gavel User Agreement & Marketplace Rules • Version 2.4 • Effective November 2026

Terms & Conditions

Welcome to HirePassionate. This agreement governs your use of our marketplace, whether you are hiring world-class tech talent as a Client or offering professional design and engineering services as a Candidate.

currency_rupee 100% Refund

If Order Rejected or Cancelled

percent 6% Platform Fee

Standard Buyer & Seller Rate

Sec. 19 Copyright Act Compliant

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1. Acceptance & User Roles

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In Plain English: By creating an account on HirePassionate, you agree to these terms. Buyers come to commission work; sellers come to build and deliver work.

These Terms & Conditions constitute a legally binding electronic agreement between you and HirePassionate Inc. under the Indian Information Technology Act, 2000. By browsing, signing up, placing orders, or listing gigs on HirePassionate, you agree to comply with all provisions set forth herein.

Clients / Buyers

Individuals or businesses funding projects, issuing requirements, and purchasing freelance services.

Candidates / Sellers

Independent developers, UI/UX designers, and tech contractors delivering custom digital deliverables.

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2. Platform Fees & 100% Buyer Refund Guarantee

Transparent Pricing & Protection Guarantee

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Our 100% Refund Guarantee: We charge a flat 6% buyer service fee and a 6% seller commission. If an order is cancelled or rejected by the buyer due to incomplete or non-delivered work, 100% of the funds are transferred back to the buyer without unfair deductions.

Buyer Service Fee 6%

A 6% service fee is added to the project subtotal at checkout to power secure escrow holding, dispute mediation, and payment processing.

Seller Platform Fee 6%

A 6% platform commission is deducted upon successful order completion and fund disbursement to maintain client acquisition and infrastructure.

verified Cancellation & 100% Fund Reversal Terms

In the event that an order is:

Cancelled mutually by both buyer and seller prior to delivery; or
Cancelled automatically due to seller inactivity past the delivery deadline; or
Rejected by the buyer upon deliverable review when the seller is unable to meet agreed specifications and dispute resolution concludes in the buyer's favor;

👉 100% of the deposited order funds will be immediately released from escrow and refunded to the buyer's original payment method or platform wallet balance.

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3. Escrow & Order Lifecycle

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In Plain English: Your money is safe. The buyer pays upfront, but the freelancer doesn't get paid until the buyer reviews and approves the delivered work.

All financial transactions on HirePassionate operate under an escrow protection model:

Order Funding: The buyer funds the order milestone at checkout via UPI or card. Funds are locked into a secure escrow account (`escrow_accounts` table).
Work Execution: The seller submits work deliverables through the official order inbox.
Review Window: The buyer has 3 business days to review the deliverable, request revisions, or accept delivery.
Disbursement: Upon buyer approval (or automatic completion if no dispute is raised within the review window), escrow is marked `released`, and earnings are credited to the seller's wallet.

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4. KYC Verification & Strict Document Security

Guaranteed Confidentiality

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Confidentiality Guarantee: To protect buyers from fake profiles, sellers must verify their identity. We store all identity documents in a secure, encrypted repository that is never made public or accessible to unauthorized users.

To maintain high marketplace standards and satisfy Indian financial compliance rules, sellers may be required to complete KYC identity verification (`kyc_verifications` table).

lock No Public Access: KYC files are stored behind strict server-level authorization middleware (`ServeSecureKYCDocument`). Direct file URLs are blocked for public visitors and search indexers.
verified_user Verification Badge: Sellers with approved KYC receive the verified checkmark badge on their profile and gig cards, elevating buyer trust.
do_not_disturb_on Rejection Criteria: Blurred, forged, or mismatched documents result in immediate verification rejection with clear feedback.

5. Intellectual Property Rights & Assignment

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In Plain English: Once the buyer releases payment for an order, the buyer owns 100% of the custom code and designs delivered, worldwide and forever. Freelancers may display the work in their portfolio unless an NDA applies.

In compliance with Section 19 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, this agreement serves as a written instrument of assignment for all custom works created pursuant to a funded order:

Transfer of Ownership: Upon full and final release of escrow payment, the seller hereby transfers, assigns, and conveys to the buyer all rights, title, copyright, and interest in and to the custom deliverables, including source code, design mockups, and assets.
Territory & Duration: The assignment of rights is worldwide, perpetual, and irrevocable.
Warranties of Originality: The seller represents and warrants that all delivered work is original, does not infringe on any third-party proprietary rights, and indemnifies the buyer and HirePassionate against any intellectual property claims.
Portfolio License: Unless specifically barred by an executed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), the seller retains a limited, non-exclusive license to display the completed work in their public HirePassionate portfolio or personal case studies.

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6. 24-Month Non-Circumvention Policy

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Important Rule: If you meet a client or freelancer on HirePassionate, you must keep all payments and contracts on HirePassionate for 24 months. Taking conversations off-platform to avoid fees results in an immediate, permanent ban.

HirePassionate invests heavily in matching top frontend developers and UI designers with reputable buyers. To maintain marketplace sustainability:

Users introduced through the platform agree not to solicit, invoice, or accept payments outside HirePassionate for a period of twenty-four (24) months from initial contact.
Attempting to share WhatsApp numbers, personal bank UPI IDs, or wire instructions in chat to bypass the platform escrow is strictly monitored and constitutes a material breach of contract.
Violation results in immediate permanent account suspension, forfeiture of accrued pending balances, and liquidated damages under Section 74 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

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7. Order Revisions & Dispute Resolution

If a delivered project does not meet the requirements defined in the gig package or custom offer:

Revision Requests: Buyers may submit structured revision requests detailing discrepancies before approving milestone funds.
Escalation to Support: If mutual consensus is not reached, either party may escalate to HirePassionate Dispute Resolution. Support specialists review chat transcripts, specifications, and delivered code.
Final Determination: Mediation decisions may result in order continuation with revisions, partial release, or a 100% full refund to the buyer.

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8. Prohibited Platform Conduct

Users must never engage in any of the following activities on HirePassionate:

❌ Submitting malicious code, exploits, or viruses.

❌ Submitting forged or duplicate KYC documents.

❌ Posting fraudulent, plagiarized, or misleading portfolio gigs.

❌ Harassment, hate speech, or abuse towards users or staff.

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9. Governing Law & Arbitration

Indian Jurisdiction & Dispute Procedure

This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Republic of India, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Arbitration Clause: Any unresolved dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this agreement shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The seat and venue of arbitration shall be Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, and proceedings shall be conducted in the English language.

Exclusive Court Jurisdiction: Subject to arbitration, the courts located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal matters arising under these Terms.

Have questions regarding these terms? Contact our legal team anytime.

support@hirepassionate.com