Terms of Use⚖️

By accessing or using Benni In The Middle ("Benni", "we", "us", "the Platform"), you agree to these Terms of Use. If you're not into them, no hard feelings — just don't use the Platform.

Benni In The Middle is a connection platform. We help customers find pros. We help pros find work. That's it. We do not:

• •Handle payments
• •Set prices
• •Manage contracts
• •Supervise work
• •Guarantee outcomes
• •Conduct background or criminal screening

VERIFICATION WE DO PROVIDE: We verify ABN registrations via the ABR (Australian Business Register) and trade licenses via Service NSW using publicly available data. Verified details are marked with a ✓ Verified badge. VERIFICATION LIMITATIONS: Verification confirms only that information exists in public registers at the time of checking. It does not confirm ongoing validity, insurance, competence, suitability, or legal compliance. Verification does not replace independent due diligence. Unverified users can still list their services, but promotional features (like boosting) require verification. Any agreement, payment, or work happens directly between users. Benni facilitates introductions only. All pros using Benni are independent contractors. They are NOT employees, agents, or representatives of Benni.

Even with our verification, it's still YOUR responsibility to:

• •Check for the ✓ Verified badge on profiles
• •Verify insurance coverage independently (we don't check this)
• •Check references and reviews
• •Obtain written quotes and contracts
• •Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• •Conduct appropriate background checks where necessary
• •Confirm Working With Children Checks for relevant services
• •Validate qualifications and certifications beyond what we verify

Our verification covers ABN and trade licenses from public registers only. We do NOT conduct police checks, background screening, insurance validation, financial checks, or reference checking. IMPORTANT: Look for the verified badge, but always conduct your own independent verification.

You must:

• •Be at least 18 years old
• •Provide accurate, current information
• •Use the Platform for lawful purposes only

No fake accounts. No impersonation. No funny business.

You're responsible for:

• •Your account activity
• •Keeping your login details secure

If something feels off, tell us ASAP. If we suspect misuse, we may suspend or terminate accounts to protect the community. TERMINATION: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including breach of these Terms, fraudulent activity, complaints from other users, suspected misuse, or at our sole discretion. Upon termination, your access will cease immediately, we're not liable for any losses from termination, and outstanding obligations between users remain your responsibility.

As a customer, you agree to:

• •Post clear and honest job descriptions
• •Communicate directly with pros
• •Agree on scope, pricing, and timelines independently
• •Pay pros directly (Benni never touches the money)
• •Leave fair, honest reviews
• •Follow all applicable laws
• •Conduct your own due diligence on providers
• •Verify credentials, insurance, and qualifications independently
• •Obtain Working With Children Checks for services involving minors

As a pro or business, you agree to:

• •Keep your profile accurate and up to date
• •Only offer services you're qualified and legally permitted to perform
• •Hold ALL required licenses, certifications, permits, and insurance
• •Maintain appropriate public liability and professional indemnity insurance
• •Comply with all workplace health and safety regulations
• •Communicate professionally with customers
• •Complete work as agreed directly with the customer
• •Handle ALL invoicing, payment, and tax obligations independently
• •Not represent yourself as an employee or agent of Benni

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE: • You're an independent contractor, NOT an employee of Benni • You're solely responsible for all tax obligations, superannuation, workers compensation, and compliance requirements • Benni has no control over your work methods, hours, or rates • You enter contracts directly with customers at your own risk • Listing on Benni does NOT constitute verification, endorsement, or recommendation by us

Benni In The Middle is free to use. We:

• •Don't take commissions
• •Don't charge booking fees
• •Don't process payments
• •Don't hold funds in escrow
• •Don't guarantee transactions

Payments are arranged directly between users. Pro+ Boost (coming soon) Optional paid upgrade for providers who want increased visibility.

• –Subscription-based
• –Cancel anytime
• –Totally optional

Reviews should be:

• •Honest
• •Relevant
• •Based on real experiences

Fake reviews, review manipulation, or retaliation reviews may be removed. NO RELIANCE ON REVIEWS: Reviews are user-generated opinions, not verified facts. Benni does not verify the accuracy, completeness, or authenticity of any review content. You should not rely solely on reviews when making decisions about engaging a pro. Reviews do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee by Benni.

ALL disputes regarding work quality, payment, timing, refunds, contracts, or any other matter are EXCLUSIVELY between the customer and pro. If there's a dispute about:

• •Work quality
• •Payment
• •Timing
• •Refunds
• •Contract terms
• •Property damage

Disputes are exclusively between the customer and the pro. Benni has no obligation to supervise, manage, or resolve disputes between users. Benni In The Middle: • Is NOT a party to your agreements • Will NOT mediate, arbitrate, or intervene • Cannot and will not enforce contracts between users • Will not provide legal advice • Cannot recover payments or enforce refunds • Is not a debt collection service REPORTING MISCONDUCT: While we will not resolve disputes, you should report users who commit fraud, violate these Terms, or pose safety risks. We may investigate and remove offending users, but this does not make us liable for their actions. Resolve disputes through direct negotiation, mediation services, small claims courts, or other appropriate legal channels.

