Terms of Service

These Terms & Conditions govern your access to and use of the Lincs mobile application, website, and related services. The Platform is operated by Lincs.

By creating an account, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

Important: Lincs is a marketplace that connects Clients with independent Artisans. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Lincs does not provide artisan services directly.

1. Definitions

Client — Means a user who seeks, requests, books, or pays for services.
Artisan — Means a user who offers and provides services to Clients through the Platform.
Service — Means the local service(s) offered by Artisans (e.g., plumbing, electrical, carpentry, beauty services, repairs, cleaning, etc.).
Booking — Means a service request created by a Client and accepted (or rejected) by an Artisan.
Wallet — It means the place in-app were balance feature is used to fund and pay for Bookings (where enabled) and a place where withdrawal takes place in the app.
KYC — means Know-Your-Customer / verification checks required to access certain Platform Features.
User Content — means any content you submit or make available through the Platform (including profile data, portfolio media, reviews, ratings, messages, images, and videos).

2. The Platform and What We Provide

2.1 Marketplace & Intermediary Role

Lincs provides a technology platform that enables:

Clients to discover Artisans, request services, communicate, book, and pay (where supported).
Artisans to create profiles, list offered services/categories, communicate with Clients, and receive payments (where supported).

Lincs is not a party to the service contract between Client and Artisan except to the extent required to facilitate payments, platform safety, compliance checks, or dispute handling features described here.

2.2 No Guarantee of Outcomes

We do not guarantee:

that an Artisan will accept a Booking,
that a service will be completed within a specific time,
the quality, suitability, safety, legality, or outcome of any service performed by an Artisan.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

You must be at least the age of majority under applicable Nigerian law (or have valid consent from a parent/guardian where required) to use the Platform.

3.2 Account Information

You agree to:

provide accurate, current, and complete information,
keep your details updated (name, email, phone, location where required),
safeguard your login credentials and any device-based authentication (including biometrics).

You are responsible for all activity on your account unless prohibited by applicable law.

3.3 Verification and KYC

To protect users and comply with legal/regulatory obligations, we may require verification steps, including KYC tiers for certain features. Depending on your role and usage, this may include:

identity verification (e.g., NIN, driver's licence, passport),
facial/selfie verification,
Corporate Affairs Commisission (CAC) uploads (for Artisans),
bank details verification (for withdrawals, where supported).

We may refuse, suspend, or limit access to features if verification is incomplete, fails, or is suspected to be fraudulent.

4. User Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Client Responsibilities

provide truthful Booking details (service needed, address/location, notes),
communicate respectfully with Artisans,
pay amounts you approve and authorise (including via Wallet where used),
Confirm completion honestly and use "approve/reject completion" features in good faith.

4.2 Artisan Responsibilities

provide accurate profile information (business name, profession, categories, service area, hours, etc.),
perform services professionally and lawfully,
comply with all applicable laws, permits, licenses, and insurance requirements (if relevant),
communicate respectfully and respond to Bookings promptly,
Avoid misrepresenting credentials, verification status, pricing, or availability.

Artisans are independent providers and control the manner and means of delivering their services.

5. Bookings, Pricing, and Payments

5.1 Booking Flow

Typical flow:

Client creates a Booking request.
Artisan may accept or reject.
If accepted, service is performed.
Client confirms completion (or indicates it is not completed).
Payment is processed (where supported) according to Platform flow.

5.2 Pricing and Price Ranges

Artisans may display price ranges (e.g., minimum and maximum estimates). Final cost may depend on onsite assessment, scope changes, or materials. You agree to:

confirm and document the agreed scope/price through in-app messages where possible,
Avoid paying amounts outside the agreed scope without confirming details.

5.3 Wallet Funding (If Enabled)

Clients may fund a Wallet using supported payment methods. Wallet funds may be subject to:

minimum funding amounts,
third-party payment processor terms,
fraud monitoring and chargeback risk controls.

5.4 Approval / Rejection of Completion

Where available, Clients may be prompted to approve completion and input a payment amount. Clients must act honestly. Abuse of rejection/approval to defraud or harm an Artisan is prohibited.

5.5 Payments to Artisans

Payments may be made to Artisans via platform mechanisms (e.g., Wallet flows). Timing of settlement may depend on verification status, anti-fraud checks, and payment provider processing times.

5.6 Refunds

Refund eligibility depends on:

the nature of the issue,
whether funds have already been disbursed,
applicable payment processor rules,
evidence available in the Platform (messages, booking states, completion flow).

Lincs may determine refunds in its discretion where it is the payment facilitator, subject to applicable law. Services performed by an Artisan are primarily the Artisan's responsibility.

