Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using alt.style. By registering an account or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.
alt.style operates as an online marketplace intermediary that connects clients seeking style-related services (hair, makeup, fashion, virtual styling, and related creative services) with independent professional stylists and artists ("Stylists").
alt.style is not a service provider. We do not employ Stylists, and we are not a party to the contract formed between a Client and a Stylist when a booking is confirmed. The Stylist is solely responsible for the quality, safety, and lawfulness of the services they provide. alt.style's role is limited to providing the platform, facilitating discovery and booking, processing payments, and enforcing community standards.
Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, joint venture, or franchise relationship between alt.style and any Stylist.
2. User Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age to register an account or use any features of alt.style.
- You must be legally capable of entering into binding contracts under Indian law.
- If you are registering on behalf of a business entity, you confirm that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.
- alt.style is intended for use within India. Access from outside India is permitted but users remain subject to these Terms and applicable Indian law.
3. Accounts & Registration
You must create an account to book services or list services as a Stylist. You agree to:
- Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
- Keep your login credentials confidential and not share your account with others.
- Notify us immediately at hello@alt.style if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
- Be responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.
alt.style reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that contain false information, violate these Terms, or engage in suspicious activity.
4. Stylist Obligations
By registering as a Stylist on alt.style, you agree to:
4.1 Accuracy of Portfolio & Profile
- Upload only authentic portfolio images and videos that represent your own work.
- Accurately describe your services, specialties, experience, qualifications, and pricing.
- Keep your availability calendar current to avoid double-bookings.
- Not misrepresent your credentials, certifications, or prior client base.
4.2 Professional Conduct
- Arrive on time or connect punctually for virtual sessions.
- Maintain a professional, respectful, and non-discriminatory attitude toward all clients.
- Deliver services materially consistent with what was described and agreed upon at the time of booking.
- Respect client privacy and obtain necessary consent before photographing or sharing images of clients for portfolio use.
4.3 Liability for Services
Stylists bear sole and full responsibility for the services they provide. This includes (without limitation): the use of products, tools, and techniques; compliance with applicable health and safety regulations; any adverse reactions, injuries, or outcomes arising from the service; and professional indemnity. alt.style strongly recommends that Stylists carry appropriate professional liability insurance.
4.4 Taxes
Stylists are independent contractors and are solely responsible for their own tax obligations, including GST registration if applicable, income tax, and any other statutory obligations under Indian law.
5. Client Obligations
By booking a service on alt.style, you agree to:
- Treat Stylists with respect and professionalism.
- Provide accurate information about your service requirements, any known allergies, or relevant health conditions that may affect the service.
- Be present (in-person or online) at the agreed time; late arrivals beyond 20 minutes may result in forfeiture of the appointment at the Stylist's discretion.
- Make timely payment through the platform. Off-platform payments to circumvent platform fees are prohibited.
- Leave honest and accurate reviews based on your genuine experience.
6. Commission Structure
15%
Platform commission on completed bookings. This fee is deducted automatically from the booking amount before the remaining balance is disbursed to the Stylist.
- The 15% commission applies to all completed bookings processed through the alt.style platform.
- "Completed" means the service has been delivered and the post-service window (24 hours) for raising a dispute has passed, or the client has explicitly confirmed completion.
- Commission rates are subject to change with 30 days' written notice to Stylists via the registered email address.
- Attempting to circumvent the commission by soliciting off-platform payments is a material breach of these Terms and may result in permanent suspension.
7. Payment Handling & Escrow
All payments on alt.style are processed by Razorpay, our licensed payment gateway partner. By making or receiving payments, you also agree to Razorpay's Terms and Privacy Policy.
- Client payment: The full booking amount is collected at the time of booking confirmation.
- Escrow hold: Funds are held in a protected state until the service is marked complete and the dispute window expires.
- Stylist payout: 85% of the booking amount (after the 15% platform commission) is disbursed to the Stylist's registered bank account or UPI handle within 3–5 business days of service completion.
- Currency: All transactions are in Indian Rupees (INR).
- alt.style is not a bank or payment service provider and does not hold funds in a client money account.
8. Cancellation & Refund Policy
Our cancellation and refund terms are set out in full in our Cancellation Policy, which forms part of these Terms of Service. In summary:
- 48+ hours before appointment: Full refund
- 24–48 hours before: 50% refund
- Under 24 hours / no-show: No refund
- Stylist cancellation: Full refund + platform credit to client
Please refer to refund.php for complete details including virtual session policies and the dispute process.
9. Prohibited Conduct
The following are strictly prohibited on alt.style:
- Creating fake profiles, fake reviews, or misrepresenting your identity or qualifications.
- Harassing, threatening, abusing, or discriminating against any user based on caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
- Soliciting clients or stylists for off-platform transactions to avoid platform fees.
- Uploading content that is obscene, defamatory, infringing, or violates the law.
- Using the platform for any illegal purpose, including money laundering or fraud.
- Scraping, crawling, or using automated tools to extract data from the platform without written consent.
- Posting or transmitting malware, viruses, or any code designed to disrupt the platform.
- Creating multiple accounts to evade a suspension or ban.
Violations may result in immediate account suspension, permanent ban, and where appropriate, reporting to law enforcement.
10. Intellectual Property
10.1 Platform IP
The alt.style platform, including its design, code, branding, trademarks, and original content, is owned by or licensed to alt.style. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from platform content without our express written permission.
10.2 Stylist Portfolio Content
Stylists retain all intellectual property rights to their own portfolio images, videos, and creative content. By uploading content to alt.style, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, reproduce, and distribute that content solely for the purpose of operating and promoting the platform (e.g., featuring your profile in search results, platform marketing). You may revoke this licence by removing the content from your profile or deleting your account.
10.3 Reviews
By submitting a review, you grant alt.style an irrevocable, royalty-free licence to display and moderate that review on the platform.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Indian law:
- alt.style's total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) INR 5,000 or (b) the total fees paid by you to alt.style in the three months preceding the claim.
- alt.style shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, loss of data, or personal injury arising from your use of the platform or services obtained through it.
- As a marketplace intermediary, alt.style is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or outcome of any service performed by a Stylist, nor for any injury, loss, or harm caused by a Stylist or client.
- Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for fraud, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under Indian law.
12. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless alt.style, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your use of the platform in violation of these Terms; (b) your provision or receipt of services; (c) any content you upload or share; or (d) your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights.
13. Termination
You may close your account at any time by contacting hello@alt.style. Upon closure, your public profile will be removed. Pending bookings, payouts, or disputes will be resolved according to these Terms before closure is finalised.
alt.style may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for breach of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or if required by law. Stylists with pending payouts will receive outstanding amounts owed minus any amounts in dispute.
14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
- These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.
- The courts of Pune, Maharashtra shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms.
- First step: Before initiating any legal action, you must contact us at hello@alt.style and give us a reasonable opportunity (30 days) to resolve the dispute informally.
- Consumer disputes may also be referred to the appropriate consumer forum under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
15. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, platform features, or business practices. We will notify you of material changes by email and/or a prominent notice on the platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact:
By using alt.style, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Service.
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