Terms of Service

These Terms govern your use of AlgarveLocal, accessible at algarvelocal.pt (the "Platform"), operated by AlgarveLocal ("we", "us", "our"). By using the Platform you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. Definitions

"Consumer" means a person who uses the Platform to find a tradesperson or post a job. "Business" or "Trade" means a tradesperson or company listed on or using the Platform to receive leads. "Lead" means the contact and job information a Consumer submits. "Credits" means the prepaid units a Business uses to unlock Leads and access paid features. "Listing" means a business profile on the Platform.

2. What AlgarveLocal is, and is not

We are a directory and introduction service. We connect Consumers with Businesses. We are not a party to any contract, agreement, quote or transaction between a Consumer and a Business. We do not employ, endorse, supply, guarantee, supervise or vet the Businesses listed, and we do not perform any trade work ourselves.

Any work agreed between a Consumer and a Business is solely between them. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, timing, pricing or outcome of that work, nor for any agreement, dispute, loss or damage arising from it.

Ratings, review counts and similar data may be drawn from third-party sources such as Google and are provided for information only. We do not warrant their accuracy.

3. Listings and sourced information

Some Listings are created by us from publicly available information to help Consumers find local trades. If you are a Business and you find your Listing, you may claim it, correct it, or ask us to remove it by contacting geral@algarvelocal.pt. Information you add to your own Listing is your responsibility and must be accurate and not misleading.

4. Using the Platform as a Consumer

Using the Platform to search and post jobs is free for Consumers. When you post a job, you agree that we may share the information you provide with relevant Businesses so they can contact you about your job. Provide accurate information and only post genuine job requests. Do not post on behalf of anyone without their consent.

We do not guarantee that any Business will respond, quote, or be available, or that any quote will be accurate.

5. Using the Platform as a Business

5.1 Account and accuracy

You must provide accurate business and contact details and keep them current. You are responsible for all activity under your account and for keeping your login secure. You confirm you are properly licensed, insured and qualified to carry out the trades you list, where the law requires it.

5.2 Leads and Credits

Your first 3 Leads are free. After that, you unlock a Lead by spending Credits. The Credit cost of a Lead is shown before you unlock it and may vary with the type or value of the job. Once you unlock a Lead, the Credits are spent and the Lead contact details are revealed to you.

Credits are sold in packs, priced in EUR. Credits have no cash value, are not legal tender, are non-transferable, and are non-refundable except where required by law or under our bad-lead policy below. Prices may change; changes do not affect Credits already purchased.

5.3 Bad-lead policy

If a Lead you unlocked is fake, a duplicate, has incorrect contact details, or is materially miscategorised, you may report it within 7 days. If we accept the report, we will refund the Credits used to unlock it. We decide reported Leads reasonably and in good faith, and our decision is final.

5.4 Auto top-up

If you enable auto top-up, you authorise us to charge your saved payment method for your chosen Credit pack automatically when your balance falls below the set threshold. You can disable auto top-up at any time in your dashboard.

5.5 Earning Credits

You may earn Credits by claiming your account, adding our badge to your website, leaving us a review, contributing content, and other methods we may offer. Earned Credits are a discretionary reward, not a payment. We may withhold or reverse earned Credits if we reasonably believe a condition was not genuinely met, was reversed (for example a badge or review removed), or was obtained through abuse. Earning methods, amounts and conditions may change at any time.

5.6 Contacting Consumers

You may use Lead contact details only to respond to that specific job. You must not add Consumers to marketing lists, contact them about unrelated matters, or share or sell their details. Misuse of Consumer data is a serious breach of these Terms and of data protection law.

6. Content you contribute

If you submit content (advice, answers, guides, tips, reviews, photos, business descriptions), you confirm it is your own, accurate, lawful, not misleading, and that you have the right to publish it. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to host, display, translate (including by automated means), adapt and promote that content on the Platform and in our marketing, in all supported languages.

We may review, edit, decline, translate or remove contributed content at our discretion, including by automated screening. Approval of content and any Credits awarded for it are at our discretion. Do not submit content that is promotional spam, false, unsafe, infringing, offensive, or that advertises a business other than through the expertise it shares.

7. Acceptable use

You must not misuse the Platform. In particular you must not: scrape, harvest or bulk-extract data; submit false, fraudulent or duplicate leads or content; abuse the Credit or rewards system; impersonate others; upload malware; attempt to gain unauthorised access; or use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in breach of any third party's rights.

8. Payments

Payments are processed by our third-party payment provider. By purchasing you agree to their terms in addition to these. We do not store full card details. You are responsible for any taxes applicable to you. Invoices are available in your dashboard.

9. Suspension and termination

You may stop using the Platform at any time and ask us to close your account. We may suspend or terminate your access if you breach these Terms, misuse the Platform, or where we are required to by law. On termination, unused purchased Credits may be refundable only to the extent required by law; earned Credits are forfeited.

10. Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud.

Subject to that, we provide the Platform "as is". We do not warrant that it will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that Listings or sourced data are accurate or complete. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any loss arising from your dealings with any Consumer or Business, the work performed or not performed, or any reliance on information on the Platform.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability to you arising out of or in connection with the Platform is limited to the greater of €100 or the total amount you paid us in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or loss-of-profit damages.

11. Indemnity

If you are a Business, you agree to indemnify us against claims, losses and costs arising from your work for a Consumer, your breach of these Terms, your content, or your misuse of Consumer data.

12. Changes

We may update these Terms. We will post the updated version with a new "last updated" date and, for material changes, give reasonable notice. Continued use after changes take effect means you accept them.

13. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal. Disputes are subject to the courts of Faro, Portugal, without affecting any mandatory consumer rights you have to bring proceedings elsewhere. EU consumers may also use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform.

14. Contact

AlgarveLocal. Email geral@algarvelocal.pt.