Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account and using Haystack, you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the platform.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Haystack. By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 or older.

3. How Haystack Works

Haystack is a paid messaging platform where conversation time has monetary value:

• Initiators: Users who start conversations pay for replies they receive ($0.017/word)
• Recipients: Users who receive conversation requests earn from their replies ($0.013/word net)
• Accept/Reject System: Initiators must accept each recipient message before payment is processed
• Recovery Messages: If a message is rejected, the recipient gets one free recovery attempt
• Platform Fee: Haystack charges $0.004/word split equally between both parties

4. User Responsibilities

As a Haystack user, you agree to:

• Provide accurate account information
• Keep your account credentials secure
• Use the platform respectfully and legally
• Not send unsolicited explicit images
• Not harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Not use the platform for spam or fraudulent purposes
• Not attempt to manipulate word counts or payment calculations
• Be responsible for content you send (messages and photos)

5. Prohibited Content and Conduct

• Harassment: Threatening, stalking, or abusive behavior toward other users
• Illegal content: Child sexual abuse material, illegal drugs, weapons, etc.
• Explicit images: Unsolicited sexually explicit photos
• Hate speech: Content that attacks people based on race, religion, gender, etc.
• Spam: Bulk messaging or advertising without consent
• Fraud: Scams, impersonation, or deceptive practices
• Doxxing: Sharing others' private information without consent

Violations will result in account suspension or permanent ban without refund.

6. Payment Terms

For Initiators (Those Who Pay)

• Deposits are non-refundable except in cases of platform error
• You are charged only when you accept a recipient's message
• Word counts are calculated server-side and are final
• Insufficient balance prevents accepting new messages
• Payment processing is handled securely by Stripe

For Recipients (Those Who Earn)

• Earnings are credited when initiators accept your messages
• You can withdraw earnings to your bank account via Stripe Connect
• Stripe fees apply to withdrawals (0.25% + $0.25 + $2/month + optional 1.5% instant fee)
• Withdrawals below break-even amounts may be unprofitable due to fees
• Fraudulent activity (fake messages, word count manipulation) results in forfeiture of earnings

7. Accept/Reject Message Flow

Haystack uses a unique message approval system:

• When a recipient sends a message, it is marked "pending acceptance"
• The initiator sees the message content and must choose to Accept or Reject
• If Accepted: Payment is processed (initiator charged, recipient credited)
• If Rejected: No payment occurs, recipient gets one free recovery message opportunity
• Recipients cannot send another message until the previous one is accepted/rejected
• If recovery message is also rejected, the conversation ends permanently

8. Content Moderation

Haystack reserves the right to:

• Review reported messages and photos
• Remove content that violates these Terms
• Suspend or ban users who violate these Terms
• Refund initiators for accepted messages that violated Terms
• Forfeit recipient earnings from messages that violated Terms

We do not proactively monitor all messages. We rely on user reports and automated detection systems.

9. User Reports and Blocking

You have tools to protect yourself:

• Block: Instantly end a conversation and prevent future contact with a user
• Report: Report violations to Haystack for review

False or malicious reports may result in your account being suspended.

10. Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of content you create (messages, photos). By using Haystack, you grant us a license to store, display, and transmit your content as necessary to provide the service.

The Haystack platform, logo, and branding are owned by Haystack and protected by copyright and trademark laws.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

Haystack is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• Uninterrupted or error-free service
• The behavior or identity of other users
• That you will find quality conversations or earn specific amounts
• The security of data transmission over the internet

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Haystack is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform.

12. Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time. Upon deletion:

• Your profile and messages will be deleted within 30 days
• Any remaining account balance will be forfeited (withdraw before deleting)
• Transaction records will be retained for 7 years (legal requirement)

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, with or without notice.

13. Dispute Resolution

For payment disputes or technical issues, contact support at support@haystackapp.com. We will investigate and resolve disputes based on:

• Transaction records and metadata
• Message content (if relevant to dispute)
• User behavior patterns

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or platform notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Email: legal@haystackapp.com