Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Bell24h ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"), a Business-to-Business (B2B) marketplace operated by DIGITEX STUDIO. By accessing or using www.bell24h.com, you ("User," "you," or "your") agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and DIGITEX STUDIO.

Jurisdiction: These Terms are governed by the laws of India. All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

2. Definitions

• Buyer: A registered user seeking products or services through RFQs (Request for Quotations).
• Supplier: A registered user offering products or services and submitting quotes in response to RFQs.
• RFQ: Request for Quotation submitted by Buyers describing their product/service requirements.
• Quote: Supplier's response to an RFQ, including price, quantity, timeline, and terms.
• Deal: A confirmed transaction between Buyer and Supplier following RFQ-Quote acceptance.
• Escrow: A secure payment holding service where funds are held by Bell24h until delivery confirmation.
• Credits: Platform currency used to unlock leads, access premium features, or pay platform fees.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility: You must be (i) at least 18 years of age, (ii) a registered business entity or authorized representative thereof, and (iii) legally capable of entering into binding contracts under Indian law.

3.2 Account Creation: You must provide accurate and complete information during registration, including business name, contact details, GST number (if applicable), and Udyam Aadhar number (for MSME benefits). You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

3.3 OTP Verification: We use MSG91 for mobile number verification via One-Time Password (OTP). By registering, you consent to receive OTP messages and transactional SMS/WhatsApp notifications related to your account and RFQ activity.

3.4 Business Verification: To increase trust score and access premium features, you may be required to submit business verification documents such as GST certificate, trade license, or company incorporation certificate. Verified suppliers receive priority visibility.

4. Platform Services

4.1 RFQ Posting (Buyers): Buyers can post RFQs describing product/service requirements. RFQs must contain accurate information including quantity, specifications, budget range, delivery location, and timeline. Bell24h reserves the right to reject or remove RFQs that violate these Terms or contain prohibited items.

4.2 Quote Submission (Suppliers): Suppliers can browse RFQs and submit competitive quotes. Quotes must be genuine, realistic, and honor the terms stated therein for at least 7 days unless otherwise specified.

4.3 AI-Powered Features: The Platform uses NVIDIA-powered AI models (DeepSeek V3.2 for text, MiniMax M2.1 for video) to transcribe voice/video RFQs and extract structured data. By using voice or video RFQ features, you consent to AI processing of your content. AI-generated outputs are provided for convenience and may require manual review.

4.4 Communication: Direct communication between Buyers and Suppliers is facilitated via the Platform's messaging system. Users must not share external contact details in initial messages to circumvent platform fees. Repeat violations may result in account suspension.

5. Payments and Financial Terms

5.1 Payment Gateway: Bell24h uses Razorpay as its authorized payment gateway. All transactions are subject to Razorpay's terms and conditions. We support UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, and wallets.

5.2 Platform Fees: Bell24h charges a service fee on successful deals. Fee structure varies by plan (Free, Pro, Enterprise). Current fees are displayed at www.bell24h.com/pricing. Fees are non-refundable unless explicitly stated in the Refund Policy.

5.3 Escrow Service: For transactions above ₹50,000, Bell24h offers optional Escrow service. Buyer deposits payment with Bell24h, funds are released to Supplier upon Buyer's delivery confirmation. Escrow fees apply (1.5% of transaction value). Disputes during escrow are resolved per Section 9.

5.4 GST Compliance: All platform fees are subject to 18% GST as per Indian tax laws. Invoices with GST details will be issued for all paid transactions.

5.5 Credits System: Users can purchase Credits to unlock leads or access premium features. Credit prices are displayed at purchase time. Credits are valid for 12 months from purchase date and are non-transferable.

6. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent RFQs or Quotes
• Engage in price manipulation, bid rigging, or collusion
• Use the Platform for illegal products or services (weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods, etc.)
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Scrape, crawl, or extract Platform data using automated tools
• Create multiple accounts to manipulate rankings or reviews
• Share external contact details to avoid platform fees during initial negotiation
• Violate any Indian laws including IT Act 2000, Consumer Protection Act 2019, or RBI payment guidelines

Violation of these prohibitions may result in immediate account suspension, forfeiture of credits, and legal action where applicable.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

7.1 Platform IP: All content, features, functionality, and design of Bell24h (including logos, trademarks, software, UI/UX) are owned by DIGITEX STUDIO and protected by Indian and international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

7.2 User Content: By posting RFQs, Quotes, or other content, you grant Bell24h a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute your content solely for operating and promoting the Platform. You retain ownership of your original content.

7.3 Third-Party Trademarks: Product names, brands, or trademarks mentioned in RFQs/Quotes remain the property of their respective owners. Use of third-party trademarks is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

8. Deal Completion and Performance

8.1 Binding Agreement: Once a Buyer accepts a Supplier's Quote, it constitutes a binding agreement between Buyer and Supplier. Bell24h is NOT a party to this contract and is not liable for non-performance by either party.

8.2 Deal Tracking: Bell24h tracks deal status for analytics and commission calculation. Users are expected to update deal status (In Progress, Completed, or Cancelled). For deals completed outside the platform, users must mark the status accordingly.

8.3 Follow-Up: Bell24h may send automated follow-ups (7 days post-acceptance) asking Buyers to confirm deal completion. Confirmed completions contribute to Supplier reputation scores.

9. Dispute Resolution

9.1 Internal Resolution: Users are encouraged to resolve disputes amicably through Platform messaging. Bell24h offers mediation services for disputes involving Escrow payments or reported fraud.

9.2 Arbitration: Disputes that cannot be resolved internally shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Arbitration shall take place in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Arbitrator's decision is final and binding.

9.3 Legal Action: Bell24h reserves the right to take legal action against users engaging in fraud, financial misconduct, or violations resulting in damages. Users agree to reimburse Bell24h for legal costs incurred due to their violations.

10. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimers

10.1 Platform as Facilitator: Bell24h is a technology platform connecting Buyers and Suppliers. We do NOT manufacture, sell, or guarantee products/services listed. Bell24h is NOT liable for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of products/services exchanged through the Platform.

10.2 No Warranties: The Platform is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

10.3 Limitation of Damages: To the maximum extent permitted by law, Bell24h and its affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from: (i) your use or inability to use the Platform; (ii) unauthorized access to your account; (iii) user conduct or content; (iv) deal disputes between Buyers and Suppliers.

10.4 Maximum Liability: Bell24h's total liability for any claims arising from use of the Platform shall not exceed ₹10,000 or the amount of fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim, whichever is greater.

11. Termination and Account Suspension

11.1 Termination by User: You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support@bell24h.com. Unused Credits will be forfeited upon termination.

11.2 Termination by Bell24h: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, for violations of these Terms, suspicious activity, fraudulent behavior, or at our sole discretion. Repeated violations or serious misconduct may result in permanent ban.

11.3 Effect of Termination: Upon termination: (i) access to the Platform is revoked; (ii) ongoing deals remain binding between Buyer and Supplier; (iii) outstanding platform fees remain payable; (iv) data may be retained per our Privacy Policy.

12. Amendments to Terms

Bell24h reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be notified via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

13. Compliance with Indian Laws

Bell24h operates in full compliance with Indian laws including:

• Information Technology Act, 2000: Governs electronic transactions and data protection
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Protects buyer rights in e-commerce
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Guidelines: Regulates digital payments and escrow services
• GST Act, 2017: Governs taxation on platform fees and transactions
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Governs collection and processing of personal data

Users must comply with all applicable laws in their jurisdiction when using the Platform.

14. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or legal inquiries regarding these Terms, please contact: