1. Introduction & Company Information

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Ugly Melon marketplace app and website. By creating an account, browsing, listing an item, or messaging another member, you enter into a legally binding agreement with Ugly Melon ("we", "us", or "Ugly Melon"). We are a company registered in England and Wales under company number [to be inserted] with our registered office at [to be inserted].

2. Platform Role & Limitations

Ugly Melon is an online intermediary classifieds venue. We provide hosting infrastructure, listing tools, and an integrated messaging system to allow users to connect.

• •No Contract of Sale: Ugly Melon is not an auctioneer, a retailer, or a party to any transaction. When a buyer purchases an item, the contract of sale is created strictly and directly between the buyer and the seller.
• •No Financial Involvement: Ugly Melon does not hold, handle, route, transfer, or process any funds or payments between users.

3. Eligibility & User Status (UK Consumer Law)

You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the United Kingdom to use this platform.

• •Private vs. Business Sellers: If you list items as part of your trade, business, craft, or profession (including "Trades" accounts), you are classified as a Business Seller under the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015.
• •Business Seller Obligations: Business Sellers are solely responsible for complying with all applicable UK consumer laws, including providing accurate business information, honouring statutory cancellation periods (the 14-day cooling-off period for distance sales), and ensuring goods match their description and are of satisfactory quality. Ugly Melon accepts zero liability for a Business Seller's failure to uphold these statutory obligations.

4. Payments & Stripe Integration

All financial transactions on Ugly Melon are handled directly between the buyer and the seller via their respective, independent Stripe accounts.

• •Third-Party Processor: Payment processing services are provided exclusively by Stripe and are subject to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement and the Stripe Terms of Service. By transacting on Ugly Melon, you agree to be bound by Stripe's terms.
• •No Financial Liability: Ugly Melon does not manage, see, or have access to your financial details or your Stripe account. We are entirely absolved of any liability regarding payment failures, processing errors, identity verification checks, or payment security breaches on Stripe's network.
• •Disputes, Chargebacks, and Scams: Any payment disputes, reversals, or fraud-related chargebacks must be handled directly through Stripe or the respective banks. Ugly Melon cannot reverse transactions, freeze user funds, or intervene in Stripe-level financial disputes.

5. Platform Fees

A one-time fee applies to vehicle listings, and a recurring subscription fee applies to "Trades" accounts. These fees are charged solely for the listing allocation on the platform. A vehicle advert fee buys a 50-day advert on the marketplace, and renewing a vehicle advert buys a further 50 days for the same fee.

• •No Refunds: In accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, by making your listing live immediately, you express consent for our service to begin straight away and acknowledge that you lose your right to a 14-day cooling-off refund for that listing fee once the service has been fully performed (i.e., the listing is live).
• •Vehicle Advert Fees Are Non-Refundable: the £20 vehicle advert fee (including any renewal of it) is not refunded if you cancel the advert, if the vehicle does not sell, or if you change your mind after the advert has gone live.

6. Listings, Conduct & Messaging

You may only list items you legally own and are free to sell within the UK.

• •Prohibited Items: You must not list weapons, tobacco, vapes, alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter medicines, unapproved e-bikes/e-scooters, or digital items.
• •Messaging Rules: Messages must remain text-only. Links, phone numbers, and URLs are blocked to prevent off-platform scams. You must not use messaging to harass, threaten, or systematically move transactions off-platform to circumvent these terms or Stripe's safety protocols. We reserve the right to automatically filter or review messages to maintain platform safety.

7. Termination & Deletion

We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account, delete listings, or block your access to Ugly Melon instantly, without notice or liability, if we suspect fraud, illegal activity, or a material breach of these Terms.

8. Exclusion of Warranties & Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by English law, Ugly Melon provides its platform "as is" and "as available" without any warranties of any kind.

• •Liability Cap: We do not exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud.
• •Exclusion of Losses: For all other scenarios, Ugly Melon, its directors, and employees shall not be liable to you in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise for any financial loss, loss of opportunity, loss of reputation, or any indirect or consequential damages arising directly or indirectly out of your use of the platform, user transactions, or flawed items sold via connected Stripe accounts.

9. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any legal proceedings must be brought exclusively in the courts of England and Wales (or the courts of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you reside there).