our logos, colors, or badges.
• c. You MUST NOT use our brand in any way that implies a partnership, endorsement, sponsorship, or that you are an "agent" or "partner" of VouchTrust Systems.
• d. You MUST NOT use language to indicate or imply that you or your business has been "certified," "guaranteed," or "work-approved" by VouchTrust Systems. We verify identity, not work quality.
• e. You MUST NOT use, display, or distribute assets (badges, QR codes, or links) that were generated for or belong to another Member.
• f. We reserve the right to revoke this license, terminate your access to the Platform, and remove your information at any time if you misuse our brand.

8. Copyright Policy (DMCA)

We respect intellectual property. If you believe your copyrighted work has been posted on our Platform, please send a DMCA "Takedown Notice" to our designated Copyright Agent at legal@vouchtrustsystems.com with all legally required information.

9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

• a. The Service is "AS IS": VouchTrust Systems products, services, and platforms are provided "as is" and "as available," without any warranties, express or implied. We do not guarantee the products, services, or platforms will remain 100% secure, available, or error-free.
• b. We are a Platform, Not a Publisher: VouchTrust Systems is a neutral party. We are not the author or publisher of any User-Generated Content (like Testimonials or profile links). We are not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or content of any UGC. Your use of any information on the Service is at your own risk.
• c. Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, VouchTrust Systems shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly.

10. Termination

• a. By You: You may terminate your account at any time via your account settings.
• b. By Us: We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account, without notice, if you breach these Terms (especially Section 6, Prohibited Conduct).

11. Business Transfers

If VouchTrust Systems, LLC, is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be sold or transferred as part of that transaction. In such a case, we will provide you with prominent notice (e.g., via email or our website) before your personal information is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy. You will be given the opportunity to opt out or delete your account before such transfer occurs.

12. Governing Law, Arbitration, and Class Action Waiver

• a. Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Arkansas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
• b. Binding Arbitration: Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined by binding arbitration in Arkansas before one arbitrator. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.
• c. Class Action Waiver: You and VTS agree that each may bring claims against the other only in an individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless VouchTrust Systems, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, arising out of or in any way connected with: (i) your access to or use of the Platform or Your Content; (ii) your violation of these Terms; or (iii) your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property, or privacy right.

15. General Provisions

• a. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect.
• b. Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire and exclusive understanding and agreement between you and VouchTrust Systems regarding the Platform, and these Terms supersede and replace any and all prior oral or written understandings or agreements.
• c. No Modifications by You: You may not modify these Terms. Any attempt by you to modify, supplement, or qualify these Terms by any document, communication, or other method is strictly prohibited and shall be void and of no effect, unless expressly agreed to in a written instrument signed by an authorized officer of VouchTrust Systems.
• d. Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. The waiver of any such right or provision will be effective only if in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of VouchTrust Systems.
• e. Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer these Terms, at our sole discretion, without restriction.

16. SMS/Text Messaging Terms

By creating an account and providing your phone number, you consent to receive text messages from VouchTrust Systems for the purpose of identity verification, account security (e.g., One-Time Passcodes), and important service updates.

• a. Consent: You agree that we may send text messages to the phone number you provide. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not a condition of any purchase.
• b. Frequency: Message frequency varies based on your account activity (e.g., logging in).
• c. Fees: Message and data rates may apply. Please consult your mobile carrier for applicable plans and fees.
• d. Opt-Out: You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP" to the short code or long code from which you received the message. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will process your unsubscribe request and we may send you an email to confirm that you have been unsubscribed from text messaging. Warning: Opting out of SMS messages may prevent you from logging into your account if you use SMS for Two-Factor Authentication.
• e. Help: If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program, you can reply with the keyword "HELP" for more assistance, or you can get help directly at support@vouchtrustsystems.com.
• f. Carrier Liability: Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.