Legal

Welcome to TOWNIK ("we," "us," or "the Platform"). TOWNIK is an online service marketplace operated at townik.comthat connects customers with independent, locally-based service providers ("Workers") in Cebu, Philippines. Services offered through the Platform include, but are not limited to, home cleaning, plumbing, electrical work, beauty and wellness, laundry, and other household or professional services.

By creating an account, accessing, or using TOWNIK in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

To register and use TOWNIK, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old. By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 or older.
• Be a natural person (not a corporation or automated bot).
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under Philippine law.
• Provide a valid government-issued ID and a selfie for identity verification.

Accounts that are found to belong to individuals under 18, or that use fraudulent identification, will be immediately suspended and permanently banned.

When you create an account on TOWNIK, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration (name, phone number, email, birthday, gender).
• Submit a valid government-issued ID and a clear selfie photo for manual identity verification by our team.
• Maintain only one account per person. Duplicate accounts will be removed.
• Keep your login credentials secure and confidential. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.
• Notify us immediately at hello@townik.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
• Keep your profile information up to date, including your phone number and address.

Your account may not be transferred or sold to another person. We reserve the right to reject any registration at our sole discretion.

TOWNIK facilitates bookings between Customers and Workers as follows:

• Browse & select: Customers browse available services and Workers, view ratings, pricing, and availability.
• Book a service: Customers submit a booking request specifying the service, date, time, and location.
• Worker acceptance: The assigned Worker accepts or declines the booking. If declined, the Customer may choose another Worker.
• Service delivery: The Worker arrives at the scheduled time and location to perform the service.
• Completion & payment: Once the service is completed, payment is processed based on the agreed price.
• Review: Both parties may leave a rating and review after the booking is completed.

TOWNIK does not guarantee that a Worker will be available for any given time slot. Booking confirmations depend on Worker availability and acceptance.

TOWNIK charges a service fee on each completed booking. This fee is split between the Customer and the Worker, and is how the Platform sustains its operations. Here is how pricing and payments work:

• The price displayed to the Customer is the total price they pay. There are no hidden charges for Customers.
• Workers receive their earnings after the platform fee is deducted.
• Currently accepted payment methods: Cash and GCash. Additional payment methods (such as PayMongo-powered online payments) will be added in future updates.
• For cash payments, Workers are responsible for collecting the exact amount shown in the app.
• All prices are displayed in Philippine Pesos (PHP).

TOWNIK reserves the right to adjust the service fee percentage with prior notice to all users.

• Free cancellation if done 2 or more hours before the scheduled service time.
• Cancellations made less than 2 hours before the scheduled time will incur a P50 cancellation fee — P25 goes to the Worker (compensation for their time) and P25 goes to TOWNIK.
• No-shows: If a Customer is not present at the service location without prior cancellation, the full cancellation fee applies.
• 3-strike rule: Three late cancellations (less than 2 hours before scheduled time) within a 30-day period will result in a temporary booking restriction on your account.
• Workers who repeatedly cancel accepted bookings without valid reason will also face warnings and potential suspension.

All TOWNIK users (both Customers and Workers) agree to the following rules of conduct:

• Respectful behavior: Harassment, threats, discrimination, verbal abuse, physical intimidation, or any form of inappropriate behavior toward any user is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension.
• Honest reviews: Reviews must be based on your actual experience. Fake reviews, review manipulation, or retaliatory reviews are prohibited.
• No off-platform transactions: You may not arrange or solicit payments, bookings, or services outside of the TOWNIK platform to avoid service fees. This includes exchanging personal phone numbers, social media handles, or payment details before a booking is confirmed.
• Content moderation: TOWNIK uses a profanity filter and contact-information blocker in chat. Messages containing profanity, hate speech, or personal contact details (phone numbers, email addresses, social media links) sent before a booking is confirmed will be automatically filtered.
• No fraud: Any attempt to defraud the Platform, other users, or payment systems will result in permanent banning and may be reported to law enforcement authorities.
• Compliance with law: You must comply with all applicable Philippine laws while using TOWNIK.

Workers listed on TOWNIK are independent service providers, not employees of TOWNIK. By registering as a Worker, you agree to:

• Complete identity verification (valid government ID + selfie), which is manually reviewed by TOWNIK managers.
• Provide services professionally, on time, and in accordance with the booking details.
• Charge only the exact price shown on the app — no more, no less.
• Never request off-platform payments or attempt to redirect customers to pay outside of TOWNIK.
• Maintain accurate availability on your profile to avoid booking conflicts.
• Carry your own tools, supplies, and equipment needed for the service unless otherwise specified in the booking.
• Comply with all applicable local business permits, tax obligations, and professional licensing requirements.

Price tampering (charging a different amount, asking for direct payment, or attempting to dodge the platform fee) is a serious violation:

• 1st offense: Written warning
• 2nd offense: Temporary suspension (7 days)
• 3rd offense: Permanent ban from the Platform

• All disputes should be reported through the app using the Report function on the booking/job tracking page.
• TOWNIK will investigate and mediate disputes fairly. We aim to resolve disputes within 5 business days.
• Depending on the investigation outcome, partial or full refunds may be issued to the Customer.
• 3 valid complaints against any user (Customer or Worker) will result in a permanent block from the Platform.
• For disputes that cannot be resolved through the Platform, users may seek recourse through the appropriate Philippine government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for consumer complaints.

All content on TOWNIK — including the app design, logos, text, graphics, icons, and software — is the property of TOWNIK and is protected by Philippine intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any TOWNIK content without our written permission.

By posting reviews, photos, or other content on the Platform, you grant TOWNIK a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the Platform's operations.

TOWNIK operates solely as a marketplace platform. We are not the employer, principal, or agent of any Worker listed on the Platform. Workers are independent service providers who use TOWNIK to find customers.

• TOWNIK does not guarantee the quality, safety, timeliness, or legality of any service performed by a Worker.
• TOWNIK is not liable for any injury, property damage, loss, or dispute arising from a service performed by a Worker.
• TOWNIK shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunity.
• Maximum Liability Cap: In no event shall TOWNIK's total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising from your use of the Platform exceed the lesser of: (a) the total amount you paid for the specific booking giving rise to the claim, or (b) Five Thousand Philippine Pesos (₱5,000.00). This cap applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise).
• TOWNIK is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not warrant uninterrupted or error-free service.

Background Check Disclaimer: TOWNIK's identity verification process (government ID check + selfie face match) is a basic identity confirmation only. It is NOT a criminal background check, character reference check, skills assessment, or professional certification verification. TOWNIK does not access police records, NBI clearance databases, court records, or any criminal justice system. Verification of a Worker's identity does not constitute an endorsement of their character, criminal history, trustworthiness, competence, or fitness for any particular service. Customers should exercise their own judgment and due diligence.

TOWNIK does not provide any insurance coverage of any kind to Workers, Customers, or any third party. This includes but is not limited to:

• No health insurance — TOWNIK does not cover medical expenses, injuries, or accidents that occur before, during, or after any service.
• No property insurance — TOWNIK is not responsible for any damage to property (including tools, equipment, vehicles, or premises) that occurs during a service.
• No liability insurance — TOWNIK does not carry professional liability, general liability, or errors & omissions insurance on behalf of any Worker.
• No workers' compensation — Workers are not employees of TOWNIK and are not entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Workers and Customers are solely responsible for obtaining their own insurance coverage as they see fit. We strongly recommend that Workers obtain their own personal accident insurance and professional liability insurance.

By registering as a Worker on the TOWNIK Platform, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You are an independent contractor, NOT an employee, agent, partner, or joint venture partner of TOWNIK.
• TOWNIK does not control how, when, or where you perform your services — you set your own rates, hours, and methods.
• You are solely responsible for your own taxes, government contributions (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG), and BIR compliance as a self-employed individual under Philippine law.
• You are responsible for your own tools, equipment, transportation, and supplies needed to perform your services.
• Nothing in these Terms creates an employer-employee relationship between you and TOWNIK.
• You shall not represent yourself as an employee or agent of TOWNIK to any Customer or third party.

By using the TOWNIK Platform — whether as a Worker or a Customer — you acknowledge and accept the following risks:

• Workers assume all risk associated with performing services, including but not limited to: physical injury, illness, property damage, theft, accidents during travel, and interaction with Customers or their premises.
• Customers assume all risk associated with allowing Workers into their home, property, or business, including but not limited to: property damage, theft, unsatisfactory work, and personal interactions.
• TOWNIK's identity verification (ID check + selfie match) is a safety measure, not a guarantee. It does not eliminate all risk of fraud, misconduct, or incompetence.
• You agree to exercise your own judgment and due diligence when engaging with any user on the Platform.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmlessTOWNIK, its owners, officers, employees, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform or any service booked through it.
• Any service you perform as a Worker, including injury, property damage, or negligence.
• Your violation of these Terms of Service or any applicable law.
• Any dispute between you and another user (Worker or Customer).
• Any claim by a third party related to your actions on or through the Platform.

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your account and these Terms.

TOWNIK shall not be held liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters (earthquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides)
• Pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies
• Government actions, lockdowns, curfews, or regulatory changes
• War, civil unrest, terrorism, or armed conflict
• Internet or telecommunications outages, cyberattacks, or server failures
• Power outages or infrastructure failures beyond our control
• Labor disputes, strikes, or shortages (not involving TOWNIK directly)

During a Force Majeure event, affected obligations are suspended for the duration of the event. Neither Workers nor Customers may claim damages from TOWNIK for service disruptions caused by such events.

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform:

• Step 1 — Direct Resolution: You must first attempt to resolve the dispute by contacting the other party directly through the Platform's messaging system.
• Step 2 — TOWNIK Mediation: If Step 1 fails, you may request mediation through TOWNIK's support team. TOWNIK will review the dispute and issue a non-binding recommendation within 7 business days.
• Step 3 — Barangay Mediation: If Steps 1 and 2 fail, disputes must be brought to the appropriate Barangay for mediation as required under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law (P.D. 1508 / R.A. 7160), before any court action may be filed.
• Step 4 — Arbitration or Court: If barangay mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved through arbitration in Cebu City under Philippine arbitration laws, or by filing a case with the appropriate court in Cebu City.

You agree to exhaust Steps 1 through 3 before initiating any legal proceedings. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of the case.

You agree that any dispute with TOWNIK will be resolved on an individual basis only.

• You waive your right to participate in any class action lawsuit, class arbitration, or any consolidated or representative proceeding against TOWNIK.
• You may only bring claims against TOWNIK in your individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, consolidated, or representative action.
• This waiver applies to all claims arising from your use of the Platform, whether as a Worker or Customer.

If this class action waiver is found to be unenforceable, the entire arbitration provision in Section 17 shall be void, and disputes shall proceed in the courts of Cebu City.

TOWNIK makes no guarantees, representations, or warranties regarding:

• The quality, skill, or competence of any Worker listed on the Platform.
• The outcome or result of any service booked through the Platform.
• The accuracy of any Worker's self-reported skills, experience, certifications, or portfolio.
• The timeliness of service delivery or Worker arrival.
• The satisfaction of any Customer with work performed.

TOWNIK is a connection platform only. We help you find service providers — we do not perform, supervise, or guarantee the services themselves. Customers are encouraged to verify Worker qualifications, check reviews, and exercise their own judgment before booking.

TOWNIK strives to maintain continuous availability but does not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Platform.

• The Platform may be temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance, updates, upgrades, or technical improvements.
• TOWNIK may experience unplanned downtime due to server issues, third-party service provider outages, or other technical difficulties.
• TOWNIK is not liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience caused by Platform unavailability, including missed bookings, lost messages, or delayed payments.
• We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the Platform at any time without prior notice.

TOWNIK reserves the right to modify its fee structure at any time, including but not limited to:

• The platform fee rates applied to bookings.
• The listing fee or any registration-related charges.
• Any transaction fees, withdrawal fees, or service charges that may be introduced in the future.

Fee changes will be communicated to affected users at least 14 days in advance through in-app notifications, email, or announcements on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated fees. If you do not agree with a fee change, you may deactivate your account before the effective date.

TOWNIK may suspend or permanently terminate your account if you:

• Violate any provision of these Terms of Service.
• Provide false or fraudulent information during registration or verification.
• Engage in harassment, abuse, or threatening behavior.
• Attempt off-platform transactions to circumvent platform fees.
• Accumulate 3 or more valid complaints or warnings.
• Engage in any illegal activity through the Platform.

Upon termination, your access to the Platform will be revoked. Any pending bookings will be cancelled. You may request a copy of your personal data before termination by contacting hello@townik.com.

You may also voluntarily deactivate your account at any time through the app settings. Deactivated accounts are retained for 30 days in case you wish to reactivate, after which your data will be permanently deleted (subject to legal retention requirements).

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, including but not limited to:

• Republic Act No. 10173 — Data Privacy Act of 2012
• Republic Act No. 7394 — Consumer Act of the Philippines
• Republic Act No. 8792 — Electronic Commerce Act of 2000
• Civil Code of the Philippines

Any legal disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Cebu City, Philippines.

TOWNIK reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Service at any time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you through the app (via push notification or in-app banner) and/or by email. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision.

Continued use of TOWNIK after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you should stop using the Platform and deactivate your account.

By creating an account, uploading photos, writing reviews, posting a bio, or submitting any other content to the Platform ("User Content"), you grant TOWNIK a:

• Non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, display, distribute, and create derivative works from your User Content.
• This license allows TOWNIK to use your content for: Platform operations, marketing materials, advertisements, social media posts, promotional campaigns, press releases, investor presentations, and any other business purpose.
• You retain ownership of your User Content. This license does not transfer ownership — it grants TOWNIK the right to use it.
• You represent that you have all necessary rights to grant this license, and that your User Content does not violate any third party's intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or any applicable law.

TOWNIK may feature Worker profiles, photos, ratings, and reviews in marketing materials without additional consent or compensation. If you do not want your content used for marketing, you may request removal by contacting support — however, content already published may not be retroactively removed from all channels.

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account on TOWNIK, whether as a Customer or a Worker.

• By creating an account, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.
• TOWNIK does not knowingly allow minors (persons under 18) to register, book services, or offer services on the Platform.
• If we discover that a user is under 18, their account will be immediately suspended and all associated data will be deleted in compliance with the Philippine Data Privacy Act and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610).
• Workers must be of legal working age in the Philippines and comply with all applicable labor laws.

You agree not to use the TOWNIK Platform for any of the following:

• Offering, soliciting, or facilitating illegal services of any kind.
• Services involving drugs, controlled substances, weapons, explosives, or hazardous materials.
• Any form of sexual services, escort services, or sexually explicit content.
• Fraud, scams, identity theft, phishing, or any form of deception.
• Harassment, bullying, threats, intimidation, or abuse of any user.
• Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any protected characteristic.
• Attempting to circumvent platform fees by arranging off-platform transactions (e.g., sharing phone numbers, social media, or payment details before booking confirmation).
• Creating fake accounts, fake reviews, or fake bookings.
• Using the Platform to collect personal data about other users for unauthorized purposes.
• Reverse engineering, scraping, or copying any part of the Platform's code, design, or data.
• Using bots, scripts, or automated tools to interact with the Platform.
• Interfering with or disrupting the Platform's servers, networks, or security systems.
• Any activity that violates Philippine law or any applicable international law.

Violation of any prohibited use will result in immediate account termination without refund, and TOWNIK reserves the right to report such activity to law enforcement authorities.

TOWNIK is committed to protecting your personal data in compliance with the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

• TOWNIK acts as a Personal Information Controller (PIC) for the data collected through the Platform.
• We collect, process, and store personal data only for legitimate business purposes as described in our Privacy Policy.
• Your personal data is processed based on your consent (given at registration) and our legitimate interest in operating the Platform.
• You have the right to: access, correct, erase, or port your personal data, and to object to or restrict its processing, as provided under the Act.
• TOWNIK will notify the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and affected users within 72 hours of discovering any personal data breach that is likely to cause serious harm.
• For data privacy concerns, you may contact the NPC at complaints@privacy.gov.ph or visit privacy.gov.ph.

For full details on what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy (Part II of this document).

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while preserving the original intent. If modification is not possible, the provision shall be severed from these Terms, and all other provisions shall remain binding.

These Terms of Service, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and TOWNIK regarding your use of the Platform.

• These Terms supersede all prior agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings — whether written, oral, or implied — between you and TOWNIK.
• No statement, promise, or representation made by any Worker, Customer, or TOWNIK support representative outside of these Terms shall be binding on TOWNIK.
• Any verbal assurances, informal agreements, or side arrangements between users are not the responsibility of TOWNIK and are not covered by these Terms.

The failure of TOWNIK to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

• If TOWNIK chooses not to act on a violation, it does not mean we approve of the violation or waive our right to act on it in the future.
• TOWNIK may enforce any provision at any time, even if it has previously chosen not to enforce the same provision against the same or other users.
• Any waiver of these Terms must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of TOWNIK to be valid.

TOWNIK may assign or transfer these Terms, and any rights and obligations hereunder, to any third party without your consent. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Sale, merger, acquisition, or reorganization of TOWNIK or its assets.
• Transfer to a successor entity or affiliate.
• Outsourcing of operations to a partner or service provider.

You may not assign or transfer your account, these Terms, or any rights or obligations hereunder to any other person or entity without TOWNIK's prior written consent. Any attempted transfer without consent is void.

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms of Service, you can reach us at:

• Email: hello@townik.com
• Website: townik.com
• In-app: Help & Support page

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 3 business days.