Terms of Service

Draft. This policy is under legal review and may change.

Last updated: [EFFECTIVE_DATE] Version 1.0

In short: CSI Elite Services is an online meeting place. Homeowners use the Platform for free: posting Jobs, finding and booking Pros, chatting and leaving reviews cost nothing. Buyers find products. CSI is not a contractor, an employer, an agent or a guarantor. Any agreement about work, price, payment, schedule, permits or warranties is made directly between the homeowner and the pro, and any dispute about it is between them. Each user is responsible for their own conduct and for complying with the law where they live and work. CSI's liability is limited as far as the law allows. If you live in the United States, disputes with CSI go to individual arbitration, not a class action or jury trial, unless you opt out within 30 days. Rights that the law of your country says cannot be waived are not affected. This summary is not part of the binding terms below.

PLEASE READ SECTION 25 CAREFULLY. IF YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, IT REQUIRES YOU AND CSI TO RESOLVE MOST DISPUTES BY BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, AND IT WAIVES YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND TO TAKE PART IN A CLASS ACTION. YOU MAY OPT OUT WITHIN 30 DAYS AS EXPLAINED IN SECTION 25.10.

1. Who we are and what these Terms cover

1.1. These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and CSI ELITE SERVICES, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (Florida document number L20000148542), doing business as "CSI Elite Services" ("CSI", "we", "us", "our"). Our address is 604 Banyan Trl, Boca Raton, FL 33481, USA (mailing: PO Box 812332).

1.2. These Terms govern your access to and use of the website at csieliteservices.com, its language versions, and any related apps, emails, features and services we provide (together, the "Platform").

1.3. You accept these Terms when you tick the acceptance box at sign-up or at another point where we ask for acceptance. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1.4. If you use the Platform on behalf of a business, you confirm that you have authority to bind that business, and "you" includes that business.

2. Definitions

In these Terms and in every Policy (Section 3), these words have the following meanings:

2.1. "User" means anyone who visits or uses the Platform, with or without an account.

2.2. "Homeowner" means a User with a Homeowner account, including a tenant, landlord or property manager who seeks home-improvement services.

2.3. "Pro" means a User with a Pro account who offers home-improvement or related services. A Pro may be an individual or a business.

2.4. "Seller" means a Pro who sells products through a shop on the Platform. "Buyer" means a User who buys a product on the Platform.

2.5. "Job" means a request for services that a Homeowner posts on the Platform. "Bid" means an offer a Pro sends in response to a Job. "Booking" means a meeting a Homeowner books with a Pro through the Platform (video, phone or on-site estimate).

2.6. "Project Contract" means any agreement between a Homeowner and a Pro about services, whether made through a Bid, in chat, in a meeting, in writing, orally or off the Platform. CSI is never a party to a Project Contract.

2.7. "Seller Sale" means a sale of a product by a Seller to a Buyer. CSI is never a party to a Seller Sale.

2.8. "CSI Store" means products that CSI itself sells on the Platform, including products CSI sells that a supplier ships directly to you.

2.9. "User Content" means anything a User posts, uploads, sends or submits on the Platform, including Job posts, photos, videos, comments, Bids, messages, reviews, questions, answers, ratings, profiles, documents and product listings.

2.10. "Verification Badge" means a label such as "Licensed", "Insured", "Background checked" or "ID verified" shown on a Pro's profile (Section 8).

2.11. "Paid Plan" means a paid membership, currently only Pro Elite. Homeowners do not pay CSI anything to use the Platform and have no Paid Plan.

2.12. "Consumer" means an individual acting for purposes outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

2.13. "Mandatory Law" means any law that applies to you and that cannot be changed or waived by contract, including non-waivable consumer protection laws of the country or state where you live.

3. Policies that form part of these Terms

3.1. The following documents ("Policies") are part of these Terms and apply to you when you use the feature they cover. Each is available from the footer of the Platform:

(a) Homeowner Terms (for Homeowners); (b) Pro Terms (for Pros); (c) Seller Terms (for Pros who open a shop); (d) Terms of Sale (for purchases from the CSI Store); (e) Pro Membership and Auto-Renewal Terms (for Pro plans and free trials; Homeowners have no plan and pay nothing); (f) Gift Card Terms; (g) Rewards and Referral Terms; (h) Community Guidelines and Review Policy; (i) Prohibited Items Policy; (j) Copyright and DMCA Policy; (k) Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy (these explain how we handle personal data; they are notices, and they do not reduce any right you have under data protection law).

3.2. If a Policy conflicts with these Terms, the Policy controls for the feature it covers, except that Sections 19 to 26 of these Terms (release, indemnity, disclaimers, limitation of liability, time limits, governing law, dispute resolution and international users) control unless the Policy expressly says otherwise.

3.3. Our Safety Tips page is helpful information only. It is not part of these Terms and is not advice.

4. Eligibility

4.1. You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use the Platform. The Platform is not for children. If we learn that a User is under 18, we will close the account.

4.2. You may not use the Platform if we have previously banned you, or if you are barred from receiving services under the laws that apply to you (see Section 32).

4.3. Pros and Sellers must also meet the eligibility rules in the Pro Terms and Seller Terms.

5. Accounts and security

5.1. You may create an account with an email address and password, or through Google or Facebook login. You must give accurate, current and complete information and keep it updated.

5.2. You choose a role when you sign up: Homeowner or Pro. You cannot change your role yourself. A Pro who needs work done on their own property must use a separate Homeowner account.

5.3. You are responsible for keeping your login details secure and for all activity on your account. Tell us at once at info@csieliteservices.com if you believe your account has been used without permission.

5.4. You may not sell, transfer or share your account, or create an account for someone else without their permission.

5.5. You must verify your email address before you post a Job, place a Bid or buy anything.

6. What CSI is, and what CSI is not

6.1. CSI is a venue. The Platform lets Homeowners and Pros find each other, communicate, schedule meetings and leave reviews, and lets Buyers buy products. CSI provides the technology and some optional checks. That is all.

6.2. CSI is not a contractor. CSI does not perform, supervise, direct, control, inspect or guarantee any home-improvement work. CSI does not hold itself out as a contractor and does not offer construction, cleaning, sealing, installation or any other trade services through Pros. Pros perform their own services under their own name and licences.

6.3. CSI is not a party to Project Contracts or Seller Sales. The scope, price, payment, deposits, schedule, materials, permits, inspections, insurance, warranties, change orders, cancellation and every other term of a Project Contract are agreed between the Homeowner and the Pro alone. The same is true of a Seller Sale between a Buyer and a Seller.

6.4. CSI does not handle payment for work. CSI does not collect, hold, escrow or release payment for services or for Seller Sales. Homeowners pay Pros directly, and Buyers pay Sellers directly through PayPal. CSI only takes payment for its own Paid Plans, gift cards and CSI Store products.

6.5. CSI is not an agent, broker, employer, partner or fiduciary of any User. No User is CSI's agent, and no User may bind CSI.

6.6. Disputes between Users are between Users. If you have a disagreement with another User, you must resolve it directly with them. CSI may, at its sole discretion, look at messages or records and may suggest steps, remove content or take action on accounts, but it has no duty to do so, it does not act as a mediator or arbitrator between Users, and any help it gives does not make it responsible for the outcome.

6.7. The CSI Store is different. When you buy a product from the CSI Store, CSI is the seller, and the Terms of Sale apply. Section 6.3 does not apply to those purchases.

7. Pros are independent businesses

7.1. Pros are independent businesses and independent contractors. They are not employees, workers, agents, joint venturers or franchisees of CSI.

7.2. CSI does not set Pros' prices, hours, methods, tools, materials or the way they perform work. CSI does not train, schedule or supervise Pros. Pros decide which Jobs to view, whether to bid, what to charge and whether to accept a Booking.

7.3. CSI does not pay Pros for their services. Pros pay CSI only for optional Paid Plans.

7.4. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership or joint venture relationship between CSI and any User.

8. No endorsement; Verification Badges

8.1. CSI does not endorse, recommend or vouch for any User, Pro, Seller, product, Bid or Job. A Pro's presence on the Platform, its position in search results, or a "Featured" or "Elite" label is not a recommendation.

8.2. What a Verification Badge means. A Verification Badge means only this: on the date shown with the badge, CSI staff (or, for "ID verified", our identity-verification provider) completed the specific check named by the badge, based on information and documents available at that time. In particular:

(a) "Licensed" means the Pro uploaded a licence document that CSI staff reviewed and, where a public lookup was reasonably available to staff, compared with that lookup. It does not mean the licence covers every service the Pro offers, every place the Pro works, or every Job. (b) "Insured" means the Pro uploaded an insurance document that CSI staff reviewed. It does not mean the policy is in force today, covers your Job, has adequate limits or will pay any claim. (c) "Background checked" means the Pro gave CSI evidence that a background check was carried out by a third party outside the Platform, and CSI staff reviewed that evidence. CSI did not perform the check and does not know everything a check may or may not have revealed. (d) "ID verified" means our identity-verification provider reported that an identity document and a live selfie matched, at the time of the check.

