User Terms

Effective Date: 01 January 2025 Last Updated: 27 May 2026 Welcome to Spread the Word. These User Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your individual access to and use of the Spread the Word platform — our WhatsApp CRM, messaging management tools, and all associated features available at https://spreadtheword.in (collectively, the "Platform" or "Services"). Please read these Terms carefully before creating an account or using the Platform. By registering, accessing, or using the Platform in any way, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform. 1. Acceptance of Terms These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Spread the Word ("we," "us," "our," or the "Company"). By: Creating an account on the Platform Logging in and accessing any feature Connecting your WhatsApp Business Account through our onboarding flow Using any messaging, automation, or CRM feature — you unconditionally accept these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable Meta Platform Terms and WhatsApp Business Policies that govern messaging conduct on the Platform. Your agreement extends to any updates we make to these Terms, provided we notify you as described in Section 17. 2. Eligibility To create and use a Spread the Word account, you must: Be at least 18 years of age Be legally capable of entering into a binding contract under Indian law or the laws of your jurisdiction Be using the Platform for legitimate business or professional purposes Not be located in any country subject to an embargo or sanctions that would prohibit use of WhatsApp Business API services Not have a previously suspended or terminated account on Spread the Word or a WhatsApp-related ban issued by Meta Platforms If you are accessing the Platform as an authorized employee or team member of a registered business account, you further confirm that your employer or account owner has authorized your access and that you agree to these Terms on their behalf as well. 3. Platform Services Spread the Word provides a WhatsApp CRM and business messaging platform that includes the following features (subject to your subscription plan): Feature CategoryDescriptionContact ManagementImport, organize, and manage WhatsApp contact lists and CRM recordsBroadcast MessagingSend approved message templates to opted-in contact listsChat AutomationBuild and deploy chatbot flows and automated reply sequencesCampaign ManagementCreate, schedule, and track WhatsApp marketing campaignsTeam CollaborationAssign conversations, delegate tasks, and manage team inboxesAnalytics & ReportingMonitor message delivery, open rates, response times, and campaign performanceTemplate ManagementCreate, submit, and manage WhatsApp Message Templates for Meta approvalWhatsApp Account OnboardingConnect your WhatsApp Business Account via our Embedded Signup flow Important: Our messaging services operate through the WhatsApp Business API (Cloud API), provided by Meta Platforms, Inc. Availability and functionality of these features are subject to Meta's infrastructure, policies, and any API-level restrictions Meta may impose. We reserve the right to modify, limit, or discontinue any feature or service at any time. Where possible, we will provide reasonable advance notice of material changes. 4. Account Registration a. Creating Your Account To access the Platform, you must register an account by providing: Your full name A valid business email address Your phone number Your business name and relevant business details Payment information (for paid plans) You agree that all information provided during registration is accurate, current, and complete, and you will keep this information updated throughout your use of the Platform. b. Account Types Spread the Word supports the following account structures: Owner Account — Primary account holder with full administrative access Team Member / Agent Account — Sub-user accounts created by the Owner with defined roles and permissions Client Account — Accounts created under an agency or reseller arrangement (where applicable) The Owner is responsible for managing team member access, permissions, and ensuring all sub-users comply with these Terms. c. One Account Per WhatsApp Number Each WhatsApp Business phone number (WABA number) may only be connected to one active account on the Platform at a time, in compliance with Meta's WhatsApp Business API policies. d. Accurate Business Representation You must not create an account or represent a business in a way that: Is false, misleading, or deceptive Impersonates another business, brand, or individual Uses a business identity that you are not authorized to represent 5. Account Security a. Your Responsibility You are solely responsible for: Keeping your login credentials confidential (email, password, OTP, API keys) All actions and activities carried out under your account Controlling and monitoring access by team members you have added to your account b. Unauthorized Access If you suspect any unauthorized access to your account or any security breach, you must: Immediately change your password Revoke any compromised API tokens or integrations Notify us at support@spreadtheword.in as soon as possible Spread the Word will not be liable for any loss, data breach, or damage resulting from your failure to maintain the security of your account credentials. c. Two-Factor Authentication We strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. Where 2FA is available, it is your responsibility to use it. d. No Sharing of Credentials You must not share your account credentials with any person outside of the authorized team member structure within your account. Access for additional team members must be managed through our built-in team management feature. 