Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

• "Platform" means the Instantatoz mobile application, website (https://instantatoz.online), and all associated services, features, and technology offered by the Company.
• "Company" / "We" / "Us" means the entity operating the Instantatoz Platform.
• "User" / "Customer" means any individual or entity that accesses the Platform to post job requests and hire Workers.
• "Worker" / "Service Provider" means any verified individual who registers on the Platform to offer services and accept job requests.
• "Job" means a time-bound, task-specific engagement posted by a User and accepted by a Worker through the Platform.
• "OTP Work Start" means the One-Time Password based confirmation mechanism used to formally record the commencement of a Job at the work site.
• "Commission" means the platform service fee deducted by the Company from the total amount payable for each completed Job.
• "Account" means the registered profile of a User or Worker on the Platform.
• "Services" means the technology intermediary services offered by the Platform to facilitate matching between Users and Workers.
• "Applicable Law" means all laws, regulations, notifications, and orders applicable in India, including the Information Technology Act, 2000.

2. Nature of the Platform — Intermediary Status

Instantatoz is a technology marketplace and intermediary platform as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The Company does not employ Workers, and the relationship between a User and a Worker is that of an independent contractor, not employer-employee.

The Company does not control, direct, supervise, or manage the manner in which Workers perform their services. Workers are solely responsible for the quality, timeliness, and legality of the services they render. Instantatoz facilitates the discovery, communication, scheduling, and payment between Users and Workers but is not a party to the underlying service agreement between them.

Nothing in these Terms shall be construed to create any partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between the Company and any Worker or User.

3. Eligibility

To access and use the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a citizen or legal resident of India, or a legally authorised entity incorporated in India.
• Possess the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
• Not be disqualified from receiving services under any Applicable Law.
• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information during registration and at all times thereafter.

By creating an Account, you represent and warrant that you meet all of the above eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time and to suspend or terminate Accounts that do not meet these requirements.

4. Account Registration

Registration on the Platform is done via a mobile number linked to a valid Indian SIM card, verified through an OTP-based authentication system (Firebase Authentication). You agree to:

• Maintain the confidentiality of your Account credentials and OTPs.
• Accept full responsibility for all activities conducted under your Account.
• Notify the Company immediately at support@instantatoz.online of any unauthorised access or breach.
• Not create multiple Accounts for the same identity or purpose.
• Not transfer your Account to any third party.

The Company will not be liable for any loss arising from your failure to maintain the security of your Account credentials.

5. Job Posting

Users may post job requests on the Platform by specifying the category of work required, the estimated duration, the location, the date and time of engagement, and any relevant instructions. By posting a Job, the User:

• Warrants that the Job description is accurate, lawful, and does not violate any Applicable Law or these Terms.
• Agrees to pay the applicable hourly rate and platform commission for services rendered.
• Acknowledges that job acceptance is subject to Worker availability and verification status.
• Agrees not to request Workers to perform services outside the scope of the posted Job without prior arrangement through the Platform.

6. Matching Process

The Platform uses a technology-based algorithm to match Job requests with available verified Workers based on proximity, skill category, availability, and platform ratings. The Company does not guarantee that a match will always be found. Matching is subject to real-time availability and is conducted on a best-effort basis. The Company does not make any representation regarding the specific skill levels, experience, or capabilities of any Worker beyond what is displayed on their profile.

7. OTP-Based Work Start Mechanism

The commencement of any Job shall be formally recorded only upon the User sharing a one-time password (OTP) with the Worker at the work site, and the Worker entering the same on the Platform. This OTP Work Start mechanism:

• Serves as the official timestamp for the start of billable hours.
• Constitutes the User's confirmation of the Worker's physical presence at the work site.
• Cannot be reversed once entered. Users must not share the OTP if they are not satisfied with the Worker's arrival.
• The OTP for Work Start must not be shared via phone calls, messages, or any medium other than in person at the work site.

Hourly billing begins from the moment the OTP Work Start is confirmed on the Platform.