8.3. Licences and insurance can expire, be suspended or be cancelled. Documents can be false. Checks can be wrong or incomplete. CSI removes "Licensed" and "Insured" badges automatically when the expiry date entered for the document passes, but CSI does not monitor licences or insurance continuously.

8.4. CSI does not guarantee the identity, licensing, insurance, qualifications, competence, background, honesty, safety or conduct of any User, or the accuracy of any profile, document, badge, review, Bid or listing. You must make your own checks before you hire or buy. Our Safety Tips page suggests how.

9. Your responsibilities

9.1. You are solely responsible for:

(a) your own conduct on and off the Platform; (b) complying with all laws that apply to you, including licensing, registration, building codes, permits, inspections, health and safety, consumer protection, home-solicitation, lien, tax, employment, data protection, anti-discrimination, environmental and waste laws; (c) obtaining and keeping any licence, permit, registration or insurance your activity requires, in each place you live or work; (d) your own taxes, including income tax, sales or use tax, VAT and any other tax on amounts you receive or pay; (e) the safety of any person or property involved in work you do, commission or allow; and (f) the accuracy of the information and content you provide.

9.2. Homeowners have additional duties in the Homeowner Terms. Pros have additional duties in the Pro Terms. Sellers have additional duties in the Seller Terms.

10. Dealings between Users and off the Platform

10.1. Any Project Contract or Seller Sale is solely between the Users who make it. You enter into it at your own risk.

10.2. You are free to communicate, contract and pay off the Platform. CSI does not require Users to keep their dealings on the Platform. However, CSI has no record of, no control over, and no responsibility for anything that happens off the Platform, and features such as reviews may only be available for Jobs and Bookings recorded on the Platform.

10.3. Meetings, site visits and work take place at the risk of the Users involved. CSI is not present and does not control them.

11. Fees, payments and taxes

11.1. Using the Platform as a Homeowner is free: you pay CSI nothing to post Jobs, find and book Pros, chat or leave reviews. Pro Elite, gift cards and CSI Store products cost money as shown at checkout. The Pro Membership and Auto-Renewal Terms, Gift Card Terms and Terms of Sale apply.

11.2. Pro registration fee. Every Pro pays a one-time, non-refundable US$85 registration fee before uploading verification documents, whether they apply for Pro Basic or Pro Elite. This fee is separate from Pro Elite and is not credited toward it. CSI may waive this fee at its discretion. The Pro Terms (Section 14) set out the full terms of this fee, including when it is non-refundable and how you accept it.

11.3. CSI uses PayPal to take payments, including payments by PayPal account and payments by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card processed through PayPal's checkout (no PayPal account is needed to pay by card), and, where PayPal offers them, Apple Pay or Google Pay. When you pay through PayPal, PayPal's own terms also apply to you, and CSI does not store your full card or bank details.

11.4. Prices are charged in US dollars. Any amount shown in another currency is an approximate conversion for information only. Your bank or PayPal may charge conversion fees.

11.5. Prices include or exclude taxes as stated at checkout. Where the law requires us to collect a tax, we will add it or include it and show it on your invoice.

12. How content is ranked and shown

12.1. Pros appear in search results only for the categories and service areas they choose. Results are ordered using factors that include: match with the searched category and location, distance, profile completeness, Verification Badges, ratings and number of reviews, and whether the Pro has a Paid Plan. Paid placement, if any, is labelled as such where it appears.

12.2. Job posts, Pro profiles and Seller products may be reviewed by CSI staff before they are published. Approval only means the content did not appear, on a brief review, to break our rules. It is not a check of accuracy or quality.

13. User Content

13.1. You own your User Content. You are responsible for it, and you confirm that you have all rights needed to post it (including the consent of any person shown in a photo or video and of the owner of any property shown) and that it is accurate and lawful.

13.2. You grant CSI a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable licence to host, store, copy, reproduce, adapt (for example, resize, crop, translate or remove metadata), publish, display, distribute and otherwise use your User Content to operate, provide, improve and promote the Platform. For public User Content (such as reviews, profile content and Q&A), this licence lasts for as long as the content remains on the Platform and for a reasonable period afterwards for backups and cached copies, and it continues for reviews and history that we keep in anonymised form after you delete your account (Section 16.6). For private messages, we use them only as described in the Privacy Policy.

13.3. You waive, to the extent the law allows, any moral rights in your User Content that would prevent CSI from using it as permitted above.

13.4. CSI does not claim ownership of User Content and has no obligation to publish, keep or display it. CSI is not responsible for User Content posted by others, and does not adopt or endorse it.

14. Reviews

14.1. Reviews must follow the Community Guidelines and Review Policy. Only Homeowners who completed a Job or held a Booking with a Pro, or Buyers who completed a purchase, can leave a verified review.

14.2. CSI does not sell, buy or arrange fake reviews, does not offer anything in exchange for a review that depends on whether it is positive or negative, and does not remove or hide reviews because they are negative. CSI may remove reviews only for the content reasons listed in the Review Policy, applied in the same way to positive and negative reviews.

15. Prohibited conduct

You must not:

(a) break any law, or help anyone else break a law, including by offering unlicensed work where a licence is required; (b) post false, misleading, defamatory, infringing, hateful, harassing, threatening, obscene or unlawful content; (c) impersonate any person or business, or misrepresent your licences, insurance, qualifications, affiliation or identity; (d) upload forged, altered or someone else's documents; (e) post fake Jobs, fake Bids or fake reviews, or manipulate ratings, rankings or reviews; (f) discriminate against any person on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, familial status or any other characteristic protected by law; (g) collect, scrape or harvest data about Users, or use their contact details for anything other than the Job, Booking or purchase they relate to; (h) send spam, unsolicited marketing, chain messages or pyramid schemes; (i) offer or sell anything listed in the Prohibited Items Policy; (j) use the Platform to commit fraud, launder money, avoid sanctions or finance anything unlawful; (k) interfere with or disrupt the Platform, bypass security or rate limits, probe for vulnerabilities without our written permission, upload malware, or use bots, scrapers or automated tools without our written permission; (l) copy, modify, reverse engineer or create derivative works of the Platform, except as the law expressly allows; or (m) record a video or phone meeting without the consent of every participant where the law requires consent.

16. Moderation, suspension and termination

16.1. CSI may, but has no duty to, monitor, review, edit, refuse, hide or remove any User Content, and may limit, suspend or close any account, listing, shop or feature, at any time, if CSI reasonably believes that a User has broken these Terms or the law, has created risk or possible legal exposure for CSI or others, or has received credible reports of misconduct, or if CSI is required to do so by law.

16.2. Where the law requires it (for example, for users in the European Union), we will give you a statement of reasons for a restriction and tell you how to challenge it. The Community Guidelines explain our process.

16.3. You may close your account at any time from your account settings. Closing your account does not cancel obligations that already exist, such as a Project Contract with another User or payment for something you have bought. Cancelling a Paid Plan is covered by the Pro Membership and Auto-Renewal Terms.

16.4. If we close your account for a serious breach, fraud or unlawful conduct, you will not receive a refund of fees already paid, except where Mandatory Law requires a refund.

16.5. We may stop offering the Platform or any feature, in whole or in part, in any country. If we end a Paid Plan feature you have paid for, before the end of the period you paid for, the Pro Membership and Auto-Renewal Terms apply.

16.6. When an account is deleted, we remove or anonymise personal data as described in the Privacy Policy. Records that other Users rely on (such as their job history, reviews and messages) may remain, with you shown as "Former member".

17. Third-party services

17.1. The Platform uses or links to services run by others, including PayPal, Google and Facebook login, Jitsi video meetings (meet.jit.si), Veriff identity checks, shipping carriers and CJ Dropshipping. Those services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. CSI does not control them and is not responsible for their availability, security, content or acts.

17.2. Video meetings take place on Jitsi, a third-party service. Do not share sensitive information in a meeting that you would not want a third-party service to process.

18. CSI's intellectual property; feedback

18.1. The Platform, including its software, design, text, graphics and the names and logos "CSI Elite Services" and "Clean, Seal & Install", belongs to CSI or its licensors and is protected by law. We give you a limited, personal, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Platform for its intended purpose under these Terms. All other rights are reserved.

18.2. If you send us ideas or feedback, we may use them without restriction or payment to you.

19. Release of claims

19.1. Because CSI is not a party to Project Contracts or Seller Sales, you release CSI and its members, managers, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns (the "CSI Parties") from all claims, demands and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind, known and unknown, arising out of or connected with any dispute between you and another User, including disputes about work quality, delay, non-performance, payment, property damage, personal injury, products, shipping or conduct.

19.2. California residents. You waive California Civil Code Section 1542, which says: "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY."

19.3. Other places. You also waive any similar law of any other state or country that limits a general release to claims you know or suspect, to the extent you are allowed to waive it.

19.4. This release does not apply to claims that cannot be released by law, and it does not release CSI from liability for its own fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or for anything listed in Section 22.4.