6. WhatsApp Messaging — Your Obligations as a User This is the most critical section of these Terms. Your use of WhatsApp messaging through our Platform carries significant legal and policy obligations. Please read carefully. a. You Are the Sender When you use Spread the Word to send WhatsApp messages, you are the business sender. Meta and WhatsApp hold you — not Spread the Word — accountable for the content, timing, and compliance of messages sent from your connected WhatsApp Business Account. b. Mandatory Opt-In Consent Before sending any WhatsApp message to a contact through the Platform, you must have obtained their explicit, prior, and verifiable opt-in consent to receive WhatsApp messages from your business. Your opt-in process must: Clearly identify your business name State that the person is consenting to receive WhatsApp messages specifically (not just general marketing consent) Be freely given — not bundled with unrelated consent or made a condition of service Be documented — you must maintain records of consent including date, channel, and wording used Example of valid opt-in: A web form that says: "I consent to receive WhatsApp messages from [Your Business Name] about my order, offers, and updates." Example of invalid opt-in: A pre-ticked checkbox buried in terms, or importing a phone number list without any prior consent mechanism. Using the Platform to message contacts who have NOT opted in is a strict violation of these Terms and will result in immediate account suspension. c. Opt-Out Compliance You must: Honor all opt-out requests immediately — within 24 hours of receipt at the latest Maintain an up-to-date suppression list of opted-out contacts Never re-add opted-out contacts to messaging lists without fresh explicit consent Provide a clear, simple opt-out mechanism in all marketing messages (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe") d. Prohibited Message Content You must NOT use the Platform to send: Spam — unsolicited bulk messages or messages to unverified contact lists Misleading or deceptive content — false claims, fake offers, or impersonation of other brands Content promoting illegal goods or services (unlicensed drugs, weapons, gambling, counterfeit products) Sexually explicit, violent, or hate-based content Phishing attempts — messages designed to extract sensitive information deceptively Messages that violate any third party's intellectual property rights Content that harasses, threatens, or abuses recipients Any content that violates WhatsApp's Commerce Policy or WhatsApp's Business Messaging Policy e. Contact List Quality You are responsible for maintaining clean, accurate, and consented contact lists. You must: Only import contacts who have explicitly opted in via a verifiable method Regularly update and clean your lists to remove invalid numbers and opt-outs Not purchase, rent, or obtain contact lists from third-party data brokers f. Template Message Compliance WhatsApp Message Templates submitted through the Platform: Must comply with Meta's Message Template Guidelines Must accurately represent the messages that will be sent to recipients Are subject to Meta's review and approval — we do not guarantee approval of any template Must not be used for purposes other than what was declared at the time of approval g. Consequences of Non-Compliance Failure to comply with this Section 6 may result in: Immediate suspension of your Spread the Word account WhatsApp phone number quality rating degradation by Meta Messaging limit restrictions or phone number ban imposed by Meta Legal liability for violations of anti-spam laws (including the IT Act, 2000) 7. Acceptable Use Policy In addition to WhatsApp-specific obligations, you agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with these Terms. You must NOT: Use the Platform to violate any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation Attempt to access, probe, or test the vulnerability of our systems or infrastructure Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Platform Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to scrape data from the Platform Overload or disrupt the Platform's servers, networks, or infrastructure (including DDoS-type behavior) Attempt to bypass authentication, rate limits, or access controls Use the Platform to transmit malware, viruses, or malicious code Resell or sublicense access to the Platform without written authorization from Spread the Word Interfere with other users' access to or use of the Platform Spread the Word reserves the right to investigate violations and cooperate with law enforcement where required. 