Terms of service

Users must be legally capable of entering the transactions they create. Additional age restrictions may apply to receiving payouts, certain services, or Stripe accounts.

The Town Works provides infrastructure that allows independent participants to document and facilitate transactions. Except where expressly stated, The Town Works is not a party performing the underlying service and does not become the employer, agent, partner, joint venturer, contractor, or representative of either participant. See about for what The Town Works is and isn’t responsible for.

The buyer and provider are responsible for agreeing on:

• scope
• price
• timing
• materials
• access
• cancellation terms
• service-specific requirements.

The transaction record may memorialize those terms.

The Town Works uses Stripe, and may use other regulated payment providers, to process payments and payouts.

Payment information submitted through Stripe is handled according to Stripe’s own terms and privacy practices. Depending on the payment architecture used for a particular provider, that provider may maintain a connected Stripe account and may have a direct contractual relationship with Stripe. Stripe may require identity, tax, business, bank-account, ownership, or other information before enabling payments or payouts. The Town Works cannot override Stripe’s verification, risk, compliance, or prohibited-business requirements.

Platform fees. Any The Town Works fee associated with a transaction will be disclosed clearly before the participant confirms that transaction — see costs. The Town Works may receive an application fee or other disclosed platform fee through Stripe Connect.

TTW balance. A provider may choose to receive earnings into an internal TTW balance instead of a bank transfer, and a payer may pay from that balance instead of a card — either way, no card-processing fee applies. A TTW balance can be spent on another transaction or moved to a real payout at any time; it is not a bank account and is not FDIC-insured.

Account approval for payments. New accounts require a one-time review before they may send or receive real payments, separate from identity verification. This is a staged rollout measure, not a permanent restriction, and does not limit browsing, messaging, or drafting agreements.

Payouts. Payout timing depends on the payment method, Stripe account status, risk review, bank processing, weekends and holidays, and other circumstances outside The Town Works’ direct control. An estimated payout date is not a guarantee that funds will reach a bank account at that exact time. Payment processors may delay or restrict payments or payouts when verification information is missing, a transaction is disputed, fraud is suspected, or applicable rules require additional review.

Chargebacks and payment disputes. Cardholders and financial institutions may initiate disputes or chargebacks under applicable network rules. The Town Works may ask the participants to provide evidence concerning the transaction, including the work agreement, messages, photographs, receipts, delivery evidence, or completion acknowledgments. The ultimate outcome of a bank or card-network dispute may be controlled by the payment processor, issuing bank, card network, or other financial institution rather than The Town Works — see refunds and disputes below for how we handle these.

The Town Works is built around direct agreements between neighbors. If a problem occurs, participants should first try to resolve it with one another when doing so is safe and reasonable. Either participant can then ask The Town Works for help documenting or resolving the dispute.

Refunds. A buyer may request a refund when:

• the provider agrees to issue one;
• the work was canceled under the agreed cancellation terms;
• goods or services were not delivered as agreed;
• the parties reach another documented resolution; or
• The Town Works determines that a refund is appropriate under an applicable platform guarantee or policy.

Because The Town Works hosts many types of work, there is no universal rule that every completed service is refundable. Once a service has been substantially performed, disagreements about quality, scope, or price may require review rather than automatic refund. Any transaction-specific refund or cancellation terms shown before purchase become part of that transaction. Participants may agree to a partial refund when only part of the work was completed or when a partial adjustment reasonably resolves the dispute.

Payment-processing fees. Some third-party processing charges may not be recoverable after a payment has been processed. If a processing fee cannot be returned by the relevant payment provider, The Town Works will disclose whether that amount is deducted from the refund or absorbed by The Town Works or another participant.

How long refunds take. The Town Works can initiate an approved electronic refund promptly, but banks and payment networks control when the refunded funds appear in the customer’s account.

Chargebacks. A participant should contact The Town Works before filing a chargeback when practical, so we have an opportunity to address the problem. This does not limit any legal or card-network right to dispute a transaction.

Cancellation policy. The provider and customer may agree to transaction-specific cancellation terms. Unless a particular transaction states otherwise:

• a buyer may request cancellation before work begins;
• a provider may accept or decline a late cancellation;
• any work already performed or nonrecoverable materials already purchased may still be payable;
• a provider may cancel before performance and should refund amounts received for work not performed;
• repeated abusive cancellations may result in account restrictions.

Certain services, custom-made goods, food preparation, event work, appointments, or purchases requiring advance materials may have stricter cancellation rules. Those terms must be disclosed before the buyer confirms the transaction.

Contact us about a transaction. Use the support link attached to the transaction, or contact admin@thetownworks.com. Include The Town Works transaction number when available. See contact for more ways to reach us.

A provider who uses The Town Works to receive electronic payments authorizes The Town Works to perform the actions reasonably necessary to create, document, process, refund, dispute, and administer transactions initiated through the platform.

The Town Works may use Stripe Connect or another payment provider for these purposes. Where Stripe Connect is used, the provider authorizes The Town Works to transmit required account and transaction information to Stripe and to initiate authorized activity through the provider’s connected Stripe account as described in this agreement and in the transaction interface. The provider must also agree to any applicable Stripe Connected Account Agreement or other terms presented during Stripe onboarding.

Information The Town Works may access. Depending on the payment configuration, The Town Works may receive information from Stripe concerning:

• connected-account identity and status
• verification requirements
• payment capability status
• transaction and payout status
• refunds
• disputes
• balances relevant to transactions on The Town Works
• fraud or risk information Stripe makes available to platforms
• other information necessary to operate The Town Works payment integration

The Town Works will use this information to operate the service, comply with law, administer transactions, prevent abuse, and provide support.

Payout amount and the Stripe account fee. Providers are paid the full agreed job amount for every job, with one exception: Stripe charges The Town Works $2 for every calendar month a provider’s connected account receives a payout, regardless of how many jobs that involved. The Town Works passes that charge through to the provider, once, on their first Stripe-processed transaction each month — at cost, with no markup. It is itemized on the receipt as “Stripe account fee” and deducted from that payout, not added to the buyer’s total. No further deduction applies to additional jobs completed the same month.

Provider responsibilities. Providers agree to:

• describe their services honestly;
• charge only amounts agreed with customers;
• perform accepted work with reasonable care;
• comply with applicable laws;
• obtain licenses, permits, insurance, certifications, registrations, and tax accounts required for their activities;
• provide accurate identity, tax, business, and bank information when required;
• honor agreed cancellation and refund terms;
• cooperate reasonably with legitimate disputes;
• avoid prohibited or restricted transactions.

Independent activity. The Town Works does not set providers’ working hours, require providers to accept work, prohibit providers from serving customers elsewhere, or dictate the price of ordinary services. Providers remain responsible for how they conduct their own business or occasional paid activity.

Taxes. Providers are responsible for determining and satisfying their own income-tax, sales-tax, business-license, reporting, and other tax obligations unless The Town Works expressly states that it is collecting or remitting a particular tax. The Town Works or its payment provider may be legally required to collect tax information or issue information-reporting forms.

Providers must satisfy legal requirements applicable to the work they perform. The Town Works may request evidence of licensing, certification, insurance, registration, or other authorization.

Users are responsible for exercising reasonable judgment when interacting with people they meet through The Town Works. Identity or payment verification reduces certain risks but does not establish that a participant is safe, competent, licensed, trustworthy, or appropriate for every job.

Users may not:

• commit fraud;
• misrepresent goods, services, identity, qualifications, or transaction history;
• evade platform safety or financial controls;
• use The Town Works as a general money-transfer system;
• manipulate reputation;
• threaten, harass, exploit, or discriminate unlawfully;
• sell prohibited goods or services;
• use another person's payment or identity information without authorization;
• interfere with platform security.

The Town Works may not be used for unlawful transactions. The Town Works also prohibits or restricts transactions that The Town Works, Stripe, financial partners, insurers, regulators, or applicable law determine cannot be supported. Examples may include:

• illegal goods or services
• controlled substances
• weapons or explosives
• sexual services
• gambling
• fraudulent or deceptive activity
• money laundering or unlicensed money transmission
• transactions designed primarily to move money rather than pay for legitimate goods or services
• sale of stolen property
• transactions involving exploitation or abuse
• services requiring licenses that the provider does not possess
• other activities prohibited by Stripe's Restricted Businesses rules or The Town Works' policy

Some lawful activities may require prior approval or additional verification. The Town Works may pause, reject, cancel, or restrict transactions when reasonably necessary to comply with these requirements.

No peer-to-peer money transfer. Payments made through The Town Works must correspond to bona fide goods or services. The Town Works is not a general-purpose service for sending money between friends, holding funds, storing value, or transferring money without an underlying transaction.

Do not create fictitious jobs or purchases to transfer money between accounts.

The Town Works may restrict or suspend accounts when reasonably necessary to protect users, investigate suspected fraud or abuse, satisfy payment-provider requirements, comply with law, or enforce these Terms.

Newly created accounts are also restricted from sending or receiving real payments until an admin approves the account for payments, in addition to any identity verification — see payments above. This restriction does not apply to browsing, messaging, or drafting agreements.

