User Terms of Service

Welcome to MelaMatch! These User Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the MelaMatch lead-generation platform for South Asian events (the "Service"). By accessing or using MelaMatch as a user (i.e., an individual seeking event services), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our Service. You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use MelaMatch. If you are between 13 and 17 years old, you may use the Service only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Our Services and Role

MelaMatch connects users planning South Asian weddings and events ("Users") with event service providers ("Vendors"). We act solely as a venue to facilitate initial connections and information exchange between Users and Vendors. MelaMatch is not a party to any contracts or agreements that you may enter into with Vendors, and we do not control the actions or quality of services provided by Vendors. Any arrangements made or services provided by a Vendor are strictly between you and that Vendor. While we may provide guidance, tips, or templates to assist in event planning, such information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. You should conduct your own due diligence before hiring a Vendor, and if needed, seek professional advice regarding contracts or services.

User Obligations and Acceptable Use

As a condition of using MelaMatch, you agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with these Terms. You also agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information when creating an account or making an inquiry. Do not impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity.
• Use the platform in good faith to genuinely seek event services. You will not use MelaMatch to send false or fraudulent inquiries or to engage in any unsolicited advertising or harassment of Vendors or other users.
• Refrain from posting or transmitting any content through the Service that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, threatening, or that infringes on anyone’s intellectual property or privacy rights. This includes any review or feedback you may provide about Vendors.
• Not attempt to data-mine, scrape, crawl, or otherwise collect information from our platform in an automated manner, nor will you attempt to damage, interfere with, or disrupt the Service (for example, through hacking, viruses, or similar means).
• Abide by any additional guidelines or rules posted within the Service (such as community guidelines or event planning forums, if applicable).

If you violate these Terms or any applicable laws, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and/or access to MelaMatch, and to take any appropriate legal action.

Vendor Listings and Third-Party Services

You understand that Vendors listed on MelaMatch are independent third parties and not employees, agents, or representatives of MelaMatch. We do not endorse any particular Vendor or guarantee their credentials, license status, insurance, availability, pricing, or the quality of their services. Although we may conduct basic background checks or vetting of Vendors to maintain quality on our platform, you should independently verify any important information before hiring a Vendor. Any reviews or ratings on our site are provided by other users and do not constitute an endorsement by MelaMatch.

MelaMatch is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims liability for, any issues arising from your interactions or contracts with Vendors. This includes, but is not limited to, any personal or property damage, scheduling issues, no-shows, cancellations, or unsatisfactory services. Any dispute you have with a Vendor must be resolved between you and that Vendor, although we encourage you to notify us of any serious user or Vendor misconduct.

Payments and Transactions

Using MelaMatch to find Vendors is free for Users. If a Vendor requires payment for their services, any such financial transactions (deposits, fees, final payments) are strictly between you and the Vendor. MelaMatch does not process or guarantee payments to Vendors on your behalf, unless explicitly stated for a particular service or promotion. Always obtain a clear contract or agreement with your Vendor outlining the terms of service and payment schedule. MelaMatch will not be liable for any refunds, chargebacks, or disputes regarding payments between you and a Vendor.

Communications and Consent

When you use MelaMatch to request information from Vendors, you are initiating a business inquiry. By providing your contact information (such as phone number and email) and submitting a request, you consent to being contacted by the Vendors you have inquired with, as well as by MelaMatch, to facilitate your event planning. Such communications may include phone calls, text messages, or emails related to your event inquiry. These communications are intended to assist you in obtaining the services you requested. MelaMatch and Vendors will communicate with you in accordance with applicable laws (including the TCPA for calls/texts and CAN-SPAM for emails). For example, text messages from us or Vendors will include opt-out instructions (you can reply "STOP" to end further texts), and marketing emails will contain an unsubscribe link. Please refer to our Privacy Notice for more details on how we handle your contact information and communications.

Intellectual Property

All content and materials on the MelaMatch platform (excluding content provided by Users or Vendors) — including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, and software — are the property of MelaMatch or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for your personal event-planning use. You may not reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, or reverse engineer any portion of our Service unless expressly permitted by us. Any feedback or suggestions you provide to MelaMatch regarding the Service may be used by us without any obligation to you.

Disclaimer of Warranties

MelaMatch provides the Service on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the Service. We do not guarantee that the platform will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that any content (including Listings or reviews) will be accurate or reliable. Using the platform and engaging with Vendors is at your own risk. MelaMatch makes no guarantees or warranties regarding the suitability, availability, or quality of any Vendor services, or that the Vendor will meet your requirements or expectations.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, MelaMatch (and its officers, directors, employees, and agents) will not be liable for any indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, use, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Service or your interactions with any Vendors. MelaMatch’s total cumulative liability for any claims arising from or related to the Service or these Terms shall not exceed USD $100 or the amount you paid to MelaMatch in the past twelve months for use of the Service (if any), whichever is greater. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain liability exclusions or limitations, so some of these limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless MelaMatch and its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents (the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, or proceedings, and all related liabilities, damages, losses, fines, penalties, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that arise out of or relate to: (a) your use or misuse of the Service, (b) any content you submit or actions you take through the Service (including communications with Vendors), (c) your breach of these Terms or violation of any law or rights of a third party, or (d) any dispute between you and a Vendor or other third party. MelaMatch reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you (in which event you will cooperate with MelaMatch in asserting any available defenses). This obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the Service.

Arbitration and Dispute Resolution

Binding Arbitration: You and MelaMatch agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Service (collectively, "Disputes") shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court, except for matters that may be taken to small claims court or claims for injunctive relief. This arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis only; class arbitrations and class actions are not permitted. You hereby waive your right to a trial by jury and to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

The arbitration shall be administered by a neutral arbitration organization (such as the American Arbitration Association) and conducted by a single arbitrator. The arbitrator will have the authority to grant whatever relief would be available in court under law, and the arbitrator’s decision will be final and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Each party is responsible for their own arbitration filing fees and costs, and attorney’s fees, except as otherwise provided by law or the arbitration organization's rules. This arbitration agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and shall survive termination of these Terms.

Opt-Out: If you do not wish to agree to arbitration for Disputes, you must provide MelaMatch with written notice of your decision within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Send your opt-out notice to our contact address listed below. Otherwise, you agree to arbitrate.

Exceptions: Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek relief in a court of competent jurisdiction for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief to protect intellectual property or confidential information, without first engaging in arbitration.

Governing Law

These Terms and any Dispute arising out of or in connection with them will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, U.S.A., without regard to its conflict of law principles, except to the extent that the Federal Arbitration Act applies to the arbitration provision above.

Accessibility and ADA Compliance

MelaMatch is committed to accessibility. We strive to ensure that our website and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and relevant Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). If you have difficulty accessing any part of our Service due to a disability, please contact us at our support email or phone number, and we will work with you to provide the information or service you need through an alternate method. We welcome feedback on how we can improve our platform's accessibility for all users.

Changes to Terms

MelaMatch may modify these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify users by posting the updated Terms on our website and updating the Effective Date above, or by other prominent communication. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically. If you continue to use the Service after updated Terms are posted, that constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using MelaMatch.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms or need to contact us for any reason, please reach out to us here.