Terms and Conditions

1. About these Terms

These Terms and Conditions govern access to and use of Malayali Markets, including the website, user accounts, business profiles, advertisements, product and service listings, customer requests, private messages, reviews and related features.

Please read these Terms carefully before using Malayali Markets.

By visiting the website, creating an account, publishing a listing, submitting a request, sending a message or otherwise using Malayali Markets, you agree to comply with these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not create an account or use the website.

Additional policies may also apply, including our:

• Privacy Policy;
• Cookie Policy;
• Business Listing Rules;
• Review Policy;
• Complaints Policy; and
• Acceptable Use Policy.

These policies form part of your agreement with Malayali Markets where they apply to your use of the website.

2. About Malayali Markets

Malayali Markets is operated by:

Operator: Tojo Alex
Trading name: Malayali Markets
Business address: [ADDRESS TO BE ADDED]
Email: support@malayalimarkets.com
Website: [FULL WEBSITE ADDRESS TO BE CONFIRMED]

Malayali Markets is operated as a sole-trader business and is not currently a limited company.

References in these Terms to “Malayali Markets”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean Tojo Alex trading as Malayali Markets.

3. What Malayali Markets does

Malayali Markets is an online advertising and introduction platform.

The website allows:

• independent businesses and service providers to advertise;
• sellers to advertise permitted physical products;
• customers to search for businesses, services and products;
• customers to post service requests or jobs they need completed;
• businesses to respond to customer requests;
• customers and businesses to communicate;
• users to submit reviews and ratings; and
• Malayali Markets to check certain information provided by advertisers.

Malayali Markets does not directly supply the products or services advertised by users.

Unless we expressly state otherwise, Malayali Markets:

• does not employ the businesses listed on the website;
• does not act as an agent for customers or businesses;
• does not supervise the performance of services;
• does not manufacture, own or supply listed products;
• does not set the price of products or services;
• does not process or facilitate payments;
• does not receive deposits;
• does not hold money in escrow;
• does not collect commission from transactions;
• does not become a party to contracts between users; and
• does not guarantee that a transaction will be completed.

Any contract for products or services is made directly between the customer and the relevant business or seller.

4. Availability of the website

Malayali Markets may be accessed worldwide. However, listings are primarily intended to connect users with businesses relevant to the markets and locations supported by the website.

We do not guarantee that:

• the website is lawful or suitable for use in every country;
• every feature will be available in every location;
• businesses will provide services in every location; or
• listings comply with laws outside the business’s stated operating area.

Users accessing Malayali Markets from outside the United Kingdom are responsible for complying with applicable local laws.

5. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or use any interactive feature on Malayali Markets.

By creating an account, you confirm that:

• you are aged 18 or over;
• you are legally capable of entering into a binding contract;
• the information you provide is accurate;
• you are not prohibited from using the website under applicable law; and
• you have authority to act for any business or organisation you represent.

Businesses may register whether they operate as:

• sole traders;
• partnerships;
• limited companies;
• charities;
• community organisations; or
• other lawful organisations.

Employees and authorised representatives may operate an account on behalf of a business. The business remains responsible for their activities.

6. User accounts

Users may be permitted to create more than one account where there is a genuine reason to do so. Accounts must not be created to:

• avoid a suspension or restriction;
• manipulate reviews or rankings;
• create misleading impressions;
• impersonate another person;
• evade listing limits;
• send spam; or
• engage in fraudulent activity.

You must:

• provide accurate and current registration information;
• keep your information updated;
• keep your password confidential;
• use a secure password;
• prevent unauthorised access to your account;
• notify us promptly of suspected unauthorised access; and
• accept responsibility for activity carried out through your account.

You must not share an individual account with unauthorised people.

We may require email, telephone, identity or business verification before allowing access to particular features.

We may refuse a registration where reasonably necessary to protect users, prevent fraud, manage legal risk or enforce these Terms.

7. Account security

Malayali Markets will take reasonable steps to protect user accounts, but no online service is completely secure.

You must not:

• attempt to access another user’s account;
• disclose another person’s login information;
• test or bypass website security without written permission;
• introduce malware or harmful code;
• use automated tools to access the website without permission; or
• interfere with the proper operation of the website.

