Terms of Service

• CharterIO is an intermediary service provider; it is not a boat owner and is not a party to the rental.
• The Renter and Owner establish a direct legal relationship between themselves.
• CharterIO's responsibility is limited to providing platform services.

• Users must provide accurate and up-to-date information when creating an account.
• CharterIO may request identity verification for security and fraud prevention purposes.
• Accounts may be suspended if false information is provided.

2.1. Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old to use the platform and create an account. Persons under 18 may not register, make bookings, or list boats on the platform. By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older. If a false age declaration is detected, the account will be immediately closed and any bookings cancelled.

1. The Renter creates a booking request in accordance with the terms specified in the boat listing.
2. When the Owner accepts the booking, payments are processed through Stripe.
3. Once the booking is confirmed, the rental agreement is deemed to be established between the Renter and Owner.

• Payments are processed through our secure payment provider, Stripe.
• CharterIO collects a service fee from each successful booking.
• After the booking is completed and the service has been rendered, service fees are non-refundable. In case of cancellation, refunds are governed by the Cancellation Policy.
• Payment processing fees (Stripe processing fees) are non-refundable, as they are not refunded by banks to the platform.

4.1. Tax and Financial Responsibilities

• Invoicing: Since the rental service is provided by the boat owner, the service invoice is issued by the boat owner. CharterIO only issues invoices for its own service fees.
• Platform's Tax Liability: CharterIO is only responsible for its own tax obligations related to intermediary services; it assumes no responsibility for rental income.

Users agree to:

• Comply with applicable laws
• Not damage the boat
• Provide accurate information during booking and communication
• Comply with contract, safety, and marina rules

6.1. Boat Insurance Requirement

6.2. Liability for Damages

The boat owner and/or renter are directly responsible for any damages occurring during the booking period, including damage to the boat, equipment, and third-party losses. CharterIO is not a party and does not participate in damage, compensation, or legal proceedings.

6.3. Third-Party Damages

Maritime accidents, environmental damages, or material/moral damages suffered by third parties are the responsibility of the boat owner and renter. CharterIO has no liability to third parties.

6.4. Platform Liability Limits

• Boat suitability, maintenance condition
• Safety equipment
• Crew competency
• Accuracy of photos, descriptions, prices, and other listing information
• Disputes arising after booking

CharterIO cannot be held liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages under any circumstances.

7.1. Cancellation Policies

• Cancellation policies are detailed on the following page: Cancellation and Refund Policy
• Unfair cancellations by the Owner are subject to penalties.

7.2. Force Majeure

• Suspension of Obligations: In case of force majeure, the contractual obligations of the parties are suspended. During this period, the parties cannot be held responsible for delays or impossibility of performance.
• Burden of Proof: The party wishing to rely on force majeure must prove the situation with reasonable documents and notify the other party without delay.

• Priority is given to resolution between the parties.
• CharterIO provides mediation support when necessary.
• In unresolved cases, the following jurisdiction and legal rules apply.

9.1. Applicable Law

9.2. Competent Court

The Central Courts of London have exclusive jurisdiction for the resolution of all disputes.

CharterIO reserves the right to update these terms of service. Updates fall into two categories:

10.1. Minor Updates

Typographical corrections, formatting changes, and clarifications that do not affect core rights become effective upon publication on the platform.

10.2. Material Updates

For changes affecting core rights — such as commission rates, cancellation policy, data processing, jurisdiction, platform role, and liability limits — users will receive at least 30 days' prior notice by email, along with a banner in the dashboard. Users who do not accept the changes within this period may close their accounts free of charge before the new terms take effect.

10.3. Legally Required Changes

Changes required by law, court order, or regulatory update take effect immediately and are communicated via an explanatory email.

11.1. Platform Content

The platform's logo, design, interface, promotional texts, codebase, and database structure are the property of CharterIO and are protected by international intellectual property laws. This content may not be copied, modified, or distributed without the written permission of CharterIO.

11.2. User Content

Photographs, boat descriptions, reviews, and other content you share on the platform remain your property. By sharing this content, you grant CharterIO a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable, perpetual right to use it. This right covers the operation, promotion, marketing (including advertising, social media, and press) and SEO of the platform. When you close your account, the license continues for content that has already been used (archived listings, published advertisements, etc.).

11.3. User Responsibility

You are responsible for not uploading content belonging to others (stolen photographs, copyright infringement). In case of infringement, CharterIO reserves the right to remove the content in question and suspend the account.

• Reviews can only be written for completed bookings. Renters and boat owners may review each other.
• Authors are responsible for the content of their reviews. CharterIO does not pre-moderate reviews but reserves the right to remove reviews containing clear insults, false information, spam, or personal data.
• If you wish to contest a review, notify support@charterio.com with supporting documentation; each appeal is evaluated within 5 business days.
• CharterIO is not a party to disputes between reviewers and those being reviewed.

13.1. Termination by User

You may close your account at any time via Settings → Close Account. If you have active or pending bookings, you must first complete or cancel them. After the closure request, a 30-day 'cooling-off period' applies; if you log in during this period, the account is reactivated. After 30 days, your identity information is anonymised. Booking records are retained for 6 years due to legal retention obligations (with personal information removed). Prior to closing your account, you have the right under GDPR Article 20 to download all your data in JSON format.

13.2. Termination by CharterIO

CharterIO may suspend or close your account in case of violations of the platform's terms of use (fraud, repeated unjustified cancellations, security breach, harassment, etc.). For non-serious violations, 14 days' prior written notice and a right to respond are provided. For serious violations (fraud, security threats), the account is closed immediately; the reason for closure is notified in writing. You may appeal the closure decision via support@charterio.com within 30 days.