Terms of Service

1. Overview & Acceptance

CareNearby (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates a platform that connects clients with independent Personal Support Workers (“PSWs”) in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. By using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. Description of the Service

CareNearby is a matching and booking platform. We connect clients seeking personal support with independent PSWs who offer their services through the Service. We are not an employer of PSWs, and PSWs are not employees, agents, or representatives of CareNearby — they are independent contractors who set their own availability and accept or decline bookings at their discretion.

Payment processing within the app is currently a mock/test integration during our initial launch period; live payment processing (via Stripe) will be enabled in a future release, at which point this section will be updated.

3. Eligibility (18+)

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account as a client or as a PSW. By creating an account, you represent that you meet this requirement and that all information you provide is accurate and current.

4. Your Account & Responsibilities

• You are responsible for maintaining accurate account information and for all activity under your account.
• You own the content and data you submit, subject to the license needed to operate the Service (e.g., sharing your location with a matched PSW during an active booking).
• You agree not to harass, threaten, or abuse other users, and to treat PSWs and clients with respect.
• You agree to promptly report any misconduct, safety concern, or policy violation to our support team.
• You may delete your account at any time from Profile → Delete Account.

5. Booking, Pricing & Payment

• The standard rate is $25/hour, with a 3-hour minimum per booking.
• Bookings are made within a 15 km service radius of Greater Sudbury.
• Pricing is shown to you before you confirm a booking.
• Payment is private-pay between client and PSW, facilitated through the Service; CareNearby does not currently process live payments (see Section 2).

6. Cancellation & Refund Policy

• Clients may cancel a booking free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled start time may be subject to a cancellation charge, to compensate the PSW for reserved time.
• Where a refund is owed, it is credited back to your in-app wallet/balance. Refunds are not currently issued to external payment methods, consistent with the mock-payment state described in Section 2.
• If a PSW cancels a confirmed booking, the client is not charged for that booking and we will attempt to match a replacement PSW where possible.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law.
• Misrepresent your identity, qualifications, certifications, or background-check status.
• Attempt to circumvent the platform to arrange off-platform payment to avoid safety screening.
• Harass, discriminate against, or endanger any other user.
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Service.

8. PSW Qualifications & Conduct

PSWs using the Service must provide accurate identity documentation, undergo a police record check, and truthfully represent their certifications and experience. PSWs agree to provide personal support — not medical or clinical care — and to conduct themselves professionally during all bookings. CareNearby may remove a PSW from the platform at any time for failing to meet these standards.

9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available.” CareNearby facilitates connections between clients and independent PSWs but is not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or outcome of services performed by a PSW, except to the extent required by law. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CareNearby's total liability arising out of or relating to the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid through the Service in the three months preceding the claim.

CareNearby is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under Ontario or Canadian law.

10. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between a client and a PSW, or between a user and CareNearby, we encourage you to first contact our support team so we can attempt to resolve it informally. If informal resolution is not possible, the parties agree to attempt mediation in Ontario before pursuing arbitration or litigation, except where applicable consumer-protection law gives you the right to proceed directly to court.

11. Suspension & Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service, with or without notice, if you violate these Terms, engage in conduct that endangers other users, or misuse the Service. You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the “Last updated” date above, and where changes are material, we will provide notice in-app or by email before they take effect. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Ontario for any matter not resolved through mediation or arbitration under Section 10.

14. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms can be sent to support@carenearby.app.