Legal Information for Hostelso Platform

Terms of Service

By accessing or using the Hostelso platform, you agree to be bound by these legally binding terms:

• Account Eligibility: Only verified hostel owners or their authorized representatives may create listings. Verification requires submission of valid business documentation.
• Content Accuracy: All listing information including amenities, pricing, and availability must be current and truthful. Misrepresentation may result in immediate removal.
• Contact Restrictions: Direct contact information (phone numbers, emails, social media, or external website links) is strictly prohibited in listing content. Approved contact methods are provided through our (Feature shop : contact display feature) system.
• Verification Standards: "Verified" status indicates our team has physically inspected the property. We maintain the right to conduct unannounced re-verification checks at any time.
• Content Moderation: We reserve full discretion to remove any content that violates our policies or applicable laws without prior notice.
• No Guarantees: While we verify information to our best ability, we cannot guarantee booking outcomes or property conditions. Users should conduct independent verification.

Refund Policy

Our refund policy is designed to be fair while preventing abuse of our services:

• Minimum Amount: Refund requests must be for Rs. 500 or more to be processed.
• Eligibility: Refunds are only available for unused account credits when no paid services have been activated (including but not limited to image search credits, promotional ads, featured listings, or contact displays).
• Service Activation: Once any paid service feature has been utilized, the corresponding credits become non-refundable.
• Feature Shop Purchases: All credit purchases for platform features (post slots, premium placements, AI image searches) are final upon use.

Privacy Policy

Hostelso is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with these principles:

• Data Collection: We collect business contact information from hostel operators for verification and service purposes only.
• Information Sharing: Contact details are never shared with third parties except when required by Pakistani law enforcement agencies with proper legal documentation.
• External Communications: We cannot control or be responsible for information sharing that occurs outside our platform's any type of contact systems.
• Security Measures: All sensitive data is encrypted using modern security protocols to prevent unauthorized access.

Platform Disclaimer

Important limitations of our service:

• Third-Party Listings: Hostelso functions solely as an advertising platform and does not operate, manage, or endorse any listed properties.
• Verification Scope: While we verify certain property details for "Verified" listings, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all information provided by hostel operators.
• Dispute Resolution: We are not party to and assume no responsibility for any disputes between users and property owners.
• Liability Limitation: To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hostelso disclaims all liability for damages arising from platform use, including but not limited to financial losses or personal injury claims.

Community Guidelines

To maintain a trustworthy platform, all users must adhere to these standards:

• Truthful Representation: Listings must accurately reflect current property conditions, amenities, and pricing structures.
• Contact Protocol: (ONLY WHEN BUILT IN MESSENGER IS RELEASED) All communications must occur through Hostelso's approved channels. Circumventing our contact systems is prohibited.
• Verification Integrity: Fraudulent use of the "Verified" status will result in permanent account termination and may lead to legal action.
• Compliance Checks: We conduct scheduled and surprise inspections to validate listing accuracy and discount offers.
• Professional Conduct: All users must maintain respectful communications. Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
• Policy Updates: We may modify these guidelines as needed to address emerging platform issues or legal requirements.

Discount Policy

Requirements for promotional offers on our platform:

• Transparency: All discount offers must clearly state duration, eligibility criteria, and any limitations in the listing description.
• Verification: We conduct random audits of discount offers, both announced and unannounced, to ensure advertised promotions match actual offerings.
• Enforcement: Listings found to advertise false discounts face immediate removal and potential account suspension.
• Price Consistency: Discounted rates must represent genuine reductions from standard pricing, not inflated prices presented as discounts.

Advertising Policy

Rules governing our advertising systems:

• Beta Status: Our advertising platform (including vertical ads, featured placements, and homepage promotions) is currently in beta testing phase. Users acknowledge potential technical issues may occur.
• Credit Policy: Technical issues during beta testing that result in credit consumption are not eligible for refunds.
• Content Standards: All advertisements must comply with our general content guidelines and applicable advertising regulations.
• Removal Policy: Ads violating our policies or laws will be removed immediately without refund of associated credits.
• Truth in Advertising: All promotional content must accurately represent the advertised hostel's current offerings and conditions.

Account & User Conduct Policy

Standards for user accounts and behavior:

• Single Account Rule: Users may maintain only one active account per business entity. Creating multiple accounts to manipulate systems is prohibited.
• Automation Restrictions: Use of bots, scripts, or automated tools to interact with our platform requires prior written authorization.
• Security Responsibility: Users must maintain account security and immediately report any unauthorized access or suspicious activity.
• Termination Rights: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts engaging in misconduct, policy violations, or illegal activities.
• Age Requirement: All account holders must be at least 18 years old or have proper business authorization.

Payment & Billing Policy

Financial terms for platform services:

• Payment Processing: All transactions are handled through PCI-compliant third-party payment processors. We do not store sensitive financial data.
• Credit System: Platform features are accessed through a prepaid credit system. All credit purchases are final and non-refundable once used.
• Chargeback Policy: Improper payment disputes or chargebacks without legitimate cause may result in account suspension and collection efforts.
• Tax Compliance: All applicable Pakistani taxes are included in displayed prices unless otherwise specified.

Content Ownership & License

Intellectual property terms:

• User License: By submitting content, you grant Hostelso a perpetual, transferable license to use, display, and distribute the content for platform operations and marketing purposes WITHOUT ANY PAY UNLESS DEALS FINALIZED.
• Ownership Responsibility: Users warrant they possess all necessary rights to any uploaded content and indemnify Hostelso against copyright claims.
• Marketing Use: We may feature listing content in promotional materials across various media channels to showcase our platform's offerings.
• Takedown Requests: Valid copyright infringement notices will be processed in accordance with Pakistani intellectual property laws.

Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These terms and all platform operations are governed by Pakistani law, including:

• The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002
• Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA)
• Consumer Protection Act, 2005
• Relevant Pakistan Penal Code provisions
• State Bank of Pakistan financial regulations

Any legal disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in [City], Pakistan. Parties agree to attempt good faith negotiation for at least 30 days before initiating formal legal proceedings.

Compliance with Pakistani Regulations

Hostelso maintains full compliance with all applicable Pakistani laws and regulations:

• Operates under Pakistan's national cybersecurity policy framework
• Adheres to State Bank of Pakistan financial regulations for all transactions
• Complies with Federal Board of Revenue tax requirements
• Respects Islamic provisions of the Constitution in content moderation
• Cooperates with lawful requests from Pakistani government agencies
• Maintains required business registrations and licenses

Policy Amendments

Hostelso reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes through platform notifications or email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Users are responsible for regularly reviewing these policies. The "Last Updated" date below indicates when these terms were most recently revised.

Last updated: [Insert Date]