Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

1) Who we are

Towntrek is a digital platform that helps people discover local businesses, services and events, participate in community parcel and route listings, and manage their member or business presence through the Towntrek web platform and mobile app.

2) What information we collect

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, password (stored as a secure hash), account type, and profile details such as profile image or chosen display name where available.
• Business listing information: listing details you submit (business name, description, contact details, hours, categories, location, etc.).
• Parcel and route information: parcel requests, route listings, short location labels, full pickup and drop-off addresses, travel dates, route notes, thank-you offers, reports, ratings, and related member activity you submit through the parcel board.
• Device and session information: one-time Towntrek access codes, linked-device records, device names, session tokens, refresh tokens, and device revocation history used to let you connect a mobile device securely.
• Progression and community reputation information: XP, levels, level titles, streaks, achievements, leaderboard visibility choices, trust status, completed deliveries, and ratings linked to your member activity.
• Uploads: images and documents you upload (for example, business logos, galleries, brochures/menus).
• Subscription and payment information: subscription status, plan selection, and payment events. Card details are not stored by Towntrek; payments are processed by PayFast.
• Usage and technical data: basic logs and diagnostics for security, troubleshooting and performance (e.g., timestamps, pages/actions, device/browser info, IP address).
• Cookies and similar technologies: used for login sessions, security protections, and platform functionality.

3) How we use your information

• Provide and operate the service: create accounts, publish listings, show content to users, enable uploads, and run parcel, route, and member features.
• Enable member-to-member parcel and route coordination: display public request summaries on the board and share fuller logistics information, including relevant addresses, with the matched member or requester when needed to complete a parcel or route interaction.
• Connect and protect your devices: issue one-time access codes, create mobile sessions, remember linked devices, and let you revoke access if a device is lost or no longer trusted.
• Run progression and safety systems: award XP, calculate levels and trust status, show leaderboards where enabled, and use reports, ratings, and participation history to support moderation and platform integrity.
• Process subscriptions: activate, manage, and verify subscription status and access to subscription features.
• Support and communication: respond to support requests and send service-related messages.
• Security: detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, and technical issues.
• Improve Towntrek: understand usage patterns to improve features and reliability.
• Marketing (optional): only if you choose to receive marketing emails, we may send tips and platform updates. You can opt out anytime.

4) Who we share information with

We may share information only as needed to operate Towntrek, including with other Towntrek users in limited feature-specific ways and with trusted service providers such as:

• Other Towntrek members: your display name, trust or progression indicators, and the parcel or route details needed to operate a listing or complete a matched hand-off. Full parcel or route addresses are not intended for public board browsing and are shared only with the requester and the matched member when required for that transaction.
• Payment processing: PayFast (to manage subscription payments and cancellations).
• Hosting and infrastructure: our hosting providers (e.g., for serving the web application and storing uploaded files).
• Email delivery: our email/SMTP provider(s) used to send transactional emails.
• Maps and geocoding: Mapbox (for location features, where enabled).
• Security protections: reCAPTCHA (where enabled) to reduce spam and abuse.

5) Data retention

We keep your data as long as needed to provide the service, operate member safety and moderation features, and comply with legal and operational requirements. If you delete your account (or request deletion), we’ll handle it in line with applicable law and legitimate retention needs (for example, financial records, abuse investigations, or audit history where required).

6) Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information, including secure authentication, access controls, HTTPS in production, device/session controls, and monitoring. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work hard to protect your data.

7) Your choices and rights

• Access and correction: request a copy of your information or ask us to correct it.
• Marketing preferences: unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.
• Device management: revoke linked mobile devices from your Towntrek profile if you no longer trust them or lose access to them.
• Leaderboard visibility and progression transparency: we may show your display name, level, and XP to other members where leaderboard features are enabled, and we provide disclosure prompts and visibility controls where applicable.
• Account deletion: request deletion of your account and personal information where applicable via our data deletion request page.

Terms & Conditions

1) Acceptance

By accessing or using Towntrek, you agree to these Terms and this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

2) Accounts and responsibilities

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and for activities under your account.
• You must provide accurate information and keep your details up to date.
• You may not misuse the platform, interfere with normal operation, or attempt unauthorised access.

3) Listings, parcel boards, route posts, and user content

• You are responsible for the content you upload or submit, including listings, parcel requests, route listings, ratings, reports, notes, travel details, and addresses, and you must ensure it is accurate, lawful, and not misleading.
• You may not use Towntrek to post prohibited, unsafe, unlawful, or deceptive content or to arrange transport, deliveries, or meetups for illegal or dangerous goods.
• You grant Towntrek a limited licence to host, store, display, and distribute your content as required to operate the platform.
• We may remove content that violates these Terms, applicable law, or platform guidelines.

4) Device access and session security

• Towntrek may let you connect a mobile device by using a one-time TREK code or similar access method instead of a separate app password.
• You are responsible for keeping your account, linked devices, and any access codes secure and for revoking access to devices you no longer control.
• We may limit, revoke, or expire mobile access codes, sessions, or linked devices where needed for security, abuse prevention, or platform integrity.

5) Member interactions, trust, and moderation

• Parcel, route, and member-matching features are community features. You are responsible for your own decisions when arranging a pickup, drop-off, seat request, or route interaction with another member.
• Towntrek may use participation history, ratings, reports, completed activity, account age, and progression or trust indicators to decide which actions are available on the platform.
• We may review reports, restrict accounts or content, and take moderation action where we believe it is necessary for safety, compliance, or abuse prevention.

6) Platform role and disclaimers

Towntrek is a local discovery and community coordination platform. We do not guarantee the identity, quality, availability, legality, timing, safety, or conduct of third-party businesses or members, and we do not guarantee that a parcel request, route listing, or lift request will be fulfilled. Any interaction, hand-off, trip, meetup, or transaction between users or with a business is between those parties.

Billing & Subscriptions

• Free Basic tier: you may use a limited business account at no charge, without a paid subscription. Paid tiers add features and higher limits as described on our plans page.
• Subscription billing: paid plans are billed in advance according to the plan and billing cycle you select.
• Payment processing: recurring payments and subscription management are handled via PayFast.
• Access and entitlements: subscription features are available only while your subscription is active and in good standing.

Cancellation Policy

How customers can cancel

Customers can cancel their subscription at any time either:

• inside the Towntrek platform (Cancel Subscription), or
• through their PayFast account/subscription management.

When cancellation takes effect

Cancellation is processed via PayFast and is effective immediately once confirmed. This stops future recurring charges and access to subscription features is removed immediately.

Access after cancellation

Once cancelled, the user no longer has access to subscription-only features and the account is treated as non-subscribed (until they re-subscribe).

Re-subscribing

Customers may re-subscribe at any time by selecting a plan and completing payment via PayFast again.

Refund Policy

General rule

Towntrek does not offer refunds for subscription payments (including partial/pro-rated refunds) because the service is a digital subscription and access/benefits are provided immediately when payment is successful.

Exceptions (handled case-by-case)

A refund may be considered only where required by applicable law, or in limited situations such as:

• a proven duplicate charge,
• a verified billing or technical error on our side, or
• an unauthorised transaction with supporting evidence.

If approved, refunds are processed back through PayFast where possible.

Return Policy

Towntrek is a digital subscription service and does not sell physical goods. As a result, there are no physical “returns”. Subscription payments are handled under the Refund Policy above.

Contact

If you have questions about these policies, please contact us:

• Data deletion: Request account and data deletion
• Support: admin@bytecraftdigital.com