5.7 Taxes

You are responsible for any taxes applicable to you. Artisans are responsible for declaring and paying taxes on their earnings where required by law.

5.8 Fees

Lincs will be charging Clients 5% on every Deposit made into the app, and will also charge 5% from the Artisan for every withdrawal.

6. Communications and Messaging

The Platform may include in-app chat and notifications. You agree not to use these features to:

harass, threaten, defame, or discriminate,
share illegal content,
solicit off-platform payments or contact to bypass Platform fees or safety processes.

We may monitor or review communications where permitted by law and as necessary for safety, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution.

7. Prohibited Uses

You must not, and must not attempt to:

Use the Platform for illegal services or illegal activity,
Impersonate another person or misrepresent identity/verification,
Submit false reviews, ratings, or reports,
Engage in fraud (including payment fraud, chargeback abuse, or identity fraud),
Harass, abuse, stalk, or threaten other users,
Arrange or encourage "off-platform payments" to avoid platform fees, safety checks, or disputes processes,
Upload malware or attempt unauthorised access to the Platform,
Scrape or copy Platform data without permission,
Violate any applicable Nigerian laws and regulations.

Lincs may suspend or terminate accounts involved in prohibited conduct.

8. User Content, Reviews, and Ratings

8.1 Your Responsibility for Content

You are responsible for your User Content and confirm that you have all rights required to post it (including photos/videos/ID documents, where applicable).

8.2 Reviews and Authenticity

Reviews and ratings must reflect genuine experiences. Manipulated, paid, or fraudulent reviews are prohibited.

8.3 Moderation and Removal

We may remove or restrict access to User Content that violates these Terms, our policies, or applicable law, or that may harm users or the Platform.

8.4 License to lincs

By submitting User Content, you grant Uselincs a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, and distribute such content only as needed to operate, improve, and promote the Platform, subject to our Privacy Policy.

9. Intellectual Property

The Platform (including its software, design, branding, trademarks, and content excluding User Content) is owned by or licensed to Lincs and protected by intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from the Platform except to the extent permitted by law or by our written authorisation.

10. Safety, Verification, and "Verified" Status

If the Platform displays "verified" badges or similar indicators, such indicators reflect checks performed at a point in time and do not guarantee:

ongoing compliance,
skill level,
service outcome,
absence of misconduct.

Users should exercise judgment and follow safety best practices (e.g., meet in safe environments, keep communications in-app, confirm pricing and scope).

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

11.1 Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We disclaim warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and availability.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Lincs will not be liable for:

disputes between Clients and Artisans,
service performance, injuries, damages, or losses arising from Artisan services,
indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages,
loss of profits, business, goodwill, or data.

Where liability cannot be excluded, it will be limited to the minimum allowed by law and, if applicable, to the fees you paid to Lincs in the preceding months.

11.3 Platform as Intermediary

You acknowledge that Lincs is primarily an intermediary platform. Artisans are independent providers responsible for their services, pricing, and conduct.

12. Suspension, Termination, and Enforcement

12.1 Suspension/Termination by Lincs

We may suspend or terminate your access (with or without notice where permitted) if:

you violate these Terms,
we suspect fraud, illegal activity, or security risk,
required verification is incomplete or fails,
required by law or regulators.

12.2 Your Termination

You may stop using the Platform at any time. If you want account deletion, contact us at @lincs and we will handle it consistent with our Privacy Policy and legal retention obligations.

12.3 Effects of Termination

Upon termination:

certain data may be retained to comply with legal obligations (e.g., transaction records),
open disputes may continue to be handled,
Unpaid amounts or chargebacks may still be processed.

13. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law (Nigeria)

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

13.2 Informal Resolution

Before formal action, you agree to contact us at @lincs and attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

13.3 Arbitration Clause (Placeholder)

Where permitted by law, disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or the Platform will be resolved by binding arbitration in, Nigeria under Arbitration Rules/Institution Placeholder].

Exception: Either party may seek urgent injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria for matters involving intellectual property, fraud, or unauthorised access.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will provide notice via:

in-app notifications,
email (if provided), and/or
posting updated Terms in the Platform.

Your continued use of the Platform after the Effective Date of the revised Terms constitutes acceptance.

15. Miscellaneous

Severability: If any provision is invalid, the rest remain in effect.
No Waiver: Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
Assignment: You may not assign your rights without our consent. We may assign these Terms as part of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale.
Entire Agreement: These Terms and referenced policies form the entire agreement between you and Uselincs regarding the Platform.

Contact Us

For questions, complaints, or legal requests, contact: support@uselincs.com

Lincs Users' Terms and Conditions