We may temporarily lock or restrict an account where we suspect unauthorised access, fraud or a security risk.

8. Business profiles and listings

A business listing may include:

• business and owner names;
• telephone numbers and email addresses;
• business or service addresses;
• areas covered;
• descriptions of services;
• product descriptions;
• prices;
• call-out charges;
• deposits and additional fees;
• photographs and logos;
• qualifications;
• licences;
• insurance information;
• professional memberships;
• website links; and
• social-media links.

Businesses must ensure that every listing is:

• truthful;
• accurate;
• clear;
• current;
• lawful;
• not misleading;
• placed in an appropriate category; and
• supported by evidence where required.

Businesses must not exaggerate their experience, qualifications, insurance, availability, location or ability to provide a product or service.

9. Listing approval

Business and seller listings may require approval before publication.

Malayali Markets may:

• approve or reject a listing;
• request additional information;
• ask for documentary evidence;
• correct spelling or formatting;
• move a listing to a more appropriate category;
• resize or crop uploaded images;
• temporarily withhold a listing;
• remove duplicated content;
• require amendments before approval; or
• refuse publication.

Approval means only that a listing has passed the platform’s administrative review at that time. Approval does not mean that Malayali Markets recommends or guarantees the business, seller, product or service.

16. Business verification

Businesses may be required to complete verification before advertising.

Verification may involve requesting:

• proof of identity;
• proof of address;
• business-registration information;
• bank or account statements;
• insurance documents;
• licences;
• qualifications;
• professional memberships;
• employee information;
• evidence of experience; or
• other documents reasonably relevant to the advertised service.

Malayali Markets may contact an insurer, professional organisation, qualification provider, regulator or other relevant body to verify information where lawful and appropriate.

Businesses may be required to provide updated documents annually or whenever requested.

A business that does not complete required verification may be prevented from advertising.

17. Meaning of verification

Verification means only that Malayali Markets has reviewed specified information and considered the listing suitable to appear on the website at the time of the review.

Verification:

• is based on the documents and information available at the time;
• may not identify forged, altered, expired or misleading documents;
• may not include every aspect of a business;
• does not guarantee future validity;
• does not guarantee the quality of work;
• does not guarantee honesty or reliability;
• does not amount to an endorsement;
• does not create a partnership or agency relationship; and
• does not remove the customer’s responsibility to carry out checks.

Malayali Markets may withdraw verification or remove a listing where information expires, becomes inaccurate or raises concerns.

Verification badges or other indicators may be introduced, changed or removed in the future.

18. Customer service requests

Customers may publish requests describing work, products or services they require.

A customer request must:

• be genuine;
• contain accurate information;
• provide sufficient relevant detail;
• be lawful;
• not expose unnecessary personal information;
• not request prohibited products or services; and
• not unfairly discriminate against potential providers.

Customers may request quotations from more than one business.

Submitting a request does not require the customer to appoint any business unless a separate binding agreement is made directly between them.

Malayali Markets does not guarantee that a request will receive a response.

19. Customer responsibilities

Before appointing a business or purchasing a product, customers should:

• check the identity of the business or seller;
• assess whether the business is suitable;
• request evidence of relevant qualifications;
• request evidence of current insurance;
• check licences or professional registrations;
• verify claims directly with the relevant organisation;
• obtain a clear written quotation;
• agree the scope of work;
• agree the price and payment schedule;
• agree delivery or completion dates;
• understand cancellation and refund terms;
• use a secure payment method;
• avoid unnecessary advance payments;
• inspect completed work where appropriate; and
• retain copies of relevant communications.

Customers must not transfer money merely because a business appears or has been verified on Malayali Markets.

Customers remain responsible for deciding whether to enter into a contract with a particular business.

20. Contracts between users

Any contract formed following use of Malayali Markets is exclusively between the relevant customer and business or seller.

Malayali Markets is not a party to that contract.

The parties are responsible for agreeing:

• what will be supplied;
• the applicable price;
• deposits;
• payment dates;
• delivery or completion dates;
• cancellation rights;
• refund rights;
• warranties;
• insurance;
• liability;
• dispute procedures; and
• any other contractual terms.

