Terms of Service & Conduct

1. Platform Nature & Scope

Veda Companionship ("Veda", "Platform", "we", "us") operates a structured companionship and emotional support coordination service. The Platform connects verified Users with verified Companions for the express purposes outlined below.

This platform is explicitly NOT:

• A licensed mental health, therapy, or counselling service
• A dating, matchmaking, or romantic introduction platform
• An escort, adult entertainment, or sexual service platform
• A medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatment service
• A substitute for professional emergency services
• A general social network or chat platform

Users seeking clinical mental health support must consult a licensed professional. In emergencies, call 112 (India) or your local emergency services.

2. Eligibility & Account Registration

By registering, you represent and warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years of age, OR a guardian booking on behalf of a minor (4-17 years)
• You provide accurate, current, and complete registration information
• You will maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials
• You are legally capable of entering into binding contracts under Indian law
• You are not on any government "prohibited persons" or sanctions list
• You have completed all mandatory verification steps (Government ID + live photo)

3. Conduct Rules — Strictly Enforced

Violations of conduct rules result in immediate suspension, permanent ban, forfeiture of refunds, and where applicable, reporting to law enforcement.

4. Verification Requirements

All Users and Companions must complete a multi-step verification process before accessing any session, including: (a) Mobile OTP verification, (b) Email verification, (c) Government-issued photo ID submission (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or Driver's License), and (d) Live photo verification with face-detection technology. Providing false or forged identity documents is a criminal offense under Indian Penal Code Sections 463-477 and will result in permanent ban plus legal action.

5. Session Rules

• Sessions are conducted exclusively through approved channels: Google Meet for online sessions and pre-arranged locations for in-person services
• Recording, screenshotting, or capturing any part of a session in any form is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination plus civil/criminal liability
• Minor children (ages 4-17) must have a parent or legal guardian present throughout the entire session
• Companions and Users must not exchange personal contact details (phone, social media, addresses, payment apps) outside platform channels
• Sessions cannot be extended beyond the booked duration without booking additional time
• Both parties have the right to immediately end a session if conduct rules are violated
• The Platform may monitor session metadata (start time, duration, technical quality) but does NOT record session content

6. Pricing, Free Sessions & Payment

Service pricing is displayed transparently on the Services page. The Platform charges no GST, no platform fees, and no hidden charges. The price you see is the price you pay.

Free Session Eligibility:

• Children (4-12): First Cultural Storytelling session is free (one-time per account)
• Teenagers (13-17): First Confidential Listening session is free (one-time per account)
• Free sessions cannot be transferred, gifted, or converted to monetary value
• Subsequent sessions are charged at the listed price

Payments are processed through Razorpay (a third-party payment gateway). Refer to our Refund Policy for cancellation terms.

7. Privacy & Data Protection

Your personal data is handled per our Privacy Policy. Verification status and personal documents are visible only to authorized admin personnel for compliance and safety purposes and are not visible to other Users or Companions. We comply with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

8. Intellectual Property

All Platform content — including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, software, audio, video, and the "Veda Companionship" brand — is the exclusive property of Veda Companionship or its licensors and is protected by Indian and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Users are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Platform for personal, non-commercial purposes only.

9. Limitation of Liability

10. Enforcement & Penalties

Violations of these Terms result in the following enforcement actions, applied at our sole discretion based on severity:

11. Dispute Resolution

Disputes shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation by emailing vedacompanionship@gmail.com. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with the seat of arbitration in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The courts of Tirupati shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. All applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000; Consumer Protection Act, 2019; and Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 apply.

13. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be notified via email at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after notification constitutes acceptance.

14. Contact for Legal Matters