Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the PollsCafe website, mobile application, API, and SMS services (collectively, the "Platform"). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

2. About PollsCafe

PollsCafe is a polling and public opinion platform that publishes editorial articles with embedded interactive polls. Users can participate in polls, earn points, and build reputation. Business users can create custom polls through a credit-based system.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old to create an account or participate in polls. By registering, you represent that you meet this age requirement and that the information you provide is accurate and complete.

4. User Accounts

4.1 Registration

To participate in polls, you must create an account and verify your email address. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.

4.2 Account Types

• Respondent accounts — For individuals who participate in polls, earn points, and redeem rewards.
• Business accounts — For organisations that create custom polls using purchased credits.

4.3 Account Security

You must notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account. We implement security measures including account lockout after repeated failed login attempts, but we are not liable for losses arising from unauthorised use of your credentials.

4.4 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or compromise the integrity of our polling data. You may also request deletion of your account by contacting support@pollscafe.com.

5. Poll Participation

5.1 Honest Responses

You agree to provide honest, good-faith responses to all polls. Deliberately providing false, misleading, or random answers undermines the integrity of our data and may result in account suspension.

5.2 One Account Per Person

Each individual may maintain only one respondent account. Creating multiple accounts to manipulate poll results or earn additional points is strictly prohibited.

5.3 Quality Controls

We employ quality screening questions, response pattern analysis, and device fingerprinting to maintain data integrity. Responses flagged by our fraud detection systems may be reviewed and excluded from published results.

5.4 Eligibility & Quotas

Not all polls are available to all users. Poll eligibility is determined by demographic profile, panel membership, and quota requirements. We reserve the right to limit participation to ensure representative sampling.

6. Points & Rewards

6.1 Earning Points

You earn points by participating in polls and completing your demographic profile. Point values are set at our discretion and may vary by poll type and length.

6.2 Redemption

Points may be redeemed for rewards as described on the Platform. We reserve the right to modify point values, reward offerings, and redemption thresholds at any time. Points have no cash value and are non-transferable.

6.3 Forfeiture

Points may be forfeited if your account is suspended or terminated for violation of these Terms, or if responses associated with your account are determined to be fraudulent.

7. Business Users

7.1 Credits

Business users purchase credits to fund poll responses. Credits are consumed per valid response received. Payment is processed securely through Stripe. All purchases are subject to Stripe's terms of service.

7.2 Poll Management

Business polls automatically pause when credit balances are depleted or response targets are met. Unused credits remain in your account for future use.

7.3 Results

Business users receive aggregated, anonymised poll results. Individual respondent data is never disclosed. A minimum response threshold applies before results are made available to protect respondent privacy.

8. SMS Participation

Polls may be accessible via SMS. Standard messaging rates from your mobile carrier apply. By participating via SMS, you consent to receiving poll-related messages at the number you provide. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform — including articles, poll questions, charts, graphics, software, logos, and design — is owned by or licensed to PollsCafe and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without prior written permission.

9.1 Public Data Usage

Published poll results may be cited and referenced for non-commercial purposes provided that PollsCafe is clearly attributed as the source. Commercial use of our data requires a separate licence. Contact press@pollscafe.com for enquiries.

9.2 Embeddable Charts

Where we provide embeddable chart widgets, you may embed them on third-party websites provided the PollsCafe attribution remains visible and unmodified.

10. Prohibited Conduct

You may not:

• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the Platform without authorisation
• Attempt to circumvent fraud detection, rate limiting, or other security measures
• Impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity or demographics
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's infrastructure or other users' access
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose
• Scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Platform without permission
• Attempt to reverse-engineer or extract source code from the Platform

11. API Usage

Access to our API is governed by these Terms and any additional API-specific terms. API keys are issued per account, must be kept confidential, and may be revoked if misused. Rate limits apply per environment and are enforced automatically.

12. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. While we strive for accuracy in our polling data, we do not guarantee that poll results are statistically representative of any specific population unless explicitly stated.

We are not responsible for decisions made based on poll data published on our Platform.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, PollsCafe shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of points or rewards, or business interruption.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold PollsCafe harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your violation of these Terms, your use of the Platform, or your infringement of any third-party rights.

15. Modifications

We may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on the Platform at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation before pursuing formal proceedings.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at support@pollscafe.com.