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Terms of Service

Last updated: 23 May 2026

Template — not yet legal advice. This document is a working draft prepared for the Altolevel MVP launch in the European Union. Before relying on it in production, have it reviewed and finalised by a Portugal / EU-qualified lawyer.

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Altolevel goat-rental marketplace operated at altolevel.co.za (the “Platform”). By creating an account or using the Platform you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. Who we are

The Platform is operated by [Legal entity name & registration number to be confirmed] (“Altolevel”, “we”, “us”). Our registered address and VAT number will be published on this page once the entity has been incorporated.

2. The marketplace

Altolevel is an online marketplace that connects two types of users:

  • Providers — owners of goats who offer them for hire for purposes such as land clearing, grazing, events and similar services.
  • Renters — individuals or organisations who book goats from Providers.

Altolevel is not a party to the rental contract that forms directly between Renter and Provider. We provide the booking, payment, communication and review infrastructure. We are not the seller, lessor, owner, transporter or carer of any goat listed on the Platform.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old, capable of entering into a binding contract under Portuguese / EU law, and not barred under any applicable law from using the Platform. Providers must additionally comply with all national and local animal-welfare, veterinary and transport regulations applicable to keeping and hiring out livestock.

4. Accounts

You agree to provide accurate, current and complete information when you register, and to keep that information up to date. You are responsible for safeguarding your password and for any activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at info@altolevel.co.za if you suspect unauthorised use.

5. Listings

Providers are solely responsible for the accuracy of their listings, including breed, headcount, photographs, included services (transport, handler, feed), pricing, availability and any other description. Listings must not be misleading, must not infringe third-party rights, and must comply with all applicable laws.

Altolevel may, at its discretion, decline, suspend or remove any listing that violates these Terms or that we reasonably believe poses a risk to renters, animals, or the integrity of the Platform.

6. Bookings, pricing & payments

All prices on the Platform are displayed in Euro (€) and are VAT-inclusive where VAT is applicable. The price the Renter sees at checkout is the amount agreed for the rental; how that amount is paid depends on the payment method selected (card or cash on delivery), as set out below.

6.1 Card payments (online)

Where a listing supports card payment, the Renter pays through the Platform using Stripe. When a Renter requests a card booking, payment isauthorised on the Renter’s card. The Provider has 24 hours to accept or decline.

  • If the Provider accepts, payment is captured and the booking is confirmed.
  • If the Provider declines or fails to respond within 24 hours, the authorisation is released in full.

Altolevel charges a platform commission on each confirmed card booking. The current commission rate is shown to Providers in their dashboard and on the booking summary. Provider payouts for card bookings are processed via Stripe Connect Express and are released approximately two (2) days after the booking is marked Completed, subject to Stripe’s own payout schedule. By accepting card bookings on the Platform you also agree to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement.

Publishing listings that accept card payments only does not require a monthly listing fee to Altolevel; our fee on card bookings is the platform commission described above.

6.2 Cash on delivery (Renters)

Some Providers optionally accept cash on delivery — payment in person when the goats arrive, not through the Platform. Cash is only available where the listing clearly indicates it and the Provider’s cash plan is active (see section 6.3).

  • For cash bookings, the Renter selects cash at checkout. No card is charged and Altolevel does not collect, hold or transfer the rental payment.
  • The Renter pays the Provider directly in cash (or another method agreed in person) for the full booking amount shown at checkout.
  • Altolevel charges no per-booking platform commission on cash rentals. Disputes over cash payment, quality of service, or cancellations are between Renter and Provider; Altolevel does not process refunds for cash bookings.
  • A booking request paid by cash still follows the same accept/decline flow on the Platform; confirmation does not mean Altolevel has received payment.

6.3 Provider cash plan (monthly subscription)

Providers who wish to offer cash on delivery must subscribe to the Cash on delivery plan — currently €15 per month (inclusive of VAT where applicable), billed recurring through Stripe Billing on the Provider’s Altolevel account. One subscription applies per Provider account and covers all of that Provider’s listings.

