Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: [To be inserted on publication]
Operated by: Roshan Lal V Sharma, A-302, Giovanni, Lodha Luxuria Priva, Majiwada, Thane West, Maharashtra 400601

This is a detailed working draft, not a substitute for review by a licensed lawyer. It is written specifically around how Mentodec actually operates — escrow-style payments, coach verification, category-specific ratings — but only a qualified lawyer, familiar with current Indian law (including the Consumer Protection Act, IT Rules, and DPDP Act) and your specific business structure, can confirm this is enforceable and complete. Do not treat this as legal certainty.

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern access to and use of the Mentodec website and mobile application (together, the "Platform"), operated by Roshan Lal V Sharma ("Mentodec", "we", "us", "our"). By creating an account or otherwise using the Platform, you ("you", "User") agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. What Mentodec Is

Mentodec is a marketplace platform that connects independent coaches and mentors ("Coaches") with individuals seeking coaching, tutoring, or mentorship ("Learners"). Mentodec facilitates discovery, verification, booking, communication, and payment between Coaches and Learners. Mentodec is not a party to the coaching relationship itself, does not employ Coaches, and does not guarantee the outcome, quality, or suitability of any coaching session.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account on Mentodec, as either a Learner or a Coach.
You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep it up to date.
Mentodec reserves the right to refuse registration or terminate accounts that do not meet these requirements, including accounts we reasonably believe belong to a minor.

3. Accounts and Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.
Notify us immediately at mentodec@gmail.com if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
You may not create an account on behalf of another person without their explicit authorisation, or create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions on this Platform.

4. Coach Terms

4.1 Independent status. Coaches are independent, self-employed professionals. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between Mentodec and any Coach. Coaches are solely responsible for the accuracy of their listed experience, qualifications, and the quality and safety of the coaching they provide.

4.2 Verification. A Coach profile is not made publicly visible until Mentodec has reviewed the Coach's submitted identity and credential documentation and approved the profile. Mentodec may reject an application, request additional documentation, or revoke verification at any time if we reasonably believe the information provided is inaccurate, fraudulent, or no longer valid.

4.3 Category selection. A Coach may select up to four (4) categories to feature on their profile, drawn from Mentodec's published category taxonomy. Coaches must only select categories they are genuinely qualified and able to teach; misrepresenting expertise in a selected category is a violation of these Terms and may result in profile suspension.

4.4 Content and videos. Coaches may upload up to five (5) showcase videos, each no longer than five (5) minutes. By uploading content to the Platform, a Coach grants Mentodec a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to host, display, and distribute that content solely for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform. The Coach retains ownership of their content and may request its removal, subject to Section 4.5.

4.5 Content standards. All uploaded videos and public Q&A answers are subject to Mentodec's moderation review before or after publication. Mentodec may remove content, or suspend or terminate a Coach account, for content that is inaccurate, infringing, offensive, unsafe, or otherwise in violation of these Terms, at our reasonable discretion.

5. Learner Terms

5.1 Browsing and membership. Browsing Coach profiles, watching showcase videos, and posting public Q&A questions is free and does not require a paid membership. Direct messaging a Coach and booking a paid session requires an active Learner Membership, currently priced at ₹499 per month, billed on a recurring basis until cancelled. You may cancel at any time from your account settings; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle, and fees already paid for the current cycle are non-refundable except where required by law.

5.2 Conduct. Learners must provide accurate information when booking a session and treat Coaches with respect. Harassment, discriminatory conduct, or abusive behaviour toward a Coach is grounds for account suspension or termination.

6. Bookings, Payments, and Escrow

Session fees are set individually by each Coach and displayed on their profile before booking.
All payments are processed through our payment partner, Razorpay, an RBI-authorised payment aggregator. Mentodec does not store your full payment card or bank details.
Funds paid for a booked session are held by Mentodec and are not released to the Coach until the session is marked complete. This escrow-style arrangement exists to protect both parties in the event of a cancellation, no-show, or dispute.
Mentodec deducts a platform commission, currently ranging from 10% to 20% of the session fee, before releasing the remaining balance to the Coach via RazorpayX.
Coaches must provide accurate payout details (bank account and IFSC code, or UPI ID). Mentodec is not responsible for a failed or delayed payout resulting from incorrect payout details provided by the Coach.

7. Cancellations, Refunds, and Disputes

A Learner may cancel a booked session up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the session may be eligible for a partial refund at Mentodec's discretion, depending on the Coach's individual cancellation terms shown at booking.
If a Coach cancels or fails to attend a scheduled session, the Learner is entitled to a full refund.
A Learner or Coach may raise a dispute regarding a completed session within 48 hours of that session. A disputed booking is held — Mentodec will not release payment to the Coach or process a refund to the Learner — until Mentodec reviews and resolves the dispute.
Mentodec's decision on a dispute, made reasonably and in good faith based on the information available, is final for the purposes of releasing or refunding the funds held for that specific booking.
Full details are set out in our separate Cancellation & Refunds Policy, which forms part of these Terms by reference.

8. Ratings and Reviews

A Learner may only submit a star rating for a Coach after completing a paid session with that Coach through the Platform.
Ratings are recorded per category — a Coach's rating in one category (e.g. Guitar) is shown separately from their rating in another (e.g. Spoken English), and does not reflect a single blended score across unrelated skills.
Manipulating ratings, whether by a Coach soliciting fake reviews or by any User submitting a rating without a genuine completed session, is a violation of these Terms.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information, including fabricated credentials or identity documents.
Attempt to arrange payment for a session outside the Platform, in order to avoid Mentodec's commission or escrow protections.
Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose, or to harass, threaten, or discriminate against another User.
Upload content that infringes another party's intellectual property or contains unlawful, obscene, or harmful material.
Attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, or interfere with the Platform's normal operation or security.
Create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings, bypass a suspension, or circumvent these Terms in any other way.

10. Intellectual Property

The Mentodec name, logo, and Platform design are the property of Mentodec and may not be used without prior written permission. Coach-uploaded content remains the property of the Coach, subject to the licence granted in Section 4.4.

11. Third-Party Services

The Platform relies on third-party services, including Razorpay and RazorpayX (payments and payouts), Firebase (push notifications), and Sentry (crash diagnostics). Mentodec is not responsible for outages, errors, or data handling practices of these third parties beyond our reasonable control, though we select and configure these services with care for your security and privacy.

12. Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. Mentodec does not guarantee that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure. Mentodec facilitates the connection between Learners and Coaches but makes no representation or warranty regarding the outcome, quality, accuracy of claimed credentials, or suitability of any Coach or coaching session. Users engage with each other at their own discretion and risk, based on the information, videos, and ratings available on the Platform.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Mentodec, its owner, and personnel shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of income, or personal injury arising from a coaching session conducted between a Learner and a Coach. Mentodec's total liability arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the amount of platform commission or membership fees actually received by Mentodec in connection with the specific booking or membership giving rise to the claim.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Mentodec harmless from any claim, loss, or damage, including reasonable legal fees, arising from your breach of these Terms, your violation of any law, or your interaction with another User of the Platform.

15. Suspension and Termination

Mentodec may suspend or terminate your account, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or conduct that we reasonably believe harms other Users or the Platform. You may close your account at any time by contacting us at mentodec@gmail.com; outstanding bookings and payouts will be settled in accordance with Sections 6 and 7 before final closure.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at Thane, Maharashtra, without prejudice to any statutory right you may have to approach a consumer forum with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

17. Force Majeure

Mentodec shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disaster, war, internet or telecommunications failure, or failure of a third-party service provider.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cancellation & Refunds Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Mentodec regarding use of the Platform, and supersede any prior agreements on this subject.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our operations or legal requirements. Continued use of the Platform after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. For material changes, we will provide additional notice within the app.

21. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms can be sent to mentodec@gmail.com or +91 7400650200.