You may not:

• •Scam, spam, or mislead others
• •Harass, threaten, or abuse users
• •Post illegal, harmful, or offensive content
• •Infringe on intellectual property
• •Use Benni for unlawful activity
• •Circumvent the Platform for abuse or exploitation
• •Offer services you're not qualified or licensed to provide
• •Misrepresent your credentials or experience

We reserve the right to remove content or users who break these rules.

Here's the deal with content ownership:

• •Your content is yours — bios, photos, job posts, messages, reviews
• •By posting, you give Benni permission to display it on the platform
• •We won't sell your content or use it outside the platform
• •You're responsible for making sure you have rights to what you post
• •Don't post anything you don't own or have permission to use

Simple version: You own what you create. We just help you share it with the right people. If you believe someone has used your content without permission, hit us up and we'll look into it.

PLATFORM STATUS: Benni operates solely as a connection platform. We are NOT a party to any agreements between users, an employer, agent, or representative of any user, responsible for vetting, monitoring, or supervising pros, responsible for quality, safety, legality, or completion of services, or a payment processor, escrow service, or financial intermediary. NO FIDUCIARY DUTY: Nothing in these Terms or your use of the Platform creates a fiduciary relationship, duty of care, or special relationship between Benni and any user. Benni owes no duty of care to users beyond what is expressly stated in these Terms or required by law. NO RELIANCE: You acknowledge that you have not relied on any statement, representation, warranty, or guarantee made by Benni or on its behalf (other than as expressly set out in these Terms) in deciding to use the Platform or engage with other users. VERIFICATION DISCLAIMER: Our verification of ABN and trade license information via public registers is provided for informational purposes only. Verification does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of any user's skills, qualifications, reliability, or suitability. The presence or absence of a verified badge should not be the sole basis for your decision to engage a pro. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: To the maximum extent permitted by law, Benni is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy of user content, or uninterrupted/error-free service. PLATFORM AVAILABILITY & DATA: Benni does not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free access to the Platform. We may suspend, modify, or discontinue any aspect of the Platform at any time without notice. We are not liable for any loss of data, content, or information resulting from Platform downtime, technical failures, or discontinuation. LIABILITY EXCLUSIONS: Benni and its affiliates shall NOT be liable for:

• •Property damage, personal injury, or death arising from services
• •Financial losses from user-to-user transactions
• •Fraud, theft, or criminal activity by users
• •Quality of work, missed deadlines, or contract breaches
• •Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities
• •Indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• •Platform downtime, outages, or technical failures
• •Loss or corruption of user content or data

AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW: Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) are fully protected. Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy under the ACL that cannot lawfully be excluded. For any liability relating to the Platform service that cannot be excluded under law, Benni's maximum aggregate liability is limited to (at our option): • Re-supplying access to the Platform • Payment of the cost of re-supplying Platform access • $100 AUD whichever is lower. This limitation applies to the Platform service only — not to work quality, outcomes, or services arranged between users. Those matters remain exclusively between the customer and pro.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Benni In The Middle, its owners, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• •Your use of the Platform
• •Your breach of these Terms
• •Any work arrangements, contracts, or disputes with other users
• •Content you post or share
• •Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
• •Any negligence or misconduct related to services arranged through Benni

If your actions result in claims against Benni, you are responsible for covering all associated costs and damages. This indemnity survives termination of your account and use of the Platform.

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia. DISPUTES BETWEEN USERS: Disputes between customers and pros are not our responsibility. You agree not to involve Benni in user-to-user disputes and to resolve them independently through direct negotiation, mediation services, small claims courts, or other appropriate legal channels. WAIVER OF GROUP PROCEEDINGS: To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree to bring any claim against Benni only in your individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding. You waive any right to participate in a class action, group proceeding, or consolidated arbitration against Benni. This waiver does not apply where prohibited by applicable Australian law. FORCE MAJEURE: Benni is not liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, power outages, internet disruptions, or similar events.

Your use of Benni is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your information. By using Benni, you consent to our Privacy Policy.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. Basically: If one part doesn't hold up, the rest still stands.

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Benni regarding your use of the Platform. These Terms supersede all prior agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings (whether written, oral, or implied) between you and Benni relating to the Platform. No statement, representation, warranty, or guarantee not expressly contained in these Terms shall form part of this agreement or have any force or effect.

ASSIGNMENT: You may not assign, transfer, or delegate your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Benni may assign these Terms (in whole or in part) without restriction. SURVIVAL: The following sections survive termination of these Terms or your account: Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Governing Law & Jurisdiction, Entire Agreement, and any other provisions that by their nature should survive.

We may update these Terms from time to time. If you continue using Benni after updates, that means you accept the changes. Major updates? We'll try to give you a heads up. But it's your responsibility to review these Terms periodically.

Questions? Feedback? Legal enquiries? 📧 benni@btwmiddle.com We're here to help.