Terms and Conditions
General Use and Conduct
Update notice:
Privacy Policy & Terms Update
Section: In-App Communication Policy
Beginning October 1, 2025, all Village Seekers and Village Providers are required to conduct communication related to services exclusively within the Our Village application. Sharing personal contact information such as phone numbers, email addresses, or external payment details through in-app chat, CV uploads, or any other platform features is strictly prohibited.
Our Village reserves the right to review message communications for the purposes of ensuring compliance with safety standards, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution. Communications may be monitored or flagged if attempts to share prohibited contact information are detected.
Any user found in violation of this policy, including taking jobs or payments off-platform, may have their account suspended or permanently disabled.
This policy is designed to enhance user safety, protect payment integrity, and maintain accountability within the Our Village community.
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Effective Date: June 18, 2025
Welcome to Our Village (“the App”). By creating an account, browsing, or using the App in any way, you agree to the following Terms of Service and Code of Conduct. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
1. User Responsibilities
You agree to:
Provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information in your profile
Use the App only for its intended purposes
Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws (including those of Texas)
2. Code of Conduct
We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful community. By using the App, you agree not to:
Harassment & Discrimination
Harass, threaten, or intimidate any user, whether through language, behavior, or repeated unwanted contact
Discriminate based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or any protected status
Solicitation & Misuse
Solicit services or compensation outside of the job description without mutual agreement
Promote, encourage, or solicit activity that violates Texas law or U.S. law
Offer or request illegal services or engage in unlawful transactions
Profile Integrity
Create a false or misleading profile or impersonate another person or entity
Use another user’s account or share your login credentials with others
Interference
Attempt to interfere with the operation of the App, its servers, or networks
Upload viruses or harmful code, or engage in data mining or scraping
3. Content Guidelines
All content shared through your profile, messages, or any part of the App must:
Be respectful and appropriate for all audiences
Not include explicit, graphic, or offensive material
Not promote any form of hate, violence, or illegal activity
4. Enforcement
Violation of these terms may result in:
Temporary or permanent suspension of your account
Removal of content or reports from your profile
Referral to law enforcement if applicable
We reserve the right to review and moderate user behavior at our sole discretion.
5. Reporting
If you encounter behavior or content that violates these terms, please report it to our support team at: helpdesk@ourvillageapp.org
6. Modifications
We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the App after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
7. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of law principles.
For Providers
By registering as a service provider on our platform, you agree to abide by the following terms and conditions. These rules are in place to maintain a safe, professional, and respectful environment for all users.
1. Profile and Contact Information
- You may not include any personal contact information such as email addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, websites, or any external links in your profile or bio.
- Any profile found in violation of this rule will be subject to immediate deactivation without prior notice.
2. Profile Image Requirements
- All profile photos must be:
- A clear, well-lit, and recent image of yourself.
- Professional in appearance — no filters, sunglasses, group photos, or obscured faces.
- Failure to maintain a professional image may result in your profile being flagged or removed.
3. Professional Conduct
- Providers are expected to:
- Arrive on time for all scheduled jobs.
- Maintain appropriate personal hygiene and clean, suitable attire.
- Act in a professional and respectful manner at all times.
- Repeated lateness, cancellations, or reports of unprofessional behavior may result in removal from the platform.
4. Appropriate Messaging and Use of Platform
- Any use of the messaging system for:
- Inappropriate, harassing, or offensive communication
- Illegal activity
- Soliciting users for services outside the scope of the platform
will result in immediate suspension or permanent removal.
- Our messaging system is monitored and subject to moderation to ensure compliance with community guidelines.
5. Grounds for Termination
We reserve the right to remove or deactivate provider accounts at our sole discretion for any of the following reasons:
- Violation of any terms outlined in this document.
- Multiple complaints or negative reviews from clients.
- Attempting to circumvent the platform to arrange off-app transactions where prohibited.
6. Modifications to Terms
These Terms of Service may be updated periodically. Providers will be notified of any major changes. Continued use of the platform implies acceptance of the updated terms.
