Terms of Service

Welcome to africanstores.co.uk. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website, services, and platform. By creating an account or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

africanstores.co.uk is a directory platform that connects customers with African-owned businesses across the United Kingdom. We do not sell products directly — we facilitate discovery and connection between customers and businesses.

Registration — To access certain features (following stores, leaving reviews, messaging), you must create a free account. You must provide accurate and complete information during registration.

Account Security — You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access.

Age Requirement — You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. If you are under 18, you confirm you have parental or guardian consent.

Account Termination — We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms. You may delete your account at any time through your account settings.

Searching and Browsing — Our directory is free to use. You may search for stores, browse listings, and view publicly available information without an account.

Following Stores — Following a store means you will receive updates from that store in your feed. You can unfollow at any time.

Reviews — Reviews must be based on genuine personal experiences. You agree not to post reviews that are fraudulent, misleading, defamatory, or in exchange for compensation. We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate our guidelines.

Messaging — Our messaging feature enables direct communication between customers and stores. Messages must be relevant to the store's products or services. Harassment, spam, or abusive messages are prohibited.

Accuracy of Information — While we strive to ensure listing information is accurate, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of store details including opening hours, stock availability, and prices. Always confirm directly with the store.

Claiming a Listing — Store owners may claim their business listing through our verification process. You must be the owner or an authorised representative of the business to claim a listing.

Listing Accuracy — You are responsible for ensuring your listing information (name, address, hours, contact details) is accurate and up to date. Misleading information may result in listing removal.

Updates and Content — Content you post as updates must be truthful and relevant to your business. You retain ownership of content you create but grant us a non-exclusive licence to display it on our platform.

Reviews and Responses — You may respond to customer reviews. Responses must be professional and constructive. Attempting to manipulate reviews (fake reviews, incentivised reviews, or intimidating reviewers) is prohibited and may result in account suspension.

Messaging — You agree to respond to customer messages in a timely and professional manner. Misuse of the messaging feature for spam or inappropriate content is prohibited.

Free Plan — Basic listing management is free and always will be. Free features include updating basic details and responding to reviews.

Paid Plans — Premium (£15/month) and Pro (£30/month) plans provide additional features. Annual billing offers a 20% discount.

Billing — Subscriptions are billed monthly or annually in advance. Payment is processed securely through our payment provider.

Cancellation — You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refunds are provided for partial billing periods.

Price Changes — We may adjust pricing with 30 days' advance notice. Existing subscribers will be notified by email before any price change takes effect.

Refunds — We generally do not offer refunds for subscription fees. In exceptional circumstances, refund requests can be submitted to billing@africanstores.co.uk.

You agree not to:

Violation of these terms may result in immediate account suspension or termination.

Our Content — The africanstores.co.uk name, logo, design, and original content are our intellectual property. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute our content without written permission.

User Content — You retain ownership of content you create (reviews, messages, photos). By submitting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to display, reproduce, and distribute your content on our platform.

Store Owner Content — Store owners retain ownership of photos, descriptions, and updates they post. The same licence applies to enable display on our platform.

Feedback — If you provide suggestions or feedback about our platform, we may use this without obligation to you.

Directory Service — We are a directory platform, not a retailer. We do not sell products, manage inventory, or handle transactions between customers and stores. Any purchases are made directly with the store.

No Warranty — Our platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access, accuracy of listings, or availability of features.

Third-Party Actions — We are not responsible for the actions, products, or services of listed businesses. Issues with purchases should be resolved directly with the store.

Limitation of Liability — To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the amount you have paid us (if any) in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Indemnification — You agree to indemnify us against claims arising from your use of the platform or violation of these Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

We encourage you to contact us at legal@africanstores.co.uk to resolve any disputes informally before pursuing legal action.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email at least 14 days before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you disagree with any changes, you may close your account.

If you have questions about these Terms of Service:

Email: legal@africanstores.co.uk

Address: africanstores.co.uk, London, United Kingdom