20. Indemnification

20.1. To the extent the law allows, you will defend, indemnify and hold harmless the CSI Parties from and against all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) brought by a third party or a government authority, arising out of or connected with:

(a) your use of the Platform; (b) your User Content; (c) any Project Contract, Seller Sale, work, product, meeting or other dealing you take part in; (d) your breach of these Terms or any Policy; or (e) your breach of any law or of the rights of any third party.

20.2. CSI may take control of the defence of any matter covered by this Section at your expense, and you will cooperate. You may not settle a matter that affects CSI without CSI's written consent.

20.3. If you are a Consumer, this Section applies only to the extent that the loss was caused by your breach or fault and only to the extent permitted by Mandatory Law.

21. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

21.1. THE PLATFORM, ALL CONTENT, ALL VERIFICATION BADGES AND ALL FEATURES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

21.2. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CSI DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

21.3. WITHOUT LIMITING THE ABOVE, CSI DOES NOT WARRANT: (A) THE QUALITY, SAFETY, LEGALITY, TIMING OR OUTCOME OF ANY WORK, SERVICE OR PRODUCT PROVIDED BY ANY USER; (B) THE IDENTITY, LICENSING, INSURANCE, BACKGROUND, QUALIFICATIONS OR CONDUCT OF ANY USER; (C) THE ACCURACY OF ANY PROFILE, BADGE, REVIEW, BID, LISTING OR OTHER USER CONTENT; (D) THAT YOU WILL FIND A PRO, RECEIVE BIDS, WIN JOBS OR MAKE SALES; OR (E) THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, ERROR-FREE OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

21.4. PRODUCTS SOLD IN THE CSI STORE ARE COVERED BY THE TERMS OF SALE, WHICH DESCRIBE THE WARRANTY POSITION FOR THOSE PRODUCTS.

21.5. SOME STATES AND COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. WHERE THAT IS THE CASE, THE EXCLUSIONS ABOVE APPLY ONLY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED IS LIMITED TO THE SHORTEST PERIOD THE LAW ALLOWS.

22. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

22.1. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE CSI PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, BUSINESS, GOODWILL, DATA OR USE, ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THEIR POSSIBILITY.

22.2. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE CSI PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, INJURY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH: (A) THE ACTS, OMISSIONS, WORK, PRODUCTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY USER OR OTHER THIRD PARTY, ONLINE OR OFFLINE; (B) ANY PROJECT CONTRACT OR SELLER SALE; (C) ANY MEETING, SITE VISIT OR WORK; (D) ANY THIRD-PARTY SERVICE; OR (E) UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY CSI'S BREACH OF ITS SECURITY OBLIGATIONS.

22.3. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF THE CSI PARTIES FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM, TOGETHER, WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) US$100 OR (B) THE TOTAL FEES YOU PAID TO CSI IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT THAT GAVE RISE TO THE FIRST CLAIM. AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO OTHER USERS ARE NOT FEES PAID TO CSI.

22.4. WHAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT LIMIT. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS EXCLUDES OR LIMITS ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY LAW, INCLUDING CSI'S LIABILITY FOR: (A) ITS OWN FRAUD OR FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION; (B) ITS OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILFUL MISCONDUCT; (C) DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY CAUSED BY ITS OWN NEGLIGENCE, WHERE THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW THAT LIABILITY TO BE EXCLUDED; OR (D) RIGHTS GIVEN TO CONSUMERS BY MANDATORY LAW. IF YOU ARE A CONSUMER IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, CSI IS ALSO LIABLE AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR BREACH OF ESSENTIAL CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, LIMITED TO DAMAGE THAT WAS FORESEEABLE AND TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE OF CONTRACT WHEN IT WAS MADE.

22.5. THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN YOU AND CSI, AND THEY APPLY EVEN IF A LIMITED REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

23. Time limit to bring a claim

To the extent permitted by applicable law, any claim against CSI arising out of or connected with these Terms or the Platform must be started (in arbitration or, where allowed, in court) within one year after the claim arose, or it is permanently barred. Where the law does not allow this period to be shortened, the period set by law applies.

24. Governing law

24.1. These Terms and any dispute arising out of or connected with them or the Platform (including non-contractual disputes) are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, and, for Section 25, by the Federal Arbitration Act.

24.2. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

24.3. Section 26 explains how this choice of law applies to Users outside the United States.

25. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND BINDING ARBITRATION (USERS IN THE UNITED STATES)

25.1. WHO THIS COVERS. THIS SECTION APPLIES IF YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OR, IF YOU USE THE PLATFORM FOR A BUSINESS, IF YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES. IT APPLIES TO DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND CSI. IT DOES NOT GOVERN DISPUTES BETWEEN USERS.

