Terms of Service

1. Agreement

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern access to and use of the VendorTrust website, applications, and related services (the "Service") provided by CORETRUST TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD (registration number 2025/935641/07), a private company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa on 4 December 2025 ("CoreTrust", "we", "us"). The Service is offered under the VendorTrust name.

By creating an account, clicking to accept, or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you use the Service on behalf of an organisation, you represent that you have authority to bind that organisation.

Nothing in these Terms limits any rights that cannot lawfully be limited under applicable law (including, for qualifying consumers in South Africa, non-waivable rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008).

2. Launch territory

The Service is initially intended for users in South Africa and Zimbabwe. You are responsible for complying with all laws that apply to you in your location, including tax, consumer, sanctions, import/export, currency, and data-protection rules.

3. What VendorTrust provides

When fully available, VendorTrust is designed to provide software and workflows for marketplace activity, carts and checkout experiences, escrow-style fund staging, projects and bidding, messaging, notifications, reviews, dispute tooling, verification assistance, imports, and related features. Until then, availability may be partial. Features may change, be limited, or be discontinued.

Unless we expressly agree otherwise in a separate signed document, CoreTrust is not a party to deals between users, not a bank or regulated escrow institution, and not a professional adviser. Trust scores, badges, AI outputs, and any ledger or audit references are informational only and not guarantees of performance, solvency, or legality.

4. Accounts, eligibility, and security

You must meet minimum age and capacity requirements under applicable law. You must provide accurate information and keep it current. We may require identity or business verification and use service providers for fraud prevention.

You are responsible for safeguarding credentials and for activity under your account. Notify us promptly through the Service if you suspect unauthorised access.

You may permanently delete your account and associated personal data at any time from Settings → Security → Delete account in the app, from our account deletion page, or by emailing info@coretrust.tech from your registered address. Deletion is subject to legal retention requirements described in our Privacy Policy.

5. Your conduct and acceptable use

You agree not to:

• violate applicable law or infringe others' rights;
• upload malware, harass others, or engage in fraud;
• circumvent fees, security, or rate limits, or scrape beyond documented APIs;
• misrepresent listings, bids, identity, or transaction status;
• use the Service for prohibited goods or services where we publish restrictions.

We may require certain communications and evidence to remain on-platform to reduce fraud and preserve records. We may suspend or terminate access for risk, abuse, non-payment, or legal compliance.

6. Transactions between users

Until the features described in section 3 (including integrated payments and live escrow funds movement) are fully operational, you remain solely responsible for settlement, delivery, and dispute resolution with other users except where we explicitly provide a working in-product mechanism that applies to your transaction.

Listings, bids, orders, and escrow instructions must be truthful and lawful. You are responsible for descriptions, pricing, taxes, shipping, licences, and fulfilment between you and other users.

When payment and payout features are live, payments and payouts may be processed by third parties; their terms will apply. If a payment is reversed or charged back, we may offset, claw back, suspend, or invoice you for amounts owed to CoreTrust or other users, where permitted.

Where the Service provides dispute or release workflows, you agree to follow the rules shown in the transaction workspace. CoreTrust may apply reasonable platform rules based on available records. We do not guarantee recovery from a counterparty or any particular payment-partner outcome.

6A. Electronic commerce and cooling-off (South Africa)

When integrated online checkout that accepts payment is enabled for transactions concluded by electronic communication, qualifying consumers in South Africa may have a right to cancel within seven (7) business days under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 (ECTA), subject to statutory exceptions (for example where services have already been performed with your consent, custom-made goods, or other exclusions in law).

During the current release, when payment processing is bypassed or simulated as described in section 3, ECTA cooling-off does not apply to those checkouts; you must arrange cancellation or refunds directly with the other party. We will publish updated cancellation instructions before enabling live payment collection.

6B. Complaints and marketplace disputes (South Africa)

CoreTrust aims to operate the Service fairly and transparently. If you are a consumer in South Africa, nothing in these Terms limits non-waivable rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (CPA), including rights relating to fair and honest dealing on marketplaces where applicable.

Complaints about the Service: email info@coretrust.tech from your registered address with your account email, any order or agreement reference, and a clear description. We will acknowledge and respond within a reasonable time.

Disputes between buyers and sellers: use in-app messaging and any dispute or release tools shown on the transaction first. CoreTrust may offer platform-assisted review based on available records but is not obliged to resolve private contractual disputes between users. You may refer matters to the National Consumer Commission or another competent authority where the CPA or other law allows.

Seller information: seller profiles display details supplied by sellers. CoreTrust verifies some documents but does not guarantee accuracy of every listing or business claim; perform your own due diligence before high-value deals.

7. Fees

You agree to pay fees (subscription, transaction, or other charges) as shown at purchase or in your plan. Fees may exclude taxes; you are responsible for applicable taxes unless stated otherwise.

8. Your content and licence to CoreTrust

You retain ownership of content you submit. You grant CoreTrust a worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, process, transmit, display, and use that content to operate, secure, improve, and promote the Service, including fraud and risk analysis as described in our privacy notice.

You warrant that you have the rights needed to grant the above licence and that your content does not violate third-party rights.

9. CoreTrust intellectual property

The Service, branding, software, and non-user materials are owned by CoreTrust or its licensors. These Terms do not grant ownership of our intellectual property.

10. Privacy

Personal information is processed as described in our Privacy Policy. Where you upload personal information about others (for example vendor contacts), you are responsible for having a lawful basis and any required notices.

11. Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Service is provided "as is" and "as available". CoreTrust disclaims implied warranties such as merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, except where such disclaimers are not permitted.

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CoreTrust will not be liable for indirect, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages, or for lost profits, lost data, goodwill, or business interruption, even if advised of the possibility.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CoreTrust's aggregate liability for claims arising out of these Terms or the Service in any twelve-month period is limited to the greater of (a) the fees you paid CoreTrust for the Service in that period, or (b) South African Rand five thousand (ZAR 5,000).

13. Indemnity

You will defend and indemnify CoreTrust and its affiliates, officers, and employees against claims, losses, and reasonable legal costs arising from your content, your deals with other users, your breach of these Terms or law, or your regulatory and tax obligations.

14. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Subject to non-waivable rights, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division, Durban.

15. Changes

We may update these Terms by posting a revised version and updating the "Last updated" date. Material changes may require additional notice where the law requires. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance unless prohibited by law.

16. Contact

For questions about these Terms or the Service, contact us at info@coretrust.tech or use the support options in the VendorTrust application.

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