Contents
Contents
Section 01
Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using NerdVine (“the Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Platform.
These Terms apply to all users of the Platform, including professionals (freelancers), businesses (clients), and visitors. NerdVine reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Section 02
Eligibility & Access
To use NerdVine, you must:
– Be at least 18 years of age
– Have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
– Have been approved through NerdVine’s vetting process
– Provide accurate and truthful information during registration
– Not have been previously removed from the Platform for violations
NerdVine reserves the right to deny or revoke access to any person or entity at any time, with or without cause.
Section 03
Accounts & Verification
Each person may hold only one account on NerdVine. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent suspension, access restrictions, or other platform rules is strictly prohibited and will result in permanent removal.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. NerdVine must be notified immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
Account information must remain accurate and up to date. NerdVine may require re-verification at any time as part of its ongoing trust and safety processes.
Section 04
Professional Obligations
Professionals approved on NerdVine agree to the following:
– Honest representation: Your profile, skills, and portfolio must accurately represent your capabilities. Misrepresentation is grounds for removal.
– Proposal integrity: Proposals must be genuine and relevant to the job posting. Spam proposals, copy-paste proposals, or proposals made without intent to complete the work are prohibited.
– Contract compliance: Once a contract is accepted, you are obligated to complete the agreed scope of work within the agreed timeline, or communicate proactively if delays arise.
– Professional conduct: All communication and interaction must remain professional, respectful, and conducted through the Platform.
– Deliverable quality: Work submitted for payment must meet the specifications outlined in the contract.
Section 05
Business Obligations
Businesses approved on NerdVine agree to the following:
– Accurate job postings: Job descriptions must accurately represent the scope, requirements, and budget of the work. Misleading job postings are prohibited.
– Escrow funding: Payment must be deposited into escrow before any professional begins work. Requesting work without funding escrow is a violation of these Terms.
– Timely review: Deliverables must be reviewed within the timeframe specified in the contract. Unreasonable delays in review that disadvantage the professional are prohibited.
– Good faith disputes: Disputes must be raised in good faith. Using the dispute system to withhold payment for completed work, without legitimate grounds, is a violation.
– No circumvention: Businesses may not solicit professionals to work outside the Platform to avoid NerdVine’s fees or protections.
Section 06
Escrow & Payments
All transactions on NerdVine are conducted through the Platform’s escrow system. Direct payment arrangements between professionals and businesses that bypass the escrow system are prohibited and will result in account termination for both parties.
How escrow works:
– The business deposits the agreed project amount into escrow before work begins
– NerdVine holds the funds in a dedicated escrow account
– Upon professional delivery and client approval, funds are released to the professional
– In the event of a dispute, funds remain in escrow until the dispute is resolved
NerdVine charges a platform fee on all completed transactions. The current fee structure is displayed on the Platform and may be updated with notice to active members.
Section 07
Disputes & Resolution
NerdVine provides a formal dispute resolution process for disagreements arising from contracts conducted on the Platform. Both parties agree to engage with this process in good faith.
When a dispute is raised, NerdVine will:
– Notify both parties and collect evidence from each side
– Review the original contract scope and all communications
– Make a determination within a reasonable timeframe
– Communicate the decision and reasoning to both parties
– Release or return escrow funds in accordance with the determination
NerdVine’s dispute determinations are final within the Platform. Members may pursue external legal remedies independently, but NerdVine’s decision regarding escrow funds is binding.
Repeated frivolous disputes by either party are considered a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension or termination.
Section 08
Reviews & Feedback
NerdVine uses a blind review system. Both the professional and the business submit their reviews of each other simultaneously, without seeing the other’s review beforehand. Reviews are made public only after both parties have submitted.
Reviews must be:
– Honest and based on the actual experience
– Professional in tone and language
– Specific to the contract in question
– Free of personal attacks, threats, or defamatory content
Attempts to manipulate reviews — including offering incentives for positive reviews, threatening negative reviews, or coordinating reviews with third parties — are prohibited and may result in removal from the Platform.
Section 09
Prohibited Conduct
The following conduct is strictly prohibited on NerdVine:
– Creating multiple accounts or misrepresenting your identity
– Soliciting or accepting work outside the Platform to avoid fees or protections
– Submitting false, misleading, or plagiarized work
– Harassment, threats, or abusive communication toward any member
– Sharing confidential information obtained through the Platform
– Attempting to circumvent the escrow system or dispute process
– Using the Platform for any illegal purpose
– Interfering with the Platform’s technical systems or security
– Posting job listings or proposals with no genuine intent to complete the work
Violations of this section may result in immediate account termination without refund of pending fees.
Section 10
Termination
NerdVine may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, conduct detrimental to the community, or at NerdVine’s sole discretion.
Upon termination:
– Active contracts will be resolved or transferred at NerdVine’s discretion
– Escrow funds will be handled in accordance with the relevant contract and dispute process
– You will no longer have access to the Platform or your account data
– Termination for cause may be reported to relevant authorities where legally required
You may also terminate your account voluntarily by contacting NerdVine. Voluntary termination does not cancel obligations under active contracts.
Section 11
Limitation of Liability
NerdVine provides the Platform as a marketplace connecting professionals and businesses. NerdVine is not a party to any contract between professionals and businesses and is not responsible for the quality, legality, or outcome of any work performed through the Platform.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, NerdVine’s total liability for any claim arising from use of the Platform shall not exceed the total fees paid by the relevant party to NerdVine in the six months preceding the claim.
NerdVine is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from use of the Platform.
Section 12
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Any disputes arising from these Terms that are not resolved through NerdVine’s internal processes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Philippines.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 13
Contact
For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Platform: Submit a support request through your NerdVine account
NerdVine will respond to legal inquiries within 5 business days.