25.2. INFORMAL RESOLUTION FIRST. BEFORE STARTING AN ARBITRATION OR A SMALL CLAIMS CASE, THE PARTY WITH A CLAIM MUST SEND THE OTHER A WRITTEN NOTICE OF DISPUTE. NOTICES TO CSI GO TO info@csieliteservices.com AND TO 604 Banyan Trl, Boca Raton, FL 33481, USA (mailing: PO Box 812332). THE NOTICE MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ACCOUNT EMAIL, A DESCRIPTION OF THE CLAIM AND THE RELIEF SOUGHT, AND MUST BE SIGNED BY YOU PERSONALLY (AND BY YOUR LAWYER, IF YOU HAVE ONE). FOR 60 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE IS RECEIVED, THE PARTIES WILL TRY IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE, INCLUDING, IF EITHER PARTY ASKS, BY AN INDIVIDUAL TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CALL IN WHICH YOU TAKE PART PERSONALLY. ANY LIMITATION PERIOD IS PAUSED DURING THIS 60-DAY PERIOD.

25.3. AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE. IF THE DISPUTE IS NOT RESOLVED, YOU AND CSI AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS, ANY POLICY, THE PLATFORM, OR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CSI, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTE, FRAUD OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER IT AROSE BEFORE OR AFTER YOU ACCEPTED THESE TERMS, WILL BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, EXCEPT AS SET OUT IN SECTION 25.4.

25.4. EXCEPTIONS. EITHER PARTY MAY: (A) BRING AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF IT QUALIFIES AND STAYS THERE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS; (B) BRING A CLAIM IN COURT FOR INFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION OR VIOLATION OF ITS COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, TRADE SECRETS, PATENTS OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; AND (C) ASK A COURT FOR TEMPORARY OR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO STOP ONGOING MISUSE OF THE PLATFORM OR TO PRESERVE THE STATUS QUO WHILE AN ARBITRATION IS PENDING.

25.5. RULES AND ADMINISTRATOR. THE ARBITRATION WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION ("AAA"). IF YOU ARE A CONSUMER, THE AAA CONSUMER ARBITRATION RULES APPLY. IF YOU USE THE PLATFORM FOR A BUSINESS (INCLUDING AS A PRO OR SELLER), THE AAA COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES APPLY. THE RULES IN FORCE WHEN THE ARBITRATION STARTS APPLY AND ARE AVAILABLE AT www.adr.org. IF THE AAA IS UNAVAILABLE OR DECLINES TO ADMINISTER, THE PARTIES WILL AGREE ON ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR, OR A COURT WILL APPOINT ONE UNDER 9 U.S.C. SECTION 5.

25.6. PLACE, HEARING AND FEES. THE SEAT OF THE ARBITRATION IS PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA. IF YOU ARE A CONSUMER, ANY IN-PERSON HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COUNTY WHERE YOU LIVE OR ANOTHER PLACE WE AGREE, AND YOU MAY CHOOSE A HEARING BY VIDEO OR TELEPHONE OR A DECISION ON DOCUMENTS ONLY. PAYMENT OF FILING, ADMINISTRATION AND ARBITRATOR FEES WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE AAA RULES. IF YOU ARE A CONSUMER, CSI WILL PAY ANY FEES THE AAA CONSUMER RULES REQUIRE A BUSINESS TO PAY, AND IF YOU SHOW THAT ARBITRATION COSTS WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE COMPARED WITH COURT COSTS, CSI WILL PAY AS MUCH OF YOUR SHARE AS THE ARBITRATOR FINDS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THAT.

25.7. THE ARBITRATOR. A SINGLE NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR WILL DECIDE THE DISPUTE. THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD ANY INDIVIDUAL RELIEF A COURT COULD AWARD UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, BUT ONLY IN FAVOUR OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTY SEEKING RELIEF AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT NEEDED TO RESOLVE THAT PARTY'S INDIVIDUAL CLAIM. THE ARBITRATOR WILL ISSUE A REASONED WRITTEN DECISION. JUDGMENT ON THE AWARD MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT WITH JURISDICTION. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 25.12, THE ARBITRATOR DECIDES ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCOPE, VALIDITY, ENFORCEABILITY AND ARBITRABILITY OF THIS SECTION.

25.8. CLASS ACTION WAIVER. YOU AND CSI EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS (EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 25.11) AND MAY NOT PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

25.9. JURY TRIAL WAIVER. YOU AND CSI EACH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL FOR ANY DISPUTE COVERED BY THESE TERMS, INCLUDING ANY DISPUTE THAT PROCEEDS IN COURT.

25.10. YOUR RIGHT TO OPT OUT. YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE BY EMAILING info@csieliteservices.com WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU FIRST ACCEPT THESE TERMS. YOUR EMAIL MUST COME FROM, OR NAME, THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF YOUR ACCOUNT, INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME, AND STATE THAT YOU OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION. OPTING OUT DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER PART OF THESE TERMS. IF YOU OPT OUT, SECTION 25.13 APPLIES TO DISPUTES INSTEAD.

25.11. MASS ARBITRATION. IF 25 OR MORE NOTICES OF DISPUTE OR ARBITRATION DEMANDS RAISING SIMILAR CLAIMS ARE SUBMITTED AGAINST CSI BY OR WITH THE HELP OF THE SAME OR COORDINATED LAWYERS OR ORGANISATIONS ("MASS FILING"), THEN: (A) THE AAA MASS ARBITRATION SUPPLEMENTARY RULES WILL APPLY TO THE EXTENT THEY DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THIS SECTION; (B) THE DEMANDS WILL BE ADMINISTERED IN BATCHES OF NO MORE THAN 100 DEMANDS EACH, WITH ONE ARBITRATOR PER BATCH AND ONE SET OF FEES PER BATCH AS THE AAA DETERMINES; (C) THE PARTIES WILL ASK THE AAA TO DECIDE THE BATCHES IN ORDER, AND MAY AGREE TO RESOLVE THE REMAINING DEMANDS BY MEDIATION AFTER THE FIRST BATCH IS DECIDED; AND (D) ANY LIMITATION PERIOD FOR A DEMAND IN A MASS FILING IS PAUSED FROM THE TIME ITS NOTICE OF DISPUTE IS SENT UNTIL ITS BATCH IS ASSIGNED. A COURT MAY ENFORCE THIS SECTION, AND MAY DECIDE ANY DISPUTE ABOUT WHETHER IT APPLIES.

25.12. IF PART OF THIS SECTION IS INVALID. IF A COURT DECIDES THAT THE CLASS ACTION WAIVER IN SECTION 25.8 IS UNENFORCEABLE AS TO A PARTICULAR CLAIM OR REQUEST FOR RELIEF (SUCH AS A REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INJUNCTIVE RELIEF), THAT CLAIM OR REQUEST (AND ONLY THAT ONE) WILL BE SEVERED AND DECIDED IN COURT UNDER SECTION 25.13, AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS ARE ARBITRATED. A COURT, NOT AN ARBITRATOR, DECIDES DISPUTES ABOUT THE ENFORCEABILITY OF SECTIONS 25.8 AND 25.11. IN NO CASE WILL A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ARBITRATION TAKE PLACE.

25.13. COURTS. ANY DISPUTE THAT IS NOT ARBITRATED WILL BE DECIDED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND YOU AND CSI CONSENT TO THEIR PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND VENUE.

25.14. CHANGES TO THIS SECTION. IF CSI MAKES A MATERIAL CHANGE TO THIS SECTION, IT WILL GIVE YOU AT LEAST 30 DAYS' NOTICE. THE CHANGE WILL NOT APPLY TO ANY DISPUTE OF WHICH CSI HAD NOTICE BEFORE THE CHANGE TOOK EFFECT. YOU MAY REJECT THE CHANGE BY EMAILING info@csieliteservices.com WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE NOTICE, IN WHICH CASE THE LAST VERSION OF THIS SECTION YOU ACCEPTED CONTINUES TO APPLY TO YOU.

26. Users outside the United States

26.1. Choice of law. If you live outside the United States, Florida law applies to these Terms to the extent permitted by the law of the country where you live. If you are a Consumer, this choice of law does not deprive you of the protection of the mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence.

26.2. Courts. If you live outside the United States, disputes with CSI will be decided by the courts of Palm Beach County, Florida, to the extent permitted by the law of your country. If you are a Consumer, you may also bring proceedings in the courts of the country where you live, and CSI may bring proceedings against you only in those courts where the law of your country requires this. Section 25 (arbitration) does not apply to Consumers outside the United States.

26.3. Mandatory rights. Nothing in these Terms limits any right you have as a Consumer under Mandatory Law, including (where applicable) the consumer laws of the European Union and Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Where a provision of these Terms (including Sections 19 to 23) would conflict with Mandatory Law, it applies only to the extent permitted by that law.

26.4. Complaints in the European Union. If you live in the European Union and have a complaint, contact us at info@csieliteservices.com. CSI is not obliged and does not offer to take part in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board. Nothing prevents you from using the courts or any complaint channel available to you under your local law.

26.5. Your local law. You are responsible for making sure your use of the Platform is lawful where you are. Features may vary by country.