  • While the subscription is active, the Provider may enable “accept cash on delivery” on individual listings.
  • While the subscription is not active (not subscribed, cancelled, or payment failed), the Provider cannot enable cash on new or existing listings, and Renters cannot complete new cash bookings with that Provider.
  • Subscription fees are charged to the payment method on file in Stripe; renewal, cancellation, and invoices are managed via the billing options in the Provider dashboard (including Stripe Customer Portal where enabled).
  • If the subscription lapses (non-payment, cancellation, or expiry): Altolevel may set the Provider’s cash subscription status to inactive, turn off cash acceptance on all listings, and pause all of that Provider’s listings on the Platform until billing is restored. When the Provider resubscribes and payment succeeds, listings that were active immediately before the pause may be reactivated automatically; the Provider must re-enable cash per listing if they still wish to accept cash.
  • Subscription fees are not refundable for partial months except where required by mandatory consumer law. Cancelling the cash plan stops future charges but does not entitle the Provider to a refund for the current billing period already paid.
  • Altolevel may change the subscription price or features with notice under section 14; continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance where permitted by law.

Providers must still complete Stripe Connect onboarding to receive card payouts even if they only use cash for some bookings. Card and cash options can coexist on the same listing when the cash plan is active.

7. Cancellations & refunds

7.1 Card bookings

The default cancellation policy for card bookings, unless a Provider states otherwise on the listing:

  • More than 48 hours before start date: Renter receives a full refund, including platform commission.
  • Within 48 hours of start date: 50% refund. The Provider keeps 50% and the platform commission applies to the captured amount.
  • After the booking start date: No refund.

7.2 Cash bookings

For cash on delivery bookings, Altolevel does not process payments or refunds. Cancellation and any repayment are matters for the Renter and Provider to agree directly. The Platform may still record booking status (confirmed, cancelled, completed) for communication and reviews. Providers who cancel a confirmed cash booking should agree fair terms with the Renter without relying on Platform payment rails.

Providers who cancel a confirmed booking (card or cash) may be subject to account suspension if we reasonably believe they have acted in bad faith or repeatedly harmed Renters.

8. Animal welfare

Providers warrant that the animals listed on the Platform are healthy, properly cared for, vaccinated and transported in compliance with all applicable EU and national livestock regulations (including Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, where applicable). Renters agree to treat the animals humanely and to follow the Provider’s handling instructions.

9. Reviews

Reviews must reflect a genuine experience of a completed booking. Fraudulent, harassing, discriminatory or off-topic reviews may be removed without notice.

10. Prohibited conduct

You must not:

  • Use the Platform to facilitate any illegal activity;
  • Circumvent the Platform’s booking, payment or messaging flow (including offering or soliciting off-platform payment for bookings made through Altolevel to avoid commission or the cash plan fee);
  • Upload content you do not have the right to share, or that infringes intellectual-property or privacy rights;
  • Attempt to scrape, reverse-engineer or interfere with the Platform’s operation or security;
  • Impersonate any person or entity.

11. Disclaimers & limitation of liability

The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Altolevel disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

Altolevel is not liable for the acts, omissions or condition of any Provider or Renter, the suitability or behaviour of any goat, any damage to property, livestock or land, or any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform.

Where liability cannot be excluded by law, our aggregate liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with the Platform is limited to the greater of (a) the total commission Altolevel earned from your bookings in the 12 months preceding the claim, and (b) €100.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Altolevel and its directors, employees and contractors from any claim, damage, loss, liability, cost or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or connected with your use of the Platform, your listings or bookings, your breach of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

13. Termination

You may close your account at any time by contacting info@altolevel.co.za. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, if you breach these Terms or if we reasonably believe continued access creates risk. Provisions relating to liability, indemnification and disputes survive termination.

14. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified to you by email or via in-app notification at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Governing law & disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. The courts of Lisbon, Portugal have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms, subject to any non-waivable rights you have as a consumer to bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence under EU consumer-protection law.

EU consumers may also use the European Commission’s Online Dispute Resolution platform.

16. Contact

Questions about these Terms can be sent to info@altolevel.co.za.

Terms of service | Altolevel