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Expert Agreement

Expert Agreement

This Freelancer Agreement (“Agreement”) sets out the terms and conditions between Hire Local (“we”, “us”, or “our”) and you (“Expert”, “Freelancer”, or “you”) when you register as a service provider on the Hire Local platform at https://hirelocal.co.nz (“Platform”).

By creating an Expert account and using the Platform, you agree to be bound by this Agreement.

1. Registration & Eligibility

To use the Platform as an Expert, you must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Provide accurate personal and professional information
  • Be legally allowed to offer services in New Zealand
  • Maintain an active subscription plan (monthly or yearly)

We reserve the right to verify your information and deny or revoke access at any time.

2. Subscription & Fees

  • Experts must purchase a paid plan via WooCommerce (monthly or yearly).
  • Payments may be made via Stripe or bank transfer.
  • Subscriptions are non-refundable once activated.
  • You are responsible for keeping your plan active to apply for or receive new jobs.

3. Commission and Pricing

  • You set your own service prices.
  • A 5% service fee is added on top of your quoted price — paid by the Customer.
  • This fee is not deducted from your earnings.

Example: If you quote $100, the Customer pays $105. You still receive $100 (minus any transfer costs, if applicable).

4. Job Process & Payment

  • Once a job is accepted, you must complete the work as agreed with the Customer.
  • All payments are held by Hire Local and manually released once the job is completed and confirmed by both parties.
  • You agree to respond to disputes or verification requests within 3 business days.
  • Payment release may be delayed if there is a complaint or dispute.

5. Communication & Conduct

You agree to:

  • Use WP Guppy (our in-platform messaging system) to communicate with Customers
  • Not share personal contact details (phone/email) outside the platform
  • Be professional, responsive, and respectful at all times
  • Not offer services or collect payments outside of the Platform

Breach of these terms may result in suspension or permanent removal from the Platform.

6. Taxes & Legal Responsibility

  • You are responsible for managing and reporting your own income and taxes.
  • Hire Local does not act as your employer or agent.
  • You are an independent contractor under New Zealand law.

7. Disputes

In case of a dispute with a Customer:

  • You must first attempt to resolve it directly via messaging
  • If unresolved, you may escalate it to Hire Local within 7 days of job completion
  • We will review both sides and make a final decision on payment release

Our decision is final and binding for both parties.

8. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your Expert account if:

  • You breach this Agreement or our Terms of Service
  • You receive repeated complaints or poor reviews
  • You attempt to avoid paying fees or take work off-platform

You may cancel your subscription at any time, but no refunds will be issued for unused time.

9. Liability

Hire Local is not liable for:

  • Any lost income, damages, or legal claims arising from your services
  • Platform downtime or delayed payments due to technical issues
  • Disputes with Customers beyond our resolution process

10. Changes to This Agreement

We may update this Agreement from time to time. Continued use of the Platform means you accept the updated terms.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Agreement, please contact:

Hire Local
Email: support@hirelocal.co.nz
Website: https://hirelocal.co.nz

Last updated: 06/03/2025