Terms & Conditions

The master agreement governing every use of the CareStep platform — eligibility, accounts, lead distribution, payments, AI recommendations, liability and dispute resolution.

Status: Draft for professional legal review — not yet in force. Version: 1.0-draft · Effective date: [To be set at publication]

1. Purpose

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the CareStep platform ("Platform"), which provides technology for requirement collection, business discovery, lead generation, lead distribution, customer relationship management, business networking and AI-generated recommendations.

These Terms form a binding agreement between you and CareStep ("[CareStep]", "[we]", "[us]", "[our]"). By registering, accessing or using the Platform, you accept these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Definitions

Capitalised terms used in these Terms have the meanings set out below, and are used consistently across all CareStep policies (see the Legal Documentation Index):

• Activation Fee — the one-time, non-refundable ₹399 Business Activation & Verification Fee required to start a Trial (see Trial Terms).
• AI Recommendations — suggestions, scores, matches or insights generated by CareStep's algorithms or AI services. They are informational only (see AI Usage Policy).
• Business Network Member (or "Member") — a Worker, Vendor, Agency, Franchisee or Partner registered on the Platform to receive and respond to leads. Members are independent businesses or individuals.
• Content — any information, text, images, reviews, listings, documents or other material posted on the Platform by users.
• Customer — a user who posts a requirement on the Platform.
• Lead — a qualified requirement routed to eligible Members through the Platform's distribution system.
• Platform — the CareStep website, mobile applications, APIs and related services.
• Requirement — a request for goods or services posted by a Customer.
• Subscription — a paid plan purchased under the Subscription Terms.
• Trial — the 30-day trial period described in the Trial Terms.
• User — any person or entity that accesses or uses the Platform.

3. Scope

These Terms apply to all Users of the Platform, including Customers, Business Network Members, and any visitor. Specific user categories have additional terms: see the Business Network Member Agreement and the Customer Terms.

What CareStep is (and is not). CareStep provides technology services only. CareStep is not an employer, a recruitment agency, a staffing company, a booking platform, a marketplace operator facilitating direct contracts between users, or a payroll company. Business Network Members operate independently, and Customers independently decide whom to contact or engage.

4. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of forming a binding contract to use the Platform. By using the Platform you represent that you meet these requirements and that the information you provide is accurate and current.

5. Registration & accounts

• You must provide accurate, complete and current information at registration and keep it updated.
• You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.
• One trial per verified business applies (see Trial Terms).
• CareStep may refuse registration, or suspend or close accounts, where required to protect the Platform or comply with law.

6. Business Network Member responsibilities

Business Network Members agree to:

• Maintain accurate business profiles, service listings, service areas and contact details.
• Respond to assigned leads in good faith and within any response window.
• Comply with the Business Network Member Agreement, the Acceptable Use Policy and applicable law.
• Ensure any business verification and KYC information is true and complete.

7. Customer responsibilities

Customers agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete information about their requirements.
• Make their own independent decisions about which businesses to contact or engage, based on their own inquiries.
• Comply with the Customer Terms and the Acceptable Use Policy.

8. Acceptable use & prohibited activities

All Users must comply with the Acceptable Use Policy. Prohibited activities include, without limitation: spam, fake profiles, misrepresentation, fraud, abuse, illegal activity, unauthorised automation, malware, harassment and intellectual-property infringement.

9. Payments, subscriptions & trial activation

• The one-time ₹399 Activation Fee and the 30-day Trial are governed by the Trial Terms.
• Paid plans are governed by the Subscription Terms.
• All payments are processed through third-party payment gateways (currently Cashfree, with others supported) and are subject to the applicable gateway's terms. CareStep does not store your full payment credentials.
• Refunds are governed by the Refund Policy and cancellations by the Cancellation Policy.
• GST invoices are issued in accordance with applicable tax laws for payments that attract GST.

10. Lead distribution

• Leads are distributed according to eligibility, capacity, service area and fair-distribution rules described on the Platform and in the Business Network Member Agreement.
• CareStep does not guarantee that any Member will receive leads, nor that any Customer will find a provider.
• Trial members receive limited lead access as described in the Trial Terms.

11. Business listings & content ownership

• Business listings and other Content are owned by the respective users who post them, subject to the licences granted in the Content Policy.
• By posting Content you grant CareStep a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, display and process that Content to operate and improve the Platform.

12. Intellectual property

• The Platform itself — including its software, design, trademarks, logos and AI models — is owned by CareStep or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.
• Nothing in these Terms transfers any ownership rights in the Platform to you.

13. Third-party services

• The Platform may integrate with third-party services (including payment gateways, SMS/email providers and analytics tools). Your use of those services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
• CareStep is not responsible for the acts or omissions of third-party service providers, except as required by law.

14. AI-generated recommendations

• AI Recommendations are generated by automated systems and are informational only. They may be incomplete, inaccurate or outdated.
• You must not rely on AI Recommendations as the sole basis for any decision. Human verification is recommended before engaging any business or accepting any lead (see AI Usage Policy).
• CareStep does not provide legal, financial, medical or professional advice through the Platform unless expressly stated for a specific feature.

15. Platform availability

• CareStep uses reasonable efforts to keep the Platform available, but does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.
• The Platform may be suspended for maintenance, security or legal reasons.
• CareStep is not liable for unavailability caused by factors beyond its reasonable control (see Clause 17).

16. Termination & suspension

• You may stop using the Platform at any time and close your account as described in the Cancellation Policy.
• CareStep may suspend or terminate access, in whole or in part, where you breach these Terms, where required by law, or where continued access poses a risk to the Platform or other users.
• Clauses which by their nature survive termination (including indemnification, limitation of liability, governing law and dispute resolution) continue to apply.

17. Force majeure

CareStep is not liable for any delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, pandemics, power or network failures, or third-party service outages.

18. Limitation of liability

CareStep's liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as set out in the Limitation of Liability document, which forms part of these Terms.

19. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless CareStep and its officers, directors, employees and agents from any claims, losses, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal costs) arising out of: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your Content; or (d) your dealings with other users, including any contracts you enter into with independent Business Network Members.

20. Dispute resolution

• We encourage users to resolve disputes directly and amicably, and to use the Grievance Policy process before escalating.
• Where a dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it will be resolved through the mechanism in Clause 21.

21. Governing law & jurisdiction

• These Terms are governed by the laws of India.
• Subject to any mandatory consumer-protection rights, disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at [Registered office city — to be confirmed].
• [Legal review note: confirm the governing law, jurisdiction and any arbitration clause with counsel before publication — see the Legal Review Checklist.]

22. Changes to these terms

• CareStep may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the Platform or legal requirements.
• Material changes will be notified through the Platform (for example, by email or in-app notice) before they take effect.
• Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
• The current version is always available on this page.

23. Contact information

For questions about these Terms, contact:

• CareStep — [Legal entity name & registered address to be confirmed]
• Email: [legal@carestep.in — placeholder]
• Grievance/contact: see the Grievance Policy

24. Revision & version control

• Version: 1.0-draft
• Last reviewed: [To be confirmed]
• Next review due: within 12 months of the effective date, or sooner if required by changes in law or the Platform.
• This is a draft for professional legal review. Do not publish or rely on it in production until reviewed and issued.