Terms of Service
1. What PlantLynk is — and is not
PlantLynk is an introduction service: we help contractors find equipment owners and pass a booking enquiry between them. We are not a party to the hire agreement between the contractor and the owner. We do not own, operate, inspect, transport or insure any machine, we do not employ operators, and we do not take or hold payment for any hire. The hire contract — including rate, scope, transport, standby, fuel, deposits, insurance and liability — is concluded directly between the contractor and the owner.
2. The advertised rate
The rate shown on a listing is the machine hire rate only, set by the owner. Transport/mobilisation, standby time, fuel (on dry hire), operator subsistence and any other costs are quoted separately and directly by the owner. The booking record captures the advertised rate at the time of enquiry; the final agreed price is between the two parties.
3. Owner obligations
If you list a machine you confirm you own it or are authorised to hire it out, that your details and rates are accurate, that the machine is roadworthy/serviceable and (where law requires) that you and your operators hold the necessary certificates and insurance. You agree to honour confirmed bookings and to respond honestly. Misrepresentation, no-shows or quoting materially above your advertised rate may result in a lower trust tier, removal, and is your responsibility, not PlantLynk’s.
4. Contractor obligations
If you request a booking you agree to provide accurate details and to deal in good faith with the owner. You are responsible for satisfying yourself as to the machine, the owner and the terms before any hire proceeds.
5. Reviews
Reviews must be honest and based on a real, confirmed booking. We may remove reviews that are abusive, fake or unlawful.
6. Subscriptions & payments
Owner plans (Free, Pro, Verified) may be offered on a monthly subscription. Where a paid plan applies, the price, billing cycle and inclusions are shown before you subscribe and you agree to them at checkout. You can cancel at any time from your dashboard; cancellation stops future billing and your plan continues until the end of the paid period. As a distance-sold service, statutory cooling-off rights under ECTA may apply where the service has not yet been used. We do not store your card details — payments are handled by our PCI-compliant payment provider.
7. Vetting & “Verified” status
Trust tiers reflect checks we have done at a point in time; they are an aid, not a guarantee. A badge does not make PlantLynk responsible for an owner’s conduct or a machine’s condition. Any future “PlantLynk Cover” will only operate on its own published terms with a licensed insurer and is not offered until then.
8. Acceptable use
Don’t misuse the service: no fraud, scraping, spamming, attempts to break security or rate limits, or posting unlawful content. We may suspend or remove accounts that do.
9. Liability
To the maximum extent allowed by law, PlantLynk is not liable for any loss arising from a hire, a machine, an owner or a contractor, or from any dealings concluded directly between them. Nothing in these terms limits rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act or other law that cannot be excluded.
10. Privacy
We handle personal information as set out in our Privacy Policy, in line with POPIA.
11. Governing law & disputes
These terms are governed by the law of the Republic of South Africa. We’ll always try to resolve a complaint first — email info@plantlynk.co.za. Disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts.