Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Vetted.bb (the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Platform. These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, clients, and freelancers who access or use our services.

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Platform after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We will indicate the date of the most recent revision at the top of this page.

2. Description of Service

Vetted.bb is an online marketplace that connects clients with independent freelancers based in Barbados. We provide a platform for discovery, communication, and review. We are not a staffing agency, employer, or service provider.

Vetted.bb does not employ freelancers, does not guarantee the quality or completion of any work, and is not a party to any agreement made between a client and a freelancer. Any contract for services is solely between the client and the freelancer. Vetted.bb accepts no liability for disputes, losses, or damages arising from those arrangements.

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Platform at any time without prior notice.

3. User Accounts and Responsibilities

To access certain features of the Platform you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date.

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised use of your account.

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account. By registering, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement.

You agree not to:

• Create accounts for fraudulent, misleading, or unlawful purposes
• Share, sell, or transfer your account to any other person
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your identity
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access or interact with the Platform
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform or its infrastructure

4. Freelancer Obligations

By registering as a freelancer on Vetted.bb, you agree to the following:

• Accurate profiles: All information on your profile (including your name, trade, skills, location, and availability) must be truthful and kept up to date. Misleading or false information is grounds for account removal.
• Honest reviews: Reviews you leave about clients must reflect genuine experiences. You must not submit reviews in exchange for payment, discounts, or any other incentive.
• Professional conduct: You agree to treat all clients with professionalism and respect, both on the Platform and in any work arising from connections made through it.
• Legal compliance: You are responsible for ensuring that you have any licences, certifications, insurance, or permits required to perform the services you advertise. Vetted.bb does not verify these credentials.
• Tax obligations: You are solely responsible for declaring and paying any income tax, VAT, or other levies applicable to income earned through work arranged via the Platform.

5. Client Obligations

By using Vetted.bb as a client, you agree to:

• Honest reviews: Reviews you leave about freelancers must be based on genuine experiences. Fake, retaliatory, or incentivised reviews are prohibited.
• Fair treatment: You agree to treat all freelancers with courtesy and respect. Harassment, discrimination, or abusive communication is prohibited and may result in account termination.
• Accurate information: Any information you provide when contacting a freelancer or leaving a review must be truthful.
• Direct agreements: Any agreement you reach with a freelancer regarding scope, payment, and timeline is between you and that freelancer. Vetted.bb is not a party to that agreement and accepts no responsibility for its fulfilment.

6. Two-Way Review System and Acceptable Use

Vetted.bb operates a mutual review system: clients may review freelancers, and freelancers may review clients. This system exists to build trust and accountability across the community.

The following are strictly prohibited in relation to reviews and general use of the Platform:

• Submitting false, fabricated, or misleading reviews
• Paying for, soliciting, or offering any incentive in exchange for reviews
• Submitting reviews about people you have not genuinely worked with
• Using reviews as a tool for harassment, extortion, or retaliation
• Posting content that is defamatory, obscene, hateful, or unlawful
• Attempting to manipulate ratings or rankings on the Platform
• Contacting other users for purposes unrelated to the services offered

We reserve the right to remove any review or content that we believe violates these Terms, at our sole discretion.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on the Vetted.bb Platform (including the name, logo, design, text, and software) is the property of Vetted.bb or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of the Platform without our express written consent.

By submitting content to the Platform (including profile information, photos, and reviews), you grant Vetted.bb a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to any content you submit and that it does not infringe the rights of any third party.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Vetted.bb and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, including but not limited to:

• The quality, safety, or outcome of any work performed by a freelancer
• Disputes between clients and freelancers
• Loss of income, data, or business opportunity
• Unauthorised access to your account
• Any reliance placed on information published on a freelancer's profile

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

9. Dispute Resolution

Vetted.bb is a marketplace and does not mediate, arbitrate, or adjudicate disputes between clients and freelancers. We encourage all users to resolve disagreements directly and professionally.

If you have a concern about another user's conduct on the Platform, you may contact us and we will review the matter at our discretion. We reserve the right to remove content, suspend, or terminate accounts where we determine there has been a breach of these Terms.

Any legal dispute between a user and Vetted.bb shall first be subject to good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, such disputes shall be submitted to the courts of Barbados.

10. Termination

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account without prior notice if we determine, at our sole discretion, that you have violated these Terms, engaged in fraudulent activity, or acted in a way that is harmful to other users or to the Platform.

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Barbados, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. By using the Platform, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Barbados for any disputes arising under these Terms.

12. Reviews & Ratings Policy

By submitting a review on Vetted.bb, you confirm that:

• The review is based on a genuine experience with the service provider
• The content is truthful, fair, and not misleading
• The review does not contain defamatory, abusive, discriminatory, or unlawful content

Vetted.bb reserves the right to remove any review that, in our sole discretion, violates these standards or is reasonably believed to be false, fraudulent, or submitted in bad faith.

Reviews represent the opinions of individual users and do not represent the views of Vetted.bb. Vetted.bb is not liable for the content of user-submitted reviews.

Freelancers may dispute a review by contacting support@vetted.bb. Disputes are reviewed within 7 business days. Vetted.bb's decision on review disputes is final.

Verified badges confirm identity only, not the quality or outcome of any service delivered. Vetted.bb makes no guarantee of service quality for any listed professional.

13. Platform Role

Vetted.bb is a marketplace platform only. We are not a party to any contract, agreement, or transaction between clients and service providers. We do not handle payments, guarantee work quality, or mediate financial disputes. Any agreement made through this platform is solely between the client and the freelancer.

14. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at hello@vetted.bb.