Businesses should provide customers with their own terms and legally required information before a contract is concluded.

Nothing in these Terms removes any statutory rights that customers may have against a business or seller.

21. Payments

Payments must be arranged independently between users.

Malayali Markets does not:

• accept customer payments;
• receive deposits;
• hold funds;
• operate an escrow service;
• collect transaction commission;
• issue invoices for user transactions;
• decide whether a payment is due;
• process refunds; or
• manage chargebacks.

Users are responsible for choosing a safe payment method.

You should not send card details, banking passwords, one-time security codes or other confidential payment information through Malayali Markets messages.

Malayali Markets is not responsible for payments made outside the platform or for losses caused by a user choosing an unsafe payment method, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

22. Business taxes and VAT

Each business or seller is responsible for:

• registering for tax where required;
• declaring relevant income;
• paying applicable taxes;
• registering for VAT where required;
• displaying VAT-inclusive consumer prices where required;
• issuing appropriate invoices; and
• providing accurate tax information requested by Malayali Markets.

Malayali Markets may be legally required to collect, verify, retain or report information about sellers to HM Revenue and Customs or another authority.

Businesses must provide accurate information where such reporting obligations apply.

23. Current and future fees

Malayali Markets is currently free to use unless a feature clearly states otherwise.

We may introduce:

• business subscriptions;
• paid listings;
• featured placements;
• promotional services;
• account upgrades; or
• other paid features.

We will provide relevant pricing and payment terms before a user purchases a paid feature.

We will not retrospectively charge for a feature that was presented as free.

Where an existing free service becomes paid, affected users will receive reasonable notice and may choose whether to subscribe, stop using the feature or close their account.

Separate subscription and cancellation terms may apply to future paid services.

24. Messaging

Registered users may be able to communicate through private messages.

Messages may be stored by Malayali Markets and may be accessed by authorised administrators where reasonably necessary to:

• investigate a complaint;
• address a safety concern;
• investigate suspected fraud;
• enforce these Terms;
• comply with legal obligations; or
• protect users and the platform.

Users may be allowed to attach files or images.

You must not use messaging to:

• send spam;
• send unsolicited advertising;
• harass another person;
• make threats;
• distribute malware;
• share illegal content;
• impersonate another person;
• request unlawful payments;
• manipulate reviews; or
• obtain information through deception.

25. Communications outside Malayali Markets

Users may choose to continue conversations through telephone, email, WhatsApp, social media or another external service.

Malayali Markets does not control or monitor communications outside its platform.

Users should keep their own copies of external communications where these may be needed as evidence.

Malayali Markets is not responsible for:

• the security of external communication services;
• messages deleted from an external service;
• conduct occurring outside the platform;
• external service outages; or
• information shared outside Malayali Markets.

We may consider screenshots or other evidence of external communications when investigating a complaint, but we cannot guarantee their authenticity or completeness.

32. User conduct

All users must behave lawfully and respectfully.

You must not:

• harass or threaten another user;
• discriminate unlawfully;
• publish abusive content;
• impersonate another person or business;
• misrepresent your identity;
• interfere with another user’s account;
• scrape website information without permission;
• overload or disrupt the website;
• manipulate search results;
• artificially increase views or ratings;
• misuse contact information;
• send unsolicited bulk messages;
• create fake enquiries;
• submit malicious complaints;
• encourage another person to breach these Terms; or
• use Malayali Markets for unlawful purposes.

33. Illegal and harmful content

Users must not upload, publish, transmit or link to illegal content.

Malayali Markets may take proportionate steps to prevent, identify and remove illegal content and to reduce the risk of illegal activity being facilitated through the website.

Where we become aware of suspected illegal content, we may:

• remove or restrict it;
• preserve relevant records;
• suspend associated accounts;
• prevent re-uploading where technically possible;
• report the matter to law-enforcement or regulatory authorities; and
• cooperate with a lawful investigation.

Urgent action may be taken without advance notice.

34. Users under 18

Malayali Markets is intended only for users aged 18 or over.

