Hearth
Platform principles
Terms that guide every listing
Understand the responsibilities, protections, and community standards that keep Hearth transparent for travelers and providers alike.

Terms of Service

Last Updated: September 2025
Company: StarKnights Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Hearth. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Hearth platform (“Platform”) operated by StarKnights Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (“StarKnights”, “we”, “us”, “our”). By accessing or using Hearth, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully.

1. Definitions

  • “Provider” means a person or business listing stays, food, experiences, or services on Hearth.
  • “Traveler” means a user browsing or using Hearth to discover listings.
  • “Subscription” means the paid plan allowing Providers to publish listings.
  • “Payment Gateway” means PhonePe, Razorpay, or any successor/alternative gateway we may use.
  • “KYC” means know-your-customer verification performed for Providers.

2. Scope & Applicability

These Terms apply to all users of Hearth, including Providers and Travelers. By using Hearth, you accept these Terms in full. If you disagree with any part, you must not use the Platform.

3. Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
  • Providers must have the legal right to offer the listed services.
  • By registering, you confirm the information you provide is truthful and lawful.

4. Account Creation & Security

  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
  • You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
  • We are not liable for losses arising from unauthorized access due to your negligence.

5. Nature of Services

  • Hearth is a travel information and listing platform.
  • We connect Travelers with Providers but do not manage bookings or payments between them.
  • Hearth facilitates subscriptions for Providers who wish to publish listings.

6. Subscription Plans

  • Hearth offers subscription-based plans that allow Providers to publish their listings on the Platform.
  • Subscription cycles are available on monthly, quarterly, and yearly terms.
  • The chosen subscription cycle determines the duration of listing visibility and renewal frequency.
  • Subscriptions are activated only after successful payment and approval of the listing by Hearth’s review team.
  • The subscription date begins from the date of approval, not from the initial submission.
  • Providers may upgrade or change their subscription cycle at the time of renewal.
  • Subscription fees are non-transferable and apply only to the specific account and listing(s) for which they are purchased.
  • All subscription fees and cycles are subject to revision or update, and Providers will be notified in advance of any such changes.
  • Promotional offers, discounts, or free trial periods may be introduced by Hearth from time to time, at our sole discretion.
  • Failure to renew a subscription before expiry may result in suspension or removal of the listing until payment is completed.

7. Payment Methods

  • Subscriptions are payable at the time of submitting a listing for publishing.
  • Payments are processed securely via PhonePe or Razorpay.
  • Autopay is the preferred mode; manual payments are allowed if autopay is unavailable.
  • We do not store payment credentials; they are handled by the Payment Gateway in compliance with RBI regulations.

8. Listing Review & Approval

  • All listings undergo internal review for quality, authenticity, and compliance.
  • If issues are found, Providers will be notified and may resubmit corrected data.
  • Once approved, listings are published automatically and the subscription cycle begins.
  • If a listing is rejected or deleted before approval, the subscription fee is refunded in full.

9. Refunds & Cancellations

  • Refunds are issued only if a listing is rejected or deleted before approval.
  • No partial or pro-rated refunds are provided after a subscription cycle begins.
  • Refunds are processed through the original Payment Gateway (PhonePe/Razorpay) within 7–10 business days, subject to gateway timelines.
  • Providers may cancel subscriptions at any time, but active cycles remain non-refundable.

10. Renewals

  • Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each cycle unless cancelled.
  • Providers are responsible for maintaining sufficient funds in their linked payment method for autopay.
  • Failure to pay may result in suspension of listings until payment is completed.

11. Provider Obligations

  • Providers must ensure listing accuracy, lawful operation, and authenticity.
  • Listings must not infringe intellectual property or misrepresent services.
  • Providers are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws, licenses, and permits.
  • Hearth may suspend or remove listings that fail quality standards or receive consistent negative feedback.

12. Traveler Use

  • Travelers may browse listings freely without creating an account.
  • Hearth is not responsible for Traveler-Provider agreements, payments, or disputes.
  • Travelers must provide fair and genuine reviews, avoiding offensive or fraudulent content.

13. Reviews

  • Reviews are submitted through single-use links or QR codes generated by Providers.
  • Tokens expire 21 days after generation.
  • Hearth reserves the right to moderate or remove abusive, irrelevant, or false reviews.

14. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

  • Use Hearth for unlawful, fraudulent, or misleading purposes.
  • Post harmful, defamatory, or obscene content.
  • Circumvent security features or disrupt the Platform.
  • Collect or harvest data from Hearth without consent.

15. Intellectual Property

  • Hearth’s software, design, branding, and content are owned by StarKnights.
  • Providers retain rights to their submitted content but grant Hearth a licence to host, display, and promote it (including marketing).
  • Unauthorized copying or distribution of Hearth’s intellectual property is prohibited.

16. Content Rights & Licensing

  • By uploading listings, Providers grant Hearth a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute content in connection with the Platform.
  • Hearth may use provider content in marketing, with appropriate attribution.

17. Moderation & Takedown

  • We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms, legal obligations, or community standards.
  • Users may report content they believe violates policies.

18. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless StarKnights from claims, damages, or liabilities arising from:

  • Your violation of these Terms.
  • Your unlawful or harmful use of Hearth.
  • Content you submit that infringes third-party rights.

19. Limitation of Liability

  • To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hearth’s liability is limited to the subscription fees paid by a Provider in the last 3 months.
  • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

20. Disclaimer of Warranties

  • Hearth is provided “as is” and “as available.”
  • We make no warranties about accuracy, reliability, or availability.
  • Use of the Platform is at your own risk.

21. Force Majeure

We are not liable for failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond our control, including natural disasters, internet outages, strikes, or government actions.

22. Suspension & Termination

  • We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or harm the community.
  • Providers may delete accounts voluntarily; active subscriptions remain valid until cycle end.

23. Dispute Resolution

  • Parties agree to attempt good-faith resolution of disputes through negotiation or mediation first.
  • If unresolved, disputes fall under the jurisdiction of courts in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

24. Governing Law

These Terms are governed exclusively by the laws of India.

25. Amendments

We may update these Terms to reflect legal or operational changes. Updates will be effective upon posting. Continued use of Hearth constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.

26. Communication

  • By using Hearth, you consent to receive communications (transactional, service, compliance).
  • Marketing communications will only be sent with consent and include an opt-out option.

27. Assignment

We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms in case of merger, acquisition, or business transfer.

28. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, the remaining provisions remain enforceable.

29. Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and StarKnights regarding use of Hearth.

30. Waiver

Failure to enforce a right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right.

31. Grievance Redressal

As per Indian law, we appoint a Grievance Officer reachable at [email protected]. Concerns will be acknowledged and addressed in accordance with applicable timelines.

32. Contact

For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact:
📧 [email protected]
📍 StarKnights Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India