Terms of Service

1. What SkillSwipe is

SkillSwipe is a marketplace that connects homeowners with independent tradespeople, plus a payment protection service. Tradespeople are independent contractors — not our employees. The contract for the work itself is between the homeowner and the tradesperson.

2. Verification — what our badges mean

• BRONZE: the tradesperson supplied an SA ID number in a valid format.
• SILVER (Verified): our team compared their uploaded ID document with a selfie and matched them.
• GOLD: SILVER, plus a criminal-record check was completed with a clear result at the time of checking.

Verification is a point-in-time check done with reasonable care. It reduces risk — it does not eliminate it, and it is not a guarantee of workmanship, honesty or future conduct. Always use your own judgment, and use payment protection for the money side.

3. Payment protection (escrow)

• The homeowner pays the quoted amount plus a 5% protection fee before work starts. We confirm receipt before the job is marked as funded.
• The money is only released to the tradesperson when the homeowner confirms the job is done.
• The tradesperson receives exactly their quoted amount.
• If there is a problem, the homeowner can open a dispute instead of releasing. Our team reviews evidence from both sides and may release, refund, or split the funds. Dispute decisions are made within 5 business days of receiving both sides’ evidence.
• Payouts and refunds are made by EFT to the bank account on file, normally the same business day after release/decision.

4. Fees

During our launch, connecting is free for homeowners. The escrow protection fee is 5% of the quoted amount (minimum R25), paid by the homeowner on top of the quote. Where a payment gateway is used, its processing cost is also shown and added to the total. Fees are shown before you pay, every time.

5. Your responsibilities

• Provide accurate information; keep your sign-in details private.
• Tradespeople: only upload genuine videos of yourself and your own work; keep your banking details current; honour your quotes.
• Homeowners: pay only through the platform for protected jobs; confirm completion honestly.
• No harassment, fraud, discrimination or unlawful conduct. We may suspend or remove accounts that break these rules, with any escrowed funds handled through the dispute process.

6. Liability

To the extent permitted by South African law (including the Consumer Protection Act), our liability is limited to the amounts you paid us in fees for the transaction concerned. We are not liable for the quality of workmanship, for indirect damages, or for conduct of users off the platform.

7. General

These terms are governed by South African law. We may update them; material changes will be announced in the app. Contact: zenflare.ai@gmail.com.