A person under 18 must not:

• create an account;
• publish a listing;
• post a request;
• send messages;
• submit reviews; or
• enter into transactions through the website.

We may request age or identity evidence where we reasonably suspect that an account is operated by someone under 18.

An account operated by a person under 18 may be suspended or removed.

35. User content

“User content” includes listings, descriptions, logos, photographs, reviews, requests, messages, documents and other material submitted by users.

You retain ownership of your user content.

By submitting content, you grant Malayali Markets a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to:

• host it;
• store it;
• reproduce it;
• display it;
• format it;
• resize it;
• crop images;
• publish it;
• distribute public content;
• promote public listings; and
• use it as reasonably necessary to operate Malayali Markets.

For public listings and promotional content, this licence includes permission to display the material through Malayali Markets social-media channels and promotional communications.

The licence normally lasts while the content remains published, together with a reasonable period needed for backups, legal compliance, complaint handling or technical removal.

36. Responsibility for user content

You confirm that:

• you own your submitted content or have permission to use it;
• publication will not infringe another person’s rights;
• people shown in photographs have given any required permission;
• the information is accurate;
• the content complies with these Terms; and
• the content is lawful.

You are responsible for claims arising from content you submit.

You must not copy another business’s listing, photographs, branding or written material without permission.

37. Malayali Markets intellectual property

Malayali Markets owns or licenses the rights in:

• the Malayali Markets name;
• logos;
• branding;
• website design;
• page layouts;
• original written content;
• software;
• databases;
• graphics; and
• platform features.

You may use the website for its intended purpose but must not, without written permission:

• copy substantial parts of the website;
• reproduce Malayali Markets branding;
• create a confusingly similar service;
• reverse engineer software;
• sell access to the website;
• scrape or extract listings systematically; or
• use our material for an unauthorised commercial purpose.

38. Search results and recommendations

Listings may currently be displayed or rotated randomly.

In the future, listings may be organised using factors such as:

• location;
• category;
• search terms;
• relevance;
• reviews;
• verification;
• profile completeness;
• recent activity;
• response times;
• availability;
• paid placement; or
• random rotation.

No business is entitled to:

• a particular ranking;
• continuous visibility;
• a particular number of views;
• a particular number of enquiries;
• a minimum level of revenue; or
• any specific commercial result.

Search methods and ranking factors may change.

Paid placement, where introduced, will be identified where required by law.

39. Moderation

Malayali Markets may moderate content before or after publication.

We may:

• use manual or automated review tools;
• ask users for evidence;
• edit formatting;
• restrict visibility;
• issue warnings;
• prevent messages;
• suspend accounts;
• remove content;
• terminate accounts;
• restrict future registrations;
• preserve records; or
• report suspected illegal activity.

We are not required to monitor every listing, message or review before it appears.

Failure to identify prohibited content immediately does not mean that the content is approved.

40. Suspension and termination

We may suspend, restrict or close an account where we reasonably believe that:

• these Terms have been breached;
• information is false;
• verification has failed;
• a user presents a safety or fraud risk;
• illegal content has been submitted;
• another person has been impersonated;
• reviews have been manipulated;
• spam has been sent;
• payments or services appear fraudulent;
• the account has been compromised;
• the user has repeatedly caused complaints;
• the account has been inactive for a prolonged period;
• suspension is required by law; or
• restriction is reasonably necessary to protect the platform or its users.

A serious breach may result in immediate closure without prior warning.

A permanently banned user must not create or operate another account without our written permission.

We may use relevant identifiers and retained information to prevent attempts to evade a ban.

41. Closing your account

Users may close their own accounts using the available account settings or by contacting support.

When an account closes:

• associated listings may be removed;
• active customer requests may be removed;
• access to messages may end;
• reviews may be removed or handled as described in the Privacy Policy;
• some content may remain in backups temporarily; and
• relevant records may be retained for legal, security or complaint purposes.

Closing an account does not cancel a contract already made directly with another user.

48. Our responsibility to consumers

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.

In particular, nothing excludes liability for:

• death or personal injury caused directly by our negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by Malayali Markets;
• breach of rights that cannot lawfully be excluded; or
• any other liability that the law does not permit us to exclude.

