Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Tripiko ("Company," "we," "our," or "us"), governing your access to and use of the Tripiko mobile application, website (tripiko.in), and all related services (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account, accessing, or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and our Refund & Cancellation Policy, which are incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process, including a valid phone number for OTP verification.
• Maintain and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate and complete.
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials and not share your OTP or login access with any third party.
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account, whether or not authorized by you.
• Immediately notify Tripiko of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account. Users between 13 and 18 years of age may use the Platform only under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who accepts these Terms on their behalf. Tripiko reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account if the information provided is found to be inaccurate, misleading, or fraudulent.

The Platform supports three distinct user roles, each with specific privileges and responsibilities:

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You shall not:

• Use the Platform for any illegal, fraudulent, or unauthorized purpose, or in violation of any local, state, national, or international law or regulation.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your identity, affiliation, or authority.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, other user accounts, or any computer systems or networks connected to the Platform.
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform or servers or networks connected to the Platform, including through the use of viruses, bots, worms, or any other destructive or disruptive technology.
• Scrape, crawl, or use any automated means to access or collect data from the Platform without our express written consent.
• Post or transmit spam, chain letters, unsolicited promotional materials, or any form of harassment through the Platform.
• Circumvent, disable, or otherwise interfere with security-related features of the Platform, including features that prevent or restrict the use or copying of any content.
• Use the Platform to arrange or facilitate transactions outside the Platform in order to avoid Tripiko's commission or booking system.

Tripiko reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate legal action against anyone who violates this section, including removing content, suspending or terminating accounts, and reporting violators to law enforcement authorities.

Tripiko acts as an intermediary platform that facilitates bookings between travelers and providers. When you make a booking through the Platform:

• You enter into a direct contractual relationship with the provider for the service booked. Tripiko is not a party to this contract and does not provide the services itself.
• All booking prices are displayed in Indian Rupees (INR) and include applicable taxes and Tripiko's service fee unless stated otherwise.
• Bookings are confirmed only upon successful payment processing and receipt of a booking confirmation from Tripiko. A pending payment does not constitute a confirmed booking.
• Payments are processed through our secure third-party payment gateway. Tripiko does not store complete credit or debit card information on its servers.
• For group bookings and community circle trips, the booking terms may include minimum participant requirements. Tripiko reserves the right to cancel group bookings that do not meet minimum participant thresholds, with full refunds issued to all participants.

Tripiko is not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or any other aspect of the services provided by providers. Any disputes regarding service quality should be addressed directly with the provider, though Tripiko may assist in mediation at its discretion.

Tripiko operates on a commission-based revenue model that is transparent and fair to all parties:

• Provider Commission: Tripiko charges service providers a commission on each completed booking facilitated through the Platform. The commission rate varies by service category and is disclosed to providers during the onboarding process and in their provider dashboard.
• Service Fee: Travelers may be charged a service fee on bookings, which is clearly displayed at the time of checkout before payment is processed.
• Creator Economy Payouts: Users who participate in the Tripiko creator economy (through referrals, curated content, or trip boards that drive bookings) may earn commissions. Payout amounts, eligibility criteria, and payment schedules are detailed in the Creator Economy section of the provider dashboard.
• Payment to Providers: After deducting the applicable commission, Tripiko remits payment to providers within the timeframe specified in their provider agreement, typically within 3 to 7 business days following the completion of the booked service.

Tripiko reserves the right to modify commission rates with prior notice to affected providers. Any changes will not apply to bookings already confirmed at the time of the change.

Cancellations and refunds are governed by our Refund & Cancellation Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Key provisions include:

• Guest Cancellations: Refund amounts depend on the timing of cancellation relative to the scheduled service date. Cancellations made 7 or more days in advance receive a full refund; 3 to 6 days in advance receive a 50% refund; cancellations within 2 days receive no refund.
• Provider Cancellations: If a provider cancels a confirmed booking, the traveler receives a 100% refund. Repeated cancellations by providers may result in penalties including reduced visibility, lower search rankings, or account suspension.
• Refund Processing: Approved refunds are processed within 5 to 10 business days to the original payment method.

For full details, please review our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

Tripiko uses a weighted review system designed to promote authentic, trustworthy feedback:

• Reviews may only be submitted by users who have completed a booking or have demonstrable experience with the place, service, or experience being reviewed.
• Reviews from verified Curators carry approximately 2x the weight of standard reviews in the overall rating calculation, reflecting their verified expertise and community standing.
• All reviews must be honest, factual, and comply with our Community Guidelines. Fake reviews, paid reviews (unless clearly disclosed), and reviews that constitute harassment or discrimination are strictly prohibited.
• Providers may respond to reviews publicly. Providers may not incentivize, coerce, or retaliate against users for leaving reviews.
• Tripiko reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these Terms, our Community Guidelines, or that are determined to be fraudulent after investigation.

Tripiko is a community-driven platform, and all users are expected to treat each other with respect and courtesy. Our Community Guidelines require that all users:

• Treat all community members with respect, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, or any other characteristic.
• Refrain from posting content that promotes hate speech, violence, harassment, bullying, or discrimination of any kind.
• Do not share misleading or false information about destinations, services, or other users.
• Respect the privacy of other users and do not share personal information of others without their consent.
• Use the Platform responsibly and do not engage in activities that may endanger yourself or others, including promoting unsafe travel practices.
• Report any content or behavior that violates these guidelines using the in-app reporting feature.

Violations of Community Guidelines may result in content removal, warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination, depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

We comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, as well as all other applicable Indian data protection laws.

The Platform and all of its original content (excluding User Content), features, functionality, design, logos, trademarks, service marks, and trade names are and shall remain the exclusive property of Tripiko and its licensors. The Platform is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws of India and international treaties.

The Tripiko name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of Tripiko. You may not use such marks without the prior written permission of Tripiko. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans on the Platform are the trademarks of their respective owners.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on the Platform except as generally and ordinarily permitted through the Platform's intended functionality (for example, sharing a trip board link).

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

• Tripiko provides the Platform on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
• Tripiko does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
• Tripiko acts solely as an intermediary and is not responsible for the actions, omissions, quality, safety, legality, or suitability of any services provided by third-party providers on the Platform.
• In no event shall Tripiko, its directors, officers, employees, agents, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or related to your use of or inability to use the Platform.
• Tripiko's total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to the Platform or these Terms shall not exceed the amount you have paid to Tripiko in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or INR 10,000, whichever is greater.
• Tripiko is not liable for any loss or damage arising from force majeure events, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, civil unrest, or failures of third-party systems.

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform, the parties agree to the following resolution process:

• Informal Resolution: The parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting Tripiko's support team at support@tripiko.in. We will make reasonable efforts to resolve your concern within 30 days of receipt.
• Mediation: If the dispute is not resolved informally within 30 days, either party may refer the matter to mediation under the Mediation Act, 2023 of India. The mediation shall be conducted in English and held in Kochi, Kerala.
• Arbitration: If mediation fails, the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 of India. The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties, in Kochi, Kerala, and in the English language.
• Jurisdiction: Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in the courts of competent jurisdiction in Ernakulam, Kerala, India, for the protection of intellectual property rights or in cases of urgent necessity.

Either you or Tripiko may terminate your account and access to the Platform:

• By You: You may delete your account at any time through the account settings in the app or by contacting our support team. Upon account deletion, your profile and personal data will be removed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, subject to legal retention requirements.
• By Tripiko: We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice or liability, if you breach any provision of these Terms, engage in fraudulent or illegal activity, or if we determine that your continued use poses a risk to the Platform, other users, or Tripiko.
• Effect of Termination: Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to intellectual property provisions, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution.
• Outstanding Obligations: Termination does not relieve you of any obligations incurred prior to termination, including payment obligations for confirmed bookings and any pending creator economy payouts owed to or by you.

Tripiko reserves the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of these Terms.
• Notify you of significant changes through the Platform (via in-app notification) or by email at least 15 days before the changes take effect.
• Provide a summary of material changes for your convenience.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree with the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform and delete your account.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or related to these Terms or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.

These Terms are subject to and shall be interpreted in accordance with the following Indian laws, among others:

• The Information Technology Act, 2000
• The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020
• The Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Applicable state-level tourism and hospitality regulations of the Government of Kerala

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us: