📜 Terms of Service

Rules That Keep Ndolo Safe

Effective Date: March 22, 2025  |  Last Updated: March 22, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Ndolo. These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Ndolo ("we," "us," or "our") governing your access to and use of the Ndolo mobile application (the "App") and website at ndolo.app (collectively, the "Service").

By creating an account, downloading the App, or otherwise using the Service, you agree that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

2. Eligibility

To use Ndolo, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be legally permitted to enter into a binding contract in your jurisdiction.
  • Not have been previously banned or removed from the Service.
  • Not be a convicted sex offender or be required to register as a sex offender under any applicable law.

Age Verification: Ndolo is strictly for adults. We reserve the right to verify your age at any time. If we discover a user is under 18, we will immediately terminate their account and delete their data.

By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements listed above.

3. Your Account

3.1 Registration

You must create an account to use Ndolo's core features. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your information up to date.

3.2 One Account Per Person

You may only create one account. Creating multiple accounts — including to evade a ban or suspension — is strictly prohibited and may result in permanent termination of all accounts.

3.3 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at security@ndolo.app if you suspect unauthorized access.

3.4 Account Deletion

You may delete your account at any time from within the App's settings. Upon deletion, your profile will be removed from the discovery feed immediately. Data deletion follows the schedule described in our Privacy Policy.

4. Acceptable Use

Ndolo is designed to help people build meaningful, culturally grounded connections. You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with its intent. This means:

  • Being honest on your profile — use your real name, real photos, and accurate information about yourself.
  • Being respectful toward other users, even if a connection doesn't work out.
  • Using the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes only.
  • Complying with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.

5. Prohibited Conduct

The following behaviors are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account suspension or permanent ban:

5.1 Misrepresentation & Fraud

  • Creating a fake or misleading profile, using someone else's photos, or impersonating any person or entity.
  • Deceiving other users about your identity, location, age, relationship status, or intentions.
  • Using the Service to conduct romance scams, financial fraud, or advance-fee fraud of any kind.

5.2 Harmful or Illegal Content

  • Posting, sending, or sharing sexually explicit content involving anyone under 18 (child sexual abuse material — CSAM). This is illegal and will be reported to the relevant authorities immediately.
  • Distributing non-consensual intimate images or videos ("revenge porn").
  • Sending or posting content that promotes violence, terrorism, self-harm, or suicide.
  • Sharing content that is defamatory, obscene, or unlawfully hateful toward any individual or group.

5.3 Harassment & Abuse

  • Harassing, bullying, threatening, or intimidating any user.
  • Sending unsolicited explicit messages, images, or voice notes.
  • Repeatedly contacting a user who has blocked you or expressed disinterest.
  • Using language that demeans users based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

5.4 Spam & Commercial Activity

  • Sending spam, chain messages, or unsolicited promotional content.
  • Advertising or promoting commercial services, products, escort services, or other paid companionship.
  • Soliciting money or financial assistance from other users.

5.5 Technical Abuse

  • Using bots, scripts, scrapers, or automated tools to interact with the Service.
  • Attempting to bypass, circumvent, or reverse-engineer any security feature or access control.
  • Interfering with the Service's infrastructure or attempting to disrupt other users' experience.
  • Accessing or attempting to access another user's account without their authorization.

6. User Content

6.1 Your Content

"User Content" means any information, text, photos, voice recordings, videos, or other materials you post, upload, or transmit through the Service.

6.2 License You Grant Us

By submitting User Content to Ndolo, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, and display your content solely for the purpose of operating, improving, and promoting the Service. This license ends when you delete your content or account, except where content has been shared with others and cannot be deleted.

6.3 You Retain Ownership

You retain all ownership rights to your User Content. We do not claim ownership of your photos, messages, or voice recordings.

6.4 Content Standards

Your profile photos must:

  • Clearly show your face (at least one photo).
  • Be photos of you and only you.
  • Not contain nudity, explicit content, or graphic imagery.
  • Not include watermarks, logos, or promotional material.

6.5 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to review, remove, or restrict any User Content that violates these Terms, our community guidelines, or applicable law, without prior notice.

7. Coins & Premium Features

7.1 Ndolo Coins

Ndolo Coins ("Coins") are a virtual currency that can be used within the App to send Icebreaker messages and access certain features. Coins have no monetary value outside the App and cannot be redeemed, transferred, or exchanged for cash.

7.2 Purchasing Coins

Coins may be purchased through in-app purchase via Apple App Store or Google Play Store, subject to those platforms' terms. All purchases are final and non-refundable except as required by applicable law or platform policy.

7.3 Icebreakers

Sending an Icebreaker message costs 1 Coin. By spending a Coin, you do not guarantee a response from the recipient. Coins spent on Icebreakers are non-refundable regardless of whether the recipient replies.

7.4 Premium Subscription

A Ndolo Premium subscription unlocks features such as seeing who liked your profile. Premium subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis. You may cancel at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. We do not provide refunds for unused Premium time.

7.5 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change the price of Coins and Premium subscriptions at any time, with reasonable notice provided in-app or via email.

8. Safety & Reporting

Your safety is our highest priority. If you encounter behavior that violates these Terms:

  • Use the in-app report button on any profile or chat to report a user.
  • Use the in-app block button to prevent a user from contacting you or viewing your profile.
  • Email safety@ndolo.app for urgent safety concerns.

We take all reports seriously and investigate them promptly. We will not share the identity of a reporter with the reported user.

Emergency: If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services (e.g., 911, 999, 112) rather than waiting for a response from us.

8.1 Meeting Safely

If you choose to meet someone from Ndolo in person, please take reasonable precautions: meet in a public place, tell a friend where you're going, and never share financial information with someone you haven't met in person.

9. Intellectual Property

The Ndolo name, logo, trademarks, app design, algorithms, code, and all other content created by Ndolo are owned by Ndolo and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any Ndolo materials without our express written permission.

Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use the Ndolo branding without our prior written consent.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not guarantee that:

  • The Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
  • The matching algorithm will result in any specific connections or relationships.
  • Other users on the platform are who they claim to be.
  • Content posted by users is accurate, appropriate, or legal.

You acknowledge that the risk of meeting someone through an online dating platform is inherent to use of such services. Ndolo is not responsible for the conduct of its users online or offline.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NDOLO AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING FROM:

  • Your use of or inability to use the Service.
  • Any conduct or content of any third party on the Service.
  • Any unauthorized access to or use of your account.
  • Whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.

IN NO EVENT SHALL NDOLO'S TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO NDOLO IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, OR (B) USD $100.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

12. Termination

By You: You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time for any reason.

By Ndolo: We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account, without notice, if we determine in our sole discretion that you have violated these Terms, pose a safety risk to other users, or for any other reason we deem appropriate. We will use reasonable efforts to notify you via email when terminating an account for policy violations.

Upon termination, your license to use the App ceases immediately. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, and Governing Law) will survive.

13. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law. For users in the European Union, local consumer protection laws may provide additional rights that these Terms cannot override.

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. Please contact us at legal@ndolo.app to initiate this process.

If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, it will be resolved through binding arbitration or in the courts of the jurisdiction where Ndolo is incorporated, except where prohibited by local consumer protection law.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you via an in-app notification at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

If you disagree with any changes, you should stop using the Service and delete your account before the effective date.

15. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please reach out:

Effective Date: These Terms of Service are effective as of March 22, 2025. Prior versions are available upon request.