Terms of service

1. Agreement to terms

By accessing or using The Car Hack platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our service. The Car Hack is a trading name of Karussell Media Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales ("The Car Hack", "we", "us"). These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Karussell Media Ltd.

2. Description of service

The Car Hack is an online marketplace that connects you with independent automotive experts. We do not provide car-buying consultations, automotive advice, or any other expertise ourselves; the advice is provided by the independent experts you book through the platform. We facilitate that connection and handle booking and payment. Specifically:

• We do not provide automotive advice or consultations ourselves; all advice is provided by the expert
• We do not employ the experts on our platform; they are independent contractors
• We do not control, verify, or endorse the opinions expressed by experts
• Each expert's advice represents their own personal professional view, not ours

All advice, opinions, and recommendations are provided by independent experts and represent their personal professional views.

3. User accounts

To book a consultation, you must create an account or proceed as a guest with valid contact details. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account. You must provide accurate and complete information.

4. Bookings and payments

All bookings are subject to expert availability. When you book, you purchase the consultation from The Car Hack as principal and merchant of record; payment is processed securely through Stripe.

All prices are shown in GBP (or your selected display currency) and are inclusive of UK VAT at the prevailing rate. The price shown is the total payable, with no VAT or fees added at checkout, and a VAT receipt is available on request. Payment is taken in full at the time of booking for standard packages, or on acceptance of a quote for bespoke services.

5. Cancellation and refunds

Our refund policy depends on the service type and timing:

• Quick consult: Full refund if cancelled before the expert begins work on your response
• In detail: Full refund if cancelled more than 24 hours before a scheduled consultation
• Bespoke: Refund terms agreed at time of quote acceptance

Refunds for dissatisfaction with the quality or content of advice received are not available, as this falls under the disclaimer of liability below.

6. Intellectual property

All content on The Car Hack platform, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is owned by The Car Hack or its licensors. Advice provided during consultations is for your personal use only and may not be redistributed, published, or used commercially without written permission.

7. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• The Car Hack shall not be liable for any advice, opinions, or recommendations made by experts on the platform
• The Car Hack shall not be liable for any purchasing decisions you make, whether or not influenced by advice received through the platform
• The Car Hack shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• The Car Hack shall not be liable for any financial loss, disappointment, or other damages arising from advice received
• Our total liability to you for any claim arising from use of the service is limited to the amount you paid for that specific consultation

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

8. Acceptable use

You agree to use the platform only for its intended purpose. You must not misuse the service, attempt to gain unauthorised access, harass experts, or engage in any activity that could harm the platform or other users.

9. Changes to terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through the platform. Your continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

11. Dispute resolution

If you have a complaint, please contact us first at legal@thecarhack.com. We aim to resolve disputes within 5 business days. If we cannot resolve a dispute, you may use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider or take legal action.

16. Consumer acknowledgment

By using our service, you acknowledge and agree that: you understand The Car Hack is a marketplace connecting you with independent experts; all advice represents the expert's personal opinion; you accept full responsibility for any purchasing decisions you make; and The Car Hack does not verify, endorse, or guarantee the advice you receive.

17. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

18. Contact us

If you have any questions about these Terms of service, please contact us at hello@thecarhack.com