27. Electronic communications and consent to electronic records

27.1. By creating an account or making a purchase, you consent to receive all agreements, notices, disclosures, receipts, invoices and other communications from CSI ("Communications") electronically, by email to the address on your account, by on-site notification, or by posting on the Platform. Communications have the same legal effect as if they were on paper and signed.

27.2. You agree that ticking a box or clicking a button to accept is your electronic signature, and that it has the same effect as a handwritten signature.

27.3. To receive Communications you need a device with internet access, a current web browser, a valid email address, and the ability to open PDF files. By accepting, you confirm that you meet these requirements and can access these Terms in electronic form. If these requirements change in a way that could stop you accessing Communications, we will tell you.

27.4. You may ask for a paper copy of any Communication, free of charge, by emailing info@csieliteservices.com. You may withdraw your consent to electronic Communications at any time by the same email. Because the Platform is an online service, withdrawing consent means we will close your account, but it will not affect the validity of Communications already given.

27.5. Keep your email address up to date. A Communication is treated as received when we send it to the email address on your account or post it on the Platform.

27.6. You can control marketing emails and push notifications in your account settings. We will still send messages about your account, transactions and legal matters.

28. Notices

28.1. Notices to CSI must be sent by email to info@csieliteservices.com and, for legal process or a Notice of Dispute, also by post or courier to 604 Banyan Trl, Boca Raton, FL 33481, USA (mailing: PO Box 812332). Copyright notices must follow the Copyright and DMCA Policy.

28.2. Notices to you will be sent as described in Section 27.

29. Changes to these Terms

29.1. We may change these Terms and the Policies from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law, our services or our business.

29.2. For material changes, we will notify you by email or on the Platform at least 30 days before the change takes effect, unless the change is required sooner by law or is needed to address a security or fraud risk. Where a change is material, we may require you to accept the new version before you continue to use the Platform. If you do not accept, you may close your account; if you have a Paid Plan, the Pro Membership and Auto-Renewal Terms explain your options.

29.3. Changes that are not material take effect when posted. The version number and date at the top show the current version.

29.4. Changes do not apply retroactively and do not affect any dispute that arose before the change, except as Section 25.14 provides.

30. Force majeure

CSI is not liable for any delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, fire, flood, epidemic, war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, failures of utilities, the internet or third-party service providers (including payment, hosting, shipping and identity services), cyberattacks not caused by CSI's negligence, and acts of government.

31. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without CSI's written consent. CSI may assign or transfer these Terms, in whole or in part, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganisation or sale of assets, provided this does not reduce your rights as a Consumer under Mandatory Law.

32. Export controls and sanctions

You confirm that you are not located in, ordinarily resident in or organised under the laws of a country or region subject to comprehensive United States sanctions, and that you are not on any US government restricted-party list, including the Specially Designated Nationals List of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. You must not use the Platform in breach of US or other applicable export control or sanctions laws. CSI may block access, cancel orders and close accounts to comply with those laws.

33. Language

These Terms are written in English and may be translated into Spanish and Arabic. If a translation conflicts with the English version, the English version controls, except where the law of your country requires a version in a local language to control.

34. General terms

34.1. Severability. If a court or arbitrator finds any provision of these Terms invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or changed to the minimum extent needed to make it enforceable, and the rest of these Terms will remain in full force. This does not change Section 25.12.

34.2. Entire agreement. These Terms and the Policies are the entire agreement between you and CSI about the Platform and replace any earlier agreement or statement on the same subject.

34.3. No waiver. If CSI does not enforce a right, that is not a waiver of it.

34.4. Survival. Sections 6, 7, 8.4, 10, 13.2 to 13.4, 16.3 to 16.6, 18 to 26, 27, 33 and 34, and any other provision that by its nature should continue, survive the end of these Terms or the closing of your account.

34.5. Third-party rights. These Terms do not give rights to anyone other than you and CSI, except that the CSI Parties may rely on Sections 19 to 22.

34.6. Headings and words. Headings are for convenience only. "Including" means "including without limitation".

35. Contact and complaints

35.1. CSI ELITE SERVICES, LLC, 604 Banyan Trl, Boca Raton, FL 33481, USA (mailing: PO Box 812332). Email: info@csieliteservices.com. Telephone: (833) 274-3425.

35.2. California users. Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, California users are entitled to the following notice: the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite N 112, Sacramento, California 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210.

35.3. New Jersey users. If you live in New Jersey, nothing in Sections 19, 20, 21 or 22 limits any right you have under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, the New Jersey Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act, or any other New Jersey law that cannot be waived, and those Sections apply to you only to the extent permitted by New Jersey law.