Nothing in these Terms affects a consumer’s mandatory statutory rights.

49. Liability relating to user transactions

Malayali Markets is an introduction and advertising platform.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Malayali Markets is not responsible for loss arising from:

• the quality or safety of products or services supplied by a user;
• the acts or omissions of customers, businesses or sellers;
• inaccurate user listings;
• poor workmanship;
• defective products;
• property damage caused by a service provider;
• personal injury caused by a user or service provider;
• payment made directly between users;
• payment fraud committed by a user;
• missed appointments;
• cancellations;
• delays;
• non-delivery;
• disputes between users;
• reliance on a review;
• reliance on verification;
• communications outside the platform;
• external websites; or
• external payment methods.

These exclusions do not apply where the relevant loss was caused directly by Malayali Markets in circumstances where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

50. Business losses

Where a user accesses Malayali Markets wholly or mainly for business purposes, Malayali Markets will not be responsible, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for:

• loss of profit;
• loss of revenue;
• loss of business;
• loss of anticipated savings;
• loss of contracts;
• loss of opportunity;
• loss of goodwill;
• reputational damage; or
• indirect or consequential loss.

Malayali Markets does not guarantee any minimum level of traffic, enquiries, sales, appointments or commercial success.

51. User responsibility for loss

You are responsible for loss or damage reasonably caused by:

• your breach of these Terms;
• unlawful content you submit;
• false statements you publish;
• infringement of another person’s rights;
• misuse of another person’s information;
• fraudulent activity;
• products you sell;
• services you supply; or
• your failure to comply with applicable law.

This clause does not require a consumer to compensate Malayali Markets beyond what is lawful, fair and proportionate.

52. Business-user indemnity

A business user agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to compensate Malayali Markets for reasonable losses, liabilities, damages and costs arising from a third-party claim caused by:

• the business’s products or services;
• a false or unlawful listing;
• intellectual-property infringement;
• breach of applicable law;
• failure to pay taxes;
• injury or property damage caused by the business;
• breach of these Terms; or
• fraud or misconduct by the business.

Malayali Markets will take reasonable steps to mitigate its losses and will not recover the same loss more than once.

This clause applies only to the extent that the relevant loss was caused by the business user.

53. Privacy

Personal information is processed in accordance with the Malayali Markets Privacy Policy.

By using the website, you acknowledge that:

• public listings can be seen by other people;
• public listings may be indexed by search engines;
• platform messages may be stored;
• authorised administrators may review messages during investigations;
• verification documents may be reviewed;
• information may be preserved where necessary for legal or safety reasons; and
• external communication services operate under their own privacy terms.

Users must not publish another person’s personal information without a lawful basis or appropriate permission.

54. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect:

• legal changes;
• regulatory guidance;
• security requirements;
• new features;
• paid subscriptions;
• changes to our business model;
• user-safety concerns; or
• operational improvements.

For minor changes, we may update the published date on the website.

For significant changes, we will provide reasonable notice, normally at least a few days where practicable, through one or more of:

• email;
• an account-dashboard notice;
• a website announcement; or
• another appropriate method.

The notice method will depend on the significance of the change.

Continued use after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Users who do not agree may stop using Malayali Markets and close their account.

Changes will not remove rights already accrued or retrospectively impose charges without appropriate agreement.

55. Transfer of the business

Malayali Markets may transfer its rights and responsibilities under these Terms as part of:

• a business sale;
• reorganisation;
• incorporation;
• transfer to a new operator; or
• merger.

Any transfer will remain subject to applicable law and the Privacy Policy.

A consumer’s rights will not be reduced merely because the operator changes.

56. Events outside our reasonable control

Malayali Markets will not be responsible for delay or failure caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including:

• internet failure;
• hosting failure;
• cyberattack;
• power outage;
• telecommunications disruption;
• natural disaster;
• war;
• civil emergency;
• government action; or
• failure of a third-party provider.

This does not affect liability that cannot legally be excluded.

57. Severability

If a court or competent authority finds part of these Terms unlawful or unenforceable, that part will be treated as removed or limited to the minimum extent necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue to apply.