Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, accessing, or using Kofa, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you don't agree to these Terms, you may not use our service.

2. Description of Service

Kofa is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects users for:

• Rentals: Borrowing and lending items like tools, equipment, and household goods
• Services: Booking and providing services like handyman work, cleaning, lawn care, and more
• Community: Building trust and connections within local neighborhoods

Kofa facilitates connections but is not a party to the actual transactions between users.

3. Kofa's Role

What Kofa Does

• Gives you a place to list what you own or do, and to be found
• Handles booking, payments, payouts and messaging
• Offers optional tools: identity verification, security deposits, condition photos and a dispute process

What Kofa Does Not Do

• We do not inspect items, test equipment, visit properties or supervise work
• We do not confirm that a listing, a photo or a description is accurate
• We do not guarantee any user, any item, any service or any outcome

Check For Yourself Before You Book

• Look at who you are dealing with, and ask questions
• Inspect the item, and agree up front what happens if something goes wrong
• Do not hand over anything you cannot afford to lose
• If a deal feels wrong, walk away

4. User Accounts and Verification

Account Creation

• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You're responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• One person, one account - no shared or business accounts without permission
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

Identity Verification

• ID verification is optional but encouraged for trust
• Verified users get a special badge and increased visibility
• False information provided during verification may result in account suspension

5. User Conduct and Responsibilities

What You Can Do

• List items accurately with honest descriptions and photos
• Communicate respectfully with other users
• Complete transactions as agreed
• Leave honest reviews based on your experience
• Report violations of these Terms

What You Cannot Do

• List illegal items or services
• Use Kofa for any unlawful purpose
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other users
• Attempt to circumvent our payment system
• Create fake accounts or manipulate reviews
• Share contact information to avoid platform fees
• Use automated systems to access our service

What You Post

• You own what you post and you are responsible for it. Photos, descriptions and messages must be yours to use and must be accurate
• Kofa can suggest listing wording with AI. It is a starting point, and what you publish is your responsibility
• If you take a booking off Kofa, none of the payment protections, deposits or records apply, and you do so at your own risk

6. Prohibited Items and Services

You May Not List

• Weapons, firearms, or ammunition
• Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
• Stolen or counterfeit goods
• Items that pose safety risks without proper precautions
• Adult content or services
• Recalled items or those with known safety defects
• Live animals
• Services requiring professional licenses (unless you hold them)

7. Payments and Fees

Our Fees

• Service fee charged to both renters and providers
• Current fee structure available in the app
• Fees are clearly displayed before transaction completion
• We reserve the right to change fees with 30 days notice

Payment Processing

• All payments processed securely through Stripe
• Funds held until successful transaction completion
• Refunds processed according to our refund policy
• You're responsible for any taxes on your earnings

Deposits, Verification and Refunds

• A security deposit is a hold on the customer's card, not a charge. It is released after the rental unless there is a claim, in which case some or all of it may be taken
• Identity verification costs $4.99 once, and is not refundable
• Payment processing fees are not returned to Kofa when a payment is refunded, and are not refundable to you
• Kofa does not give tax or legal advice

8. Plans and Subscriptions

Free Stays Free

• Your website, your listings, bookings, messages and payouts cost nothing
• Your free address, ko-fa.com/yourname, does not expire

Optional Paid Addresses

• You can pay monthly or yearly for a Kofa address (yourname.ko-fa.com) or to connect your own domain. Current prices are on our pricing page
• Plans renew automatically until you cancel
• Cancelling takes effect at the end of the period you have already paid for. Fees already paid are not refunded
• When a plan ends, the paid address stops working and your free address keeps working. Your page and listings are not deleted
• You buy and control your own domain name. Kofa does not register or renew it, and cannot recover a domain you lose or allow to expire
• We may change plan prices with 30 days notice

Pro (By Invitation)

• Some sellers are offered a plan where Kofa waives its booking fees for customers who arrive through that seller's own page
• On those bookings the card processing fee is taken out of the seller's payout instead
• Bookings from the Kofa marketplace and from the Kofa app are charged the standard fees
• Kofa decides who is offered Pro, and may end it with notice

9. Earning Through Our Partner Programs

• Ambassadors and community leaders can earn a share of the fee Kofa collects on bookings credited to them
• Earnings are held for a short review period, and can be reversed if the booking is refunded, disputed or found to be fake
• There is a minimum balance before a payout is sent
• Referring yourself, creating fake accounts or arranging fake bookings forfeits earnings and can close your account
• These programs can change or end with notice. They are not employment, and taking part does not make you an employee, partner or agent of Kofa

10. Insurance and Liability

There Is No Kofa Insurance

Kofa does not insure items, services, people or property. Kofa is not responsible for:

• Theft, loss, or an item that is not returned
• Damage to an item, a property, or anything else
• Injury, death or harm of any kind
• Work done badly, late, or not at all
• Anything a user says, does or fails to do, on or off Kofa

What We Provide

• Payments and payouts through Stripe
• Optional security deposits, identity verification and condition photos
• A dispute process for money we are still holding
• These are tools, not insurance, and they do not guarantee you money back

Your Own Insurance

• If you rent items out or do paid work, check whether your own policy covers it
• Many personal policies do not cover business use

Your Responsibilities

• Ensure items are safe and in good working condition
• Follow all local laws and regulations
• Report any accidents or incidents immediately
• Maintain your own insurance for personal property

11. Dispute Resolution

Steps to Resolve Disputes

1. Direct Communication: Try to resolve issues directly with the other user
2. Kofa Mediation: Contact our support team for assistance
3. Formal Resolution: Follow our dispute resolution process in the app

Refunds and Credits

• Refunds available for valid disputes
• Credits may be issued for service issues
• Final decisions made by Kofa in good faith

12. Intellectual Property

Your Content

• You retain ownership of photos and descriptions you upload
• You grant Kofa license to use your content on the platform
• You're responsible for ensuring you have rights to any content you post

Kofa's Property

• Kofa app, website, and branding are our property
• You may not copy, modify, or distribute our platform
• All rights not explicitly granted are reserved

13. Privacy and Data

Your privacy is important to us. Our Privacy Policy explains:

• What information we collect and why
• How we protect your data
• Your rights regarding your information
• How to contact us with privacy questions

By using Kofa, you also agree to our Privacy Policy.

14. Termination

You May

• Delete your account at any time through app settings
• Stop using Kofa without notice

We May

• Suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms
• Remove listings that violate our policies
• Discontinue Kofa with reasonable notice

Upon termination, your access ends but these Terms continue to apply to past activities.

15. Disclaimers and Limitations

Service Disclaimer

Kofa is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We don't guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• That users will complete transactions
• The accuracy of user-generated content
• The safety or legality of listed items

Limitation of Liability

Kofa's liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law. We're not liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
• Actions or omissions of other users
• Damages exceeding the fees you've paid to Kofa

16. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Kofa harmless from claims arising from:

• Your use of Kofa
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third party rights
• Your interactions with other users

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

18. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect:

• Changes in our service
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• Improvements to user safety

We'll notify you of significant changes via email or app notification. Continued use after changes indicates acceptance.

19. Contact Information

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

• Email: legal@ko-fa.com
• Support: Through the Kofa app
• Mail: Ko-fa Technologies LLC, Cleveland, OH