Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Transparent Turtle ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Transparent Turtle is a public business directory and trust platform that allows users to search businesses, submit reviews, and report suspected scam activity. Business owners may claim and manage their listings through a paid subscription.

3. User-Generated Content

Users may submit reviews, scam reports, and other content ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you confirm that it is truthful to the best of your knowledge. Transparent Turtle does not verify the accuracy of individual reviews or reports but reserves the right to remove content that violates these terms or applicable law.

You retain ownership of your User Content. By submitting it, you grant Transparent Turtle a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display and use it in connection with operating the Service.

Registered names displayed alongside scam reports are retrieved via third-party payment processors (such as Paystack) and represent the official account holder of the reported number as recorded by that processor. These names do not constitute a definitive legal finding of fraud or wrongdoing by Transparent Turtle. Transparent Turtle acts as a neutral platform for the exchange of consumer safety information and makes no independent judgement of guilt.

4. Prohibited Conduct

You must not:

• Submit false, defamatory, or misleading information about any business or individual.
• Use the Service to harass, threaten, or harm others.
• Attempt to circumvent rate limits, security controls, or gain unauthorised access to accounts.
• Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract data from the Service without prior written consent.

5. Business Listings

Businesses are listed in the public directory based on publicly available information. Claiming a listing and activating a paid subscription gives the business owner the ability to manage their profile. Transparent Turtle reserves the right to remove or modify listings that violate these terms.

6. Subscriptions and Payments

Paid subscriptions are processed by Paystack. Subscription fees are non-refundable except where required by applicable law. Transparent Turtle reserves the right to modify pricing with reasonable notice.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Transparent Turtle does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content on the platform, including registered names retrieved from third-party payment processors.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Transparent Turtle shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ghana, including the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Ghana.

10. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at legal@transparentturtle.com.

11. Dispute Resolution for Scam Reports

If you believe your name or phone number has been incorrectly listed in a scam report, you may submit a formal Dispute Request. To do so, contact us at disputes@transparentturtle.com with the following:

• Proof of identity (a government-issued ID matching the name on the report).
• The phone number or listing in question.
• A written explanation of why the report is incorrect.

We will review all complete Dispute Requests within 7 business days and notify you of the outcome. Where a dispute is upheld, the relevant listing will be corrected or removed. Transparent Turtle's decision is final pending any applicable legal process.