Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to SangiNepal (“SangiNepal”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), a digital platform operated from Kathmandu, Nepal that connects clients with locally verified companions for non-sexual social companionship, cultural exchange, travel assistance, and event accompaniment. By creating an account, browsing companion profiles, making a booking, sending a message, or otherwise using our services (collectively, the “Services”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (the “Terms”) and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Services immediately.

These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and SangiNepal Pvt. Ltd. (or its successor entity) under the laws of Nepal, including the Muluki Civil Code 2074, Electronic Transactions Act 2063, and Privacy Act 2075.

2. Eligibility & Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 (eighteen) years of age on the date of registration to use SangiNepal as either a Client or a Companion. By registering, you confirm that:

• You are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under Nepali law.
• The date of birth you provide at registration is accurate and matches the date of birth on your government-issued ID.
• You are not legally prohibited from using digital platform services in Nepal or your jurisdiction of residence.
• You are not listed on any government-maintained offender registry.

We use AI-assisted identity verification (date-of-birth extraction from your citizenship, passport, or National ID) to enforce this requirement. Misrepresentation of age is a violation of these Terms and may result in immediate account termination and reporting to Nepali authorities under the Electronic Transactions Act 2063.

3. Nature of Services — STRICTLY NON-SEXUAL

SangiNepal is a social companionship platform only. We facilitate connections between Clients and Companions for purposes such as: city tours, cultural exchange, trekking accompaniment, attendance at social events, language practice, photography assistance, dinner companionship, and similar non-sexual social activities.

The following are strictly prohibited and constitute material breach of these Terms:

• Any sexual or romantic service, proposition, or solicitation — whether paid or unpaid.
• Any arrangement that could be construed as prostitution or sex work under Nepali law (Muluki Penal Code 2074, §225).
• Human trafficking or facilitation thereof, in violation of the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064.
• Drug trafficking, smuggling, or any illegal commercial activity.
• Money laundering or use of the platform to obscure financial transactions.
• Soliciting Companions to engage in any activity outside the scope of social companionship.

Any user found using SangiNepal for prohibited purposes will have their account terminated immediately, payments forfeited, and may be reported to Nepal Police, the Department of Revenue Investigation, or other competent authorities.

4. Accounts & Verification

4.1 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us immediately at security@sanginepal.np of any unauthorized use. We use magic-link email verification to reduce password-based attacks; you should never share the verification link with anyone.

4.2 Companion Verification

Companions must complete a paid identity verification process before being listed as “Verified”. Verification includes:

• Upload of a government-issued ID (citizenship, passport, or National ID).
• Upload of a live selfie for AI face-match against the ID photo.
• AI-assisted extraction of name, date of birth, and ID number for admin review.
• Manual review by SangiNepal admin to confirm all extracted data matches the companion’s stated identity.
• Payment of a non-refundable verification fee (currently Rs. 500).

The blue verified badge signifies that the companion’s identity has been confirmed.It does not guarantee character, safety, or future conduct. Clients are responsible for exercising their own judgment when meeting any companion.

4.3 Client Accounts

Clients can register and book companions without completing ID verification. Companion verification (section 4.1 above) still applies — only verified companions appear on the platform. Clients are encouraged to upload an avatar and complete their profile to improve booking acceptance rates, but this is not mandatory.

5. Bookings & Payments

5.1 Booking Flow

A booking is created when a Client selects a Companion, specifies date/time/hours/purpose, and initiates payment. Bookings are governed by the rates shown on the Companion’s profile at the time of booking. Pricing may include multipliers for weekends, holidays, extended duration, travel, and promotional discounts.

5.2 Payment Methods

We support payment via eSewa, Khalti, ConnectIPS, FonePay QR, and selected Nepali mobile banking apps. All payments are processed in NPR (Nepalese Rupees). Payments are held in escrow and released to the Companion 24 hours after the booking ends, unless a dispute is filed.

5.3 Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellations made more than 24 hours before the booking start time receive a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable, except in cases of documented emergencies (medical, family bereavement, natural disaster). Refund requests are reviewed by admin within 48 hours.

5.4 Companion Payouts

Companions receive their payout (companion rate minus platform commission) to their chosen eSewa/Khalti/Bank account within 24-72 hours after release. Withdrawal requests can be initiated from the Companion dashboard.

6. Fees & Taxes

6.1 Platform Fees

SangiNepal charges a hybrid fee: (i) a Client Service Fee added on top of the companion’s rate (default 5%), and (ii) a Companion Commission deducted from the companion’s payout (default 10%). Rates may be updated from the admin panel and apply prospectively to new bookings only.

6.2 VAT / GST

SangiNepal is registered for VAT under the VAT Act 2052 of Nepal once annual taxable turnover exceeds Rs. 50 lakh (Rs. 5,000,000). VAT at the standard rate of 13% is charged on the platform fee portion of every booking where applicable. VAT-compliant tax invoices are generated monthly and available for download from the admin panel.

Companions are independent contractors, not employees. They are responsible for declaring their own income and paying applicable income tax under the Income Tax Act 2058. SangiNepal will provide annual earning statements on request.

7. Code of Conduct

All users agree to:

• Treat other users, SangiNepal staff, and admin reviewers with respect and dignity.
• Not harass, threaten, stalk, or discriminate against anyone on the basis of caste, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socio-economic status — in compliance with the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act 2068.
• Not request or share personal contact information (phone, email, social media) before a booking is confirmed, except through the in-app chat system.
• Not request off-platform payments to bypass SangiNepal’s fees.
• Not misuse the in-app audio/video calling feature to record, screenshot, or harass other users.
• Not create multiple accounts to circumvent bans or restrictions.
• Not use the platform while intoxicated to the point of impairment.

8. Privacy & Data Protection

Our collection, use, and storage of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. SangiNepal complies with the Privacy Act 2075 (2018) of Nepal and the Electronic Transactions Act 2063. Personal data of Nepali citizens is stored and processed primarily within Nepal wherever technically feasible.

9. Intellectual Property

SangiNepal retains all rights to the platform, including the SangiNepal name, logo, website design, source code, and proprietary algorithms. Users retain ownership of content they upload (profile photos, ID documents, chat messages) but grant SangiNepal a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, transmit, and process that content for the purpose of operating the Services.

10. Disclaimers

SangiNepal is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not warrant that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from: (i) in-person meetings between clients and companions; (ii) loss of earnings; (iii) theft or damage to personal property during a booking; (iv) any act or omission by a companion or client.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Nepali law, SangiNepal’s aggregate liability for any claim arising from or related to these Terms or the Services shall not exceed the total amount of platform fees paid by you to SangiNepal in the 12 months preceding the claim.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, including for violation of these Terms. You may delete your account at any time from the dashboard settings. Upon termination, your right to use the Services ceases immediately. Data retention follows our Privacy Policy — some records are kept for legal/audit purposes even after account deletion.

13. Dispute Resolution & Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Nepal. Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Services shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation for 30 days. If unresolved, the dispute shall be submitted to mediation in Kathmandu under the Arbitration Act 2055. Failing mediation, the dispute shall be filed in the competent courts of Kathmandu, Nepal.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified via email and in-app notification at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of SangiNepal after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Contact

SangiNepal Pvt. Ltd.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: legal@sanginepal.np
Phone: +977-1-XXXXXXX (during business hours, NST)