7. Background Checks
All providers on the Our Village app are required to have a current background check and/or driving record check upon sign up. If a provider has completed a background check in the last 12 months, send proof to helpdesk@ourvillageapp.org to waive the background check requirement.
Background checks are non-refundable and range from $15 to $25 depending on your services offered. If a background check returns criminal or other history as deemed ineligible for participation, a provider may not offer services on Our Village. Background checks that come back with a criminal or other record that violates our terms of service, the payment will not be refunded.
Our Village reserves the right to determine, at any time, a providers eligibility to offer services on the platform.
For Seekers
Village Perks Program
Overview
Village Perks (“Program”) is our loyalty and rewards program for registered Village Seekers. Eligible actions in the Our Village app earn points (“Points”) that can be redeemed for in-app discounts or third-party gift cards, subject to these Terms.
Earning Points
Points are awarded for completing qualifying activities, including but not limited to:
Completing your profile (10 Points)
Hiring a Village Provider (5 Points per $20 spent, rounded down)
Paying through the app (2 Points per completed transaction)
Leaving a review (2 Points)
Successful referral of a new user (5 Points)
Purchasing from a listed business (2 Points)
Submitting an approved video testimonial (10 Points)
Points may be delayed, withheld, or reversed for cancellations, refunds, chargebacks, suspected abuse, or error.
First Job Reward
To celebrate your first completed job, you will receive a guaranteed, non-random bonus reward (amount displayed in-app) credited when the job is marked complete.
Point Value
In-app discounts or job posts: $0.10 per Point
Third-party gift cards: $0.05 per Point
Points have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for money.
Points do not expire; however, the Program may be modified or ended at any time as described in 5.7.
Gift Cards
When you redeem Points for a third-party gift card, the card is issued by that merchant and subject to their terms, including any applicable expiration dates, fees, and Texas low-balance cash-out rights for amounts under $2.50 if redeemed in person. Our Village is not the card issuer and is not responsible for merchant performance.
Tiers
The Program offers tier levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) with escalating rewards. Tier thresholds and benefits are listed in the in-app Village Perks section and may change without notice.
Program Changes
We may change, suspend, or terminate Village Perks at any time. Material changes will be posted in-app or on our website. If the Program ends, we may provide a redemption window.
Payments Terms & Conditions (Stripe / Marketplace Policy)
Section: Payments & Fees
- Payment Processing
- All payments between Village Seekers and Village Providers must be completed through the Our Village application. Our Village uses Stripe, Inc. as its third-party payment processor.
- Village Seekers authorize Our Village and Stripe to charge their designated payment method for the agreed-upon amount of services booked through the app.
- All payments between Village Seekers and Village Providers must be completed through the Our Village application. Our Village uses Stripe, Inc. as its third-party payment processor.
- Operations Fee
- A 5% operations fee will be applied to each transaction paid by Village Seekers. This fee helps cover payment processing, security, and platform support.
- A 5% operations fee will be applied to each transaction paid by Village Seekers. This fee helps cover payment processing, security, and platform support.
- Provider Payments
- Village Providers will be paid through external payment methods according to the preference they select during account setup.
- At this time, no fees are withheld from Provider payouts. Providers receive the full agreed-upon service amount.
- Village Providers will be paid through external payment methods according to the preference they select during account setup.
- Payment Security
- Our Village guarantees payment to Providers for all jobs completed within the app. Providers are not required to request or accept payment outside the Our Village platform.
- Village Seekers are billed based on the services booked and completed within the app.
- Our Village guarantees payment to Providers for all jobs completed within the app. Providers are not required to request or accept payment outside the Our Village platform.
- Disputes & Remedial Services
- If a payment dispute arises, Our Village will review the transaction and communications conducted within the app.
- If any dispute arises, you must contact Our Village immediately by phone or text: 682-276-2228. Or send an email to helpdesk@ourvillageapp.org.
- Our Village may, at its discretion, issue adjustments, refunds, or remedial payments to ensure fair resolution.
- If a payment dispute arises, Our Village will review the transaction and communications conducted within the app.
- Prohibited Conduct