8. Subscription Plans and Payments a. Plan Selection Access to Platform features is based on your selected subscription plan. Details of available plans, features, and pricing are available at https://spreadtheword.in/pricing. b. Subscription Fees Subscription fees are charged in Indian Rupees (INR) unless otherwise specified Subscriptions are billed in advance on a monthly or annual cycle based on your selected plan Prices are exclusive of GST and other applicable taxes, which will be added at checkout c. WhatsApp Conversation Charges You acknowledge and agree that: The WhatsApp Business API uses a conversation-based pricing model defined by Meta These conversation charges are billed separately or as part of your usage fees Meta may change conversation pricing from time to time — Spread the Word will notify you of any material changes d. Auto-Renewal Subscriptions auto-renew at the end of each billing cycle unless you cancel at least 7 days before the renewal date through your account settings or by contacting support. e. Failed Payments If a payment fails: We will notify you via email and retry the charge within 3 business days If payment is not resolved within 7 days, your account may be downgraded or suspended Spread the Word is not responsible for any loss of data or messaging continuity during a suspension period caused by non-payment f. Refund Policy All subscription fees are non-refundable except in the following circumstances: We terminate your account without cause or due to a platform error on our part A billing error resulted in an incorrect charge Required by applicable Indian consumer protection law Refund requests must be submitted in writing to support@spreadtheword.in within 7 days of the disputed charge, with a clear description of the issue. g. Plan Upgrades and Downgrades Upgrades take effect immediately; you will be charged the pro-rated difference for the remaining billing period Downgrades take effect at the start of the next billing cycle; no partial refund is issued for the current period h. Taxes You are responsible for all applicable taxes, duties, and levies including GST arising from your use of the Platform. 9. Intellectual Property a. Platform Ownership All content, software, designs, trademarks, logos, and technology that make up the Spread the Word Platform ("Platform IP") are the exclusive property of Spread the Word or its licensors, protected under: The Copyright Act, 1957 (India) The Trade Marks Act, 1999 (India) Applicable international intellectual property laws You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Platform solely for your own business purposes in accordance with these Terms. b. Restrictions You must NOT: Copy, reproduce, or distribute any Platform IP without written authorization Use our name, logo, or branding in your marketing without prior written consent Create derivative works based on the Platform's software or design c. Your Content You retain full ownership of all contact data, message content, campaign creatives, and business information you upload or create on the Platform ("User Content"). By using the Platform, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to process and use your User Content strictly to deliver the Services you have requested. We do not claim ownership of your User Content and will not use it for any other purpose. d. Feedback If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback about the Platform, you grant us a perpetual, royalty-free license to use that feedback for product improvement purposes, without any obligation to compensate you. 10. Privacy and Data a. Privacy Policy Your use of the Platform is subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains in detail: What data we collect about you How we use and store that data Your rights regarding your personal data How we handle WhatsApp messaging data The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference. b. Your Data Rights As a Platform user, you have the right to: Access a copy of the personal data we hold about you Correct inaccurate or outdated information Delete your account and associated personal data Export your contact data and message history before account termination Opt out of non-essential marketing communications from Spread the Word To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@spreadtheword.in. c. Your Responsibility for Recipient Data You are responsible for ensuring that all contact data you upload to the Platform: Was collected lawfully with appropriate consent Is stored and handled in compliance with applicable data protection laws Is not used in a way that violates the rights of your contacts 11. Third-Party Integrations The Platform may offer integrations with third-party tools and services, including but not limited to CRM platforms, payment gateways, Google Workspace, and Meta's platforms. Your use of third-party integrations is subject to those third parties' terms and policies Spread the Word is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or security of third-party services We do not endorse any third-party service we integrate with 12. Service Availability a. Uptime We aim to maintain Platform availability of 99.5% uptime (excluding scheduled maintenance). However, we do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or perfectly secure service. b. Scheduled Maintenance We will provide advance notice via email or in-platform notification for scheduled maintenance windows that may affect service availability. c. Meta API Dependency You acknowledge that our WhatsApp messaging features are dependent on Meta's API infrastructure. Disruptions, policy changes, or restrictions imposed by Meta are outside our control. Spread the Word is not liable for any loss or inconvenience caused by Meta's platform changes or downtime. d. Support For assistance with your account or the Platform: 📧 Email: support@spreadtheword.in 🌐 Help Center: https://spreadtheword.in/support Expected response time: Within 1 business day for standard inquiries 13. Suspension and Termination a. Termination by You You may close your account at any time by: Navigating to Account Settings → Delete Account, or Submitting a written request to support@spreadtheword.in Termination takes effect within 5 business days. You will not receive a refund for any unused portion of a prepaid subscription period. b. Suspension or Termination by Us We reserve the right to immediately suspend or permanently terminate your account if: You violate any provision of these Terms You violate Meta's Platform Terms, WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, or any applicable Meta policy You engage in prohibited messaging activities as described in Section 6 You fail to resolve outstanding payment obligations within 7 days of notice We receive a valid legal order or request requiring us to do so We reasonably believe your account is being used for illegal, fraudulent, or abusive activity We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before termination unless the violation is severe or involves immediate risk of harm. c. Effect of Termination Upon account termination: Your access to the Platform and all features will be immediately revoked Your WhatsApp Business Account will be disconnected from our system You have 30 days from termination to request an export of your data After 30 days, your data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy Any outstanding fees remain due and payable d. Meta-Enforced Restrictions Spread the Word cannot prevent Meta from independently restricting, suspending, or banning your WhatsApp Business Account. Such actions by Meta are entirely within Meta's discretion and are not grounds for a refund or liability claim against us. 14. Limitation of Liability a. No Warranties The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties — express or implied — including any implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. b. Excluded Damages To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Spread the Word shall not be liable for: Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages Loss of business, revenue, profits, data, or goodwill Damages arising from Meta's API downtime, policy changes, or enforcement actions Damages resulting from messaging failures caused by WhatsApp delivery issues outside our control Damages from your failure to comply with opt-in requirements or WhatsApp policies Damages from unauthorized access to your account due to your negligence c. Liability Cap Our total liability to you for any single claim under these Terms shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Spread the Word in the 2 months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim. 15. Indemnification You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Spread the Word, its directors, employees, agents, and service providers from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from: Your violation of these Terms or applicable law Your messaging activities, including spam complaints or opt-in failures Unauthorized or improper use of the Platform by you or your team members Any claim by a third party (including your message recipients) arising from your use of the Platform Your violation of Meta's Platform Terms or WhatsApp Business Policies 16. Dispute Resolution a. Good Faith Negotiation Before initiating any formal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute through good-faith written negotiation for a period of at least 30 days following written notice of the dispute. b. Arbitration If the dispute is not resolved through negotiation, it shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (India), conducted by a mutually agreed single arbitrator, with proceedings in English. c. Jurisdiction For any matters requiring court intervention (including injunctive relief), both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in [City, India]. d. Consumer Escalation If you are a consumer as defined under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (India), you retain the right to file a complaint before the appropriate Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. 17. Changes to These Terms We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes: We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document We will notify you via email at least 7 days before changes take effect The updated Terms will be published at https://spreadtheword.in/terms Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes your acceptance. If you do not agree with the changes, you must stop using the Platform and may close your account. 18. Governing Law These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, including: The Indian Contract Act, 1872 The Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules thereunder The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 19. General Provisions a. Entire Agreement These Terms, along with the Privacy Policy and any order forms or service agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Spread the Word regarding use of the Platform. b. Severability If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. c. No Waiver Our failure to enforce any right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right. d. No Agency Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between you and Spread the Word. e. Force Majeure We are not liable for delays or failures in performance caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including Meta API outages, government actions, natural disasters, or network infrastructure failures. 20. Contact Us For any questions, concerns, or requests related to these Terms: Spread the Word 📧 Email: support@spreadtheword.in 🌐 Website: https://spreadtheword.in 📋 Help Center: https://spreadtheword.in/support https://spreadtheword.in/terms-and-policies/vendor_terms https://spreadtheword.in/terms-and-policies/privacy_policy