Community-reserve contributions and assistance are governed by the applicable reserve rules — see coverage. Unless expressly identified as an insurance policy issued by a licensed insurer, a community reserve is not represented as insurance.

The Town Works relies on third parties including payment processors, banks, hosting providers, communications services, and potentially identity-verification and insurance providers. The Town Works cannot guarantee uninterrupted performance of third-party systems.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Town Works and its directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, and service providers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, business opportunities, goodwill, data, or anticipated savings arising out of or relating to use of The Town Works platform.

The Town Works provides infrastructure that helps independent participants find, arrange, document, pay for, and maintain records of transactions with one another. Except where The Town Works expressly states otherwise, The Town Works does not perform the underlying services, supervise providers, control how work is performed, guarantee the quality or safety of work, or guarantee that a participant will complete a transaction.

The Town Works is not responsible for injury, property damage, loss, theft, defective work, regulatory violations, licensing violations, misconduct, or other harm caused by a participant in connection with an underlying transaction, except to the extent responsibility cannot lawfully be excluded.

The Town Works also is not responsible for delays, interruptions, errors, payment failures, account restrictions, bank delays, telecommunications failures, or other problems caused by third-party services such as payment processors, banks, identity-verification providers, communications providers, hosting providers, insurers, or internet-service providers.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the aggregate liability of The Town Works arising out of or relating to the platform, these Terms, or a transaction facilitated through The Town Works will not exceed the greater of:

1. the total operating fees paid to The Town Works by the person asserting the claim during the twelve months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or
2. $100.

This limitation does not apply where liability cannot legally be limited or excluded, including any liability for fraud, willful misconduct, or other matters for which applicable law prohibits limitation.

Nothing in these Terms limits any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived under applicable consumer-protection or other law.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Town Works and its directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, and service providers from and against claims, demands, actions, proceedings, liabilities, losses, damages, judgments, settlements, penalties, fines, costs, and reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of or relating to:

• goods or services that you offer, provide, purchase, request, or receive through or in connection with The Town Works;
• your performance or failure to perform an agreement with another participant;
• injury, death, property damage, economic loss, or other harm caused by your acts or omissions;
• your violation of these Terms or any other policy of The Town Works;
• your violation of applicable law, regulation, permit, licensing, tax, insurance, employment, health, safety, or professional requirements;
• your infringement or violation of another person's intellectual-property, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other rights;
• information, representations, advertisements, photographs, listings, messages, or other content that you submit through The Town Works;
• fraud, misrepresentation, misuse of payment systems, chargebacks, or payment disputes attributable to your conduct; or
• your use or misuse of The Town Works platform.

The Town Works may assume control of the defense of any matter subject to indemnification, at its own expense or as otherwise permitted by law. If The Town Works does so, you agree to provide reasonable cooperation in the defense of the matter.

You may not settle a claim in a manner that imposes liability, obligations, admissions, or restrictions on The Town Works without The Town Works’ prior written consent.

This indemnification obligation does not apply to the extent that a claim results from The Town Works’ own conduct for which indemnification may not lawfully be required.

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to The Town Works, your use of the platform, or transactions facilitated through the platform will be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

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

Before filing a lawsuit relating to The Town Works, you and The Town Works agree to make a reasonable, genuine effort to resolve the dispute informally.

A party seeking to initiate a dispute should provide written notice describing:

• the name and contact information of the person bringing the dispute;
• The Town Works account or transaction involved, if applicable;
• the nature of the dispute;
• the relief requested; and
• information reasonably sufficient to allow the other party to evaluate the dispute.

Notices to The Town Works may be sent to admin@thetownworks.com.

The parties will have 30 days after receipt of the notice to attempt to resolve the dispute informally before either party files a formal proceeding, unless immediate action is reasonably necessary to prevent imminent harm or preserve a legal right.

Court proceedings

Unless the parties separately agree to arbitration or applicable law requires another forum, disputes that cannot be resolved informally may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Subject to applicable law, you and The Town Works consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts located in Alameda County, California.

Nothing in this section prevents either party from:

• bringing an eligible claim in small claims court;
• seeking temporary or emergency injunctive relief when reasonably necessary;
• reporting a matter to a government agency or regulator; or
• exercising rights that applicable law does not permit these Terms to restrict.

No limitation on participant-to-participant claims

These dispute-resolution provisions govern disputes involving The Town Works. They do not prevent a buyer or provider from asserting claims directly against another participant arising from the underlying goods, services, conduct, or transaction between them, subject to any separate agreement those participants may have made with each other.

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and, where appropriate, modified or severed without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

The Town Works’ failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive its right to enforce that provision or any other provision later.

The Town Works may update these Terms as the service develops. Material changes will be communicated as required by law.