8. Hourly Billing

Jobs on Instantatoz are billed on an hourly basis. The applicable hourly rate is determined by the service category and is displayed to the User before confirming a Job request. Time is tracked from OTP Work Start to the formal work-end confirmation. Any additional hours beyond the originally requested duration must be agreed upon by both parties and are subject to the same hourly rate and commission. The Company reserves the right to revise hourly rates from time to time upon reasonable notice.

9. Payments

All payments on the Platform are processed through integrated third-party payment gateways. By making a payment, you agree to:

• The applicable charges, platform commission, and any applicable taxes.
• The payment gateway's own terms and conditions.
• Not make any direct cash payments to Workers for services booked through the Platform.
• Not share OTPs, card numbers, CVVs, or any payment credentials with Workers or any third party.

The Company is not a banking or financial institution. Payments are facilitated on behalf of the User and disbursed to Workers after deduction of the applicable platform commission.

10. Platform Fees and Commission

The Company charges a platform service commission on each completed Job. This commission is deducted from the total amount collected from the User before disbursement to the Worker. The applicable commission rate is displayed within the Platform and may vary by service category. The Company reserves the right to revise commission rates upon 30 days prior notice. Workers acknowledge and agree to the applicable commission structure at the time of registration.

11. Cancellation

Cancellation of Jobs is governed by the Cancellation Policy available at /cancellation-policy. In summary: cancellations made before Worker acceptance are generally eligible for a full refund. Cancellations after Worker acceptance or arrival may attract charges. Cancellations after OTP Work Start are generally non-refundable for hours already worked. Repeated cancellations by Users or Workers may result in account penalties.

12. Refund Policy

Refunds are subject to the Refund Policy available at /refund-policy. Refunds are not guaranteed for Jobs that have commenced via OTP Work Start except in cases of verified disputes resolved in the User's favour.

13. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute between a User and a Worker, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute amicably by contacting Instantatoz support at support@instantatoz.online. The Company will endeavour to assist in dispute resolution on a best-effort basis, but is not obligated to adjudicate or guarantee any particular outcome.

If a dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it shall be subject to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 of India, with the seat of arbitration in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The language of arbitration shall be English.

14. Ratings and Reviews

Upon completion of a Job, Users and Workers may rate and review each other. Ratings must be honest, fair, and based on the actual experience. Submitting false, malicious, or defamatory reviews is prohibited and may result in account suspension. The Company reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these guidelines. Ratings directly influence Worker visibility and eligibility for Jobs on the Platform.

15. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful, fraudulent, or deceptive purpose.
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against any User, Worker, or Company staff.
• Circumvent the Platform to transact directly with Workers you discovered through the Platform, thereby evading applicable platform commission.
• Post false, misleading, or defamatory job descriptions or reviews.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Platform or any related systems.
• Scrape, crawl, or extract data from the Platform without express written consent.
• Use the Platform to facilitate any illegal activity, including but not limited to human trafficking, child labour, or forced labour.
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your identity or affiliations.

16. Account Suspension and Termination

The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate any Account at any time and without prior notice, if it believes that the Account holder has violated these Terms, Applicable Law, or poses a risk to other Platform users or the Company. Suspended Users may contact support@instantatoz.online to appeal such decisions. The Company's decision on appeals shall be final.

17. Intellectual Property

All content, trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names, and other intellectual property on the Platform are the exclusive property of the Company or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use the Company's intellectual property without prior written permission. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content on the Platform.

18. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law:

• The Company shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform.
• The Company's aggregate liability for any claim arising out of these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid to the Platform in the three (3) months preceding the claim.
• The Company is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or fitness for purpose of any services performed by Workers.
• The Company does not guarantee the availability, accuracy, or reliability of the Platform at all times.

19. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. The parties expressly agree that the courts and tribunals of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms, subject to the arbitration clause in Section 13.

20. Jurisdiction

For the avoidance of doubt, any legal proceedings not subject to arbitration shall be exclusively brought before the competent courts located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Both parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts and waive any objection based on venue or inconvenient forum.

21. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or grievances related to these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at: