Last updated: August 2026 · Version: 1.0 · Effective: 18 August 2026
By accessing or using Helpcona (website, mobile apps, and all services) you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use Helpcona. These Terms apply to Help Finders (people who request household help) and Helpers (people who provide it) alike.
1. Definitions
"Platform" = Helpcona's website, app, and services. "Help Finder" = a user requesting tasks. "Helper" = a user providing them. "Task" = a specific household task or service. "We," "Us," "Our" = Helpcona Ltd.
2. Eligibility & account registration
- You must be at least 18, have legal capacity to contract, and comply with applicable law.
- Registration requires accurate information, a valid email and phone number, and identity verification.
- You're responsible for your password, all activity on your account, and reporting unauthorised access immediately.
- One Help Finder account and one Helper account per person — extra accounts violate these Terms.
- We may suspend or terminate accounts for violating these Terms, fraud, abuse, false information, unpaid fees, or Safety Policy breaches.
3. Helpcona services
We provide matching, secure messaging, payment processing (Stripe Connect), task tracking, AI task breakdown (Claude), ratings/reviews, and dispute mediation.
Helpcona is a platform, not an employer. We do not employ Helpers (they are independent contractors), guarantee work quality or completion, provide employment benefits, insure Helpers, or warrant Helper training or qualifications. The relationship is between the Help Finder and Helper — we facilitate but don't control the work. Helpcona is provided "as is," with no guarantee of uptime, error-free service, or that a task will be accepted or completed as requested.
4. Pricing, payment & refunds
- Help Finder costs: Helpcona is free to use — no membership, subscription or platform fee. You pay only the per-task cost (typically £12–20/hour, £15–25/hour for specialised services).
- Helper pay: 80% of task cost (85% for "Buddy Verified" Helpers) — Helpcona retains the remainder as commission.
- Payments run through Stripe Connect (card, bank transfer, Apple/Google Pay), under PCI DSS.
- Refunds: 100% if a Helper doesn't arrive, doesn't complete the task, or is unresponsive; partial at Helpcona's discretion for quality issues; none for a simple change of mind or a task completed as agreed. Requests must be made within 7 days; we respond within 10 business days.
- Commission withheld by Helpcona on a completed task, and bank-charged failed-payment fees, are non-refundable. There is no subscription fee.
5. Safety, conduct & prohibited activities
Users must not harass or discriminate, use Helpcona for illegal activity, misrepresent identity or qualifications, bypass payment, or manipulate reviews. Helpers must be 18+, pass identity verification, disclose relevant convictions, hold DBS clearance for "Buddy Verified" childcare/elderly-care work, and act professionally. Help Finders must give accurate task details, be available as scheduled, and never abuse or harass a Helper.
We run identity verification on all Helpers and require DBS clearance for enhanced trust tiers, but DBS checks are not foolproof — Helpcona does not guarantee any Helper is safe, qualified, or trustworthy, and is not liable for Helper conduct or misconduct.
6. Intellectual property
Our logo, branding, code, AI-generated content, and matching algorithms are Helpcona's property. Content you submit (messages, photos, reviews) is licensed to us to operate and improve the platform, while you retain ownership. You may not use our trademarks, scrape our data, or reverse-engineer our systems.
7. Ratings, reviews & reputation
After each task, both sides can rate 1–5 stars with a written review. Reviews must be honest and factual — fake, paid, or manipulated reviews result in removal and possible account suspension.
8. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Helpcona is not liable for work quality, Helper conduct, property damage, injury during a task (absent our gross negligence), lost income, or third-party service failures. Our total liability is capped at the lower of what you paid us in the past 12 months or £500, except for our fraud, willful misconduct, or statutory rights that can't be waived. By using Helpcona, you accept the risks inherent in inviting a stranger into your home.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify Helpcona against claims arising from your breach of these Terms, misuse of the platform, or violation of law or third-party rights. Helpers additionally indemnify us for claims arising from their conduct, negligence, or misrepresented qualifications.
10–11. Dispute resolution & jurisdiction
User-to-user disputes are first raised via in-app messages, then mediated by Helpcona (disputes@helpcona.com) with a binding decision within 10 business days. Disputes with Helpcona go to binding arbitration rather than litigation, except for emergency injunctive relief or Small Claims Court (under £10,000). These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
12. Termination
You can delete your account any time in Account Settings. We may suspend or terminate accounts for Terms violations, illegal activity, abuse, false information, unpaid fees, or Safety Policy breaches. Transaction history is retained for 7 years regardless of account status, as a legal requirement.
13. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms at any time; material changes are emailed to you, and continued use after a change means you accept the update.
14–15. Entire agreement, assignment & notices
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and other referenced policies, form the entire agreement between you and Helpcona. You may not assign your account to anyone else. We send notices to your email, phone, or the app — effective when sent. Legal notices: legal@helpcona.com, Helpcona Ltd., 66 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NA, England.
16. Supplementary terms for Helpers
Helpers are self-employed independent contractors, not Helpcona employees — responsible for your own tax, National Insurance, and liability insurance (we recommend £6–10 million public liability cover). You must register with HMRC if your income exceeds £12,570/year and file a Self Assessment return.
17. Supplementary terms for Help Finders
You accept responsibility for inviting a Helper into your home, and for your own due diligence on ratings and reviews. You agree Helpers may access the areas needed to complete a task, and you'll flag any hazards in advance. Treat Helpers professionally, pay on time, and rate fairly.
18. Contact & acknowledgment
Legal inquiries: legal@helpcona.com. Support: support@helpcona.com. By using Helpcona, you acknowledge you've read these Terms in full, understand the risks, and are bound by them.