Terms of Service

By accessing FindHostel ("the Service"), you accept these Terms. FindHostel is an All India hostel discovery platform connecting hostel owners with students.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using FindHostel ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.

2. Service Description

FindHostel is an All India platform connecting hostel owners with students. We provide listing, search, AI-powered discovery (ChatGPT, Gemini), and booking facilitation services. Hostel owners receive free landing pages, hosting, maintenance, and traffic distribution.

3. User Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain security of your account credentials
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not misuse or abuse the Service
• Not post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings

4. Hostel Owner Obligations

• Provide accurate hostel information and photos
• Maintain up-to-date availability and pricing
• Respond promptly to inquiries
• Honor bookings made through the platform
• Comply with local regulations and safety standards
• Verify hostel ownership/authorization before listing
• Update listing if hostel closes, relocates, or changes ownership

4A. Hostel Verification & Fraud Prevention

To protect students and maintain platform integrity, we implement multi-layer verification:

• ₹1 Autopay Verification: Validates you have a real, active payment method linked to Indian bank account/UPI.
• Phone/Email Verification: OTP-based verification to confirm contact details.
• Ownership Documentation: We may request proof of hostel ownership (rental agreement, property documents, business license) for suspicious listings.
• Manual Review: New listings are reviewed by our team within 24-48 hours.
• Student Reports: Students can flag fake/misleading listings. Flagged hostels are investigated and may be suspended.

Fraudulent Listings: If you post fake hostels, stolen photos, or misleading information:

• Immediate account suspension (no refund)
• Permanent ban from platform
• Legal action under IT Act, 2000 (Section 66D - Cheating by Personation)
• Liability for damages to affected students

5. Payments, Subscriptions & Trial Periods

Pricing Plans

• Basic: ₹199/month or ₹181/month (annual) - 1 hostel listing
• Professional: ₹499/month or ₹454/month (annual) - 3 hostel listings
• Premium: ₹1,499/month or ₹1,364/month (annual) - 10 hostel listings
• Enterprise: ₹4,999/month - 20+ hostels with advanced features

Free Trial

New hostel owners receive a 30-day free trial with full platform access. No payment required during trial. Trial automatically expires after 30 days unless subscription is purchased.

UPI Autopay & Recurring Billing

To verify your account and enable publishing, you authorize a ₹1 one-time verification charge via UPI Autopay. This creates a recurring payment mandate for future subscription charges. By completing verification, you explicitly consent to:

• ₹1 verification charge (one-time, deducted after 30-day trial if no subscription purchased)
• Automatic recurring billing for your chosen subscription tier
• Monthly or annual charges based on selected plan
• Auto-renewal until you cancel

You can cancel the mandate anytime from your dashboard or UPI app. Cancellation stops future charges but does not refund current billing period. The ₹1 verification charge is non-refundable as it validates your payment method.

Referral Program

Refer other hostel owners and receive 15 days free extension per successful referral. Referral credit applies after referred owner completes payment.

Payment & Billing

All fees are in Indian Rupees (₹) and processed securely via Razorpay Payment Gateway. Payments are charged monthly or annually based on selected plan. Annual plans include 9% discount. We reserve the right to change pricing with 30 days advance written notice. Payment processing is subject to Razorpay's Terms of Service.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

All subscription fees are non-refundable except as required under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Specifically:

• No partial refunds: Cancellation takes effect at end of current billing period. No refunds for unused days/months.
• ₹1 verification: Non-refundable as it validates payment method and prevents fraud.
• Service unavailability: If service is unavailable for >48 consecutive hours due to our fault, you may request prorated credit for affected period.
• Fraudulent charges: Report within 7 days to billing@dormico.in with proof. We investigate and issue refund if verified.
• Legal exceptions: Refunds mandated by Consumer Protection Act or court order will be honored within 30 days.

Payment Failure & Grace Periods

If recurring payment fails, you receive a 7-day grace period to update payment details. After grace expires:

• Listings show as "Currently Unavailable" to students
• You retain dashboard access to update payment method
• After 30 days of non-payment, account is suspended
• Suspended accounts and data are deleted after 90 days

6. Content Ownership

You retain ownership of content you post. By posting, you grant FindHostel a license to use, display, and distribute your content on the platform.

7. Prohibited Activities

• Posting false or misleading information
• Harassment or discrimination
• Spam or unsolicited communications
• Violation of intellectual property rights
• Attempting to hack or disrupt the Service

8. Termination & Cancellation

We may terminate or suspend access for violations of these Terms. You may cancel your subscription anytime from your dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at end of current billing period. No refunds for partial months. Trial accounts expire automatically after 30 days.

9. Disclaimer

The Service is provided "as is" without warranties. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, or legality of listed hostels. Users interact directly with hostel owners.

10. Limitation of Liability

FindHostel is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the Service. Total liability is limited to fees paid in the last 12 months.

11. Dispute Resolution

Before filing legal action, parties agree to attempt resolution through:

• Direct Negotiation: Email disputes@dormico.in within 30 days of issue arising.
• Mediation: If not resolved in 15 days, parties may agree to mediation.
• Consumer Forums: For subscription disputes under ₹50 lakhs, consumers may approach District/State/National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission per Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

12. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of India including but not limited to Information Technology Act, 2000, Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and Indian Contract Act, 1872. Any legal disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

13. Force Majeure

We are not liable for failure to perform obligations due to events beyond reasonable control including natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, war, terrorism, internet/telecom failures, or acts of third-party service providers (Supabase, Cloudflare, Razorpay). During force majeure events, subscription periods may be extended without additional charge.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be notified via email and/or prominent platform notice 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with changes, you may cancel your subscription before effective date.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.

16. Contact & Grievance Redressal

For questions, complaints, or grievances:

• General Support: support@dormico.in
• Billing/Refunds: billing@dormico.in
• Disputes: disputes@dormico.in
• Fraud Reports: security@dormico.in

Registered Office Address:
Near Hi-Tech Diagnostic Centre
Palarivattom, Ernakulam
Kerala 682025, India
Phone: +91 7902299476

Grievance Officer (per IT Act, 2000):
Email: grievance@dormico.in
Response Time: 48 hours acknowledgment, 30 days resolution