Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using STEWARD ("Service" or "Application"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd (Registration No. 2022/755276/07), a company registered in the Republic of South Africa, trading as STEWARD. Your use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these Terms.

2. Description of Service

STEWARD is a financial management application that allows users to:

• Track income and expenses
• Create and manage budgets
• Categorize transactions
• Monitor financial accounts
• Set financial goals
• Receive financial insights

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Service. Where practicable, we will provide reasonable advance notice of material changes. We may act without notice where required by security threats, legal obligations, or emergency circumstances. Where we discontinue the Service entirely, active subscribers will be notified and refunded on a pro-rata basis for any unused prepaid period.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have the legal capacity to enter into contracts
• You must provide accurate and complete information

3.2 Account Registration

• You are responsible for maintaining account security
• You must keep your password confidential
• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• You must notify us immediately of unauthorized access

We are not liable for losses resulting from unauthorized account access due to your failure to maintain security.

4. User Responsibilities

4.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to:

• Use the Service only for lawful purposes
• Provide accurate and truthful information
• Maintain the security of your account
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not interfere with or disrupt the Service
• Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service
• Not use the Service to transmit malicious code or harmful content
• Not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You must NOT:

• Use automated systems to access the Service without permission
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Collect or harvest user information
• Use the Service for any illegal activity
• Violate intellectual property rights
• Transmit spam or unsolicited communications

5. Financial Information and Data Accuracy

5.1 User Responsibility

• You are solely responsible for the accuracy of all financial data you enter
• You are responsible for verifying transaction information
• We do not verify or validate your financial data
• We are not responsible for errors in data entry

5.2 Data Limitations

• Our Service is a tool for financial tracking and management
• We do not provide financial, legal, or tax advice
• We are not a financial institution or advisor
• Information provided is for informational purposes only

5.3 No Warranties on Financial Data

WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING:

• The accuracy of financial calculations
• The completeness of financial data
• The suitability of the Service for your specific financial needs
• Any financial decisions made based on Service data

6. Subscription and Payment Terms

6.1 Subscription Plans

STEWARD offers paid subscription plans billed on a monthly or annual basis. Subscription fees are charged in advance at the start of each billing cycle. By subscribing, you authorise JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd t/a STEWARD to charge your chosen payment method at the applicable rate for each renewal period until you cancel.

6.2 Payment Processing

Payments are processed securely through our authorised third-party payment processors. We do not store, access, or process your payment card or banking details directly. All payment data is handled by our processors in accordance with PCI DSS standards.

6.3 Free Trial

New users may be offered a free trial period as specified at the time of registration. During the trial:

• No payment is required and no charge will be made
• You may cancel at any time during the trial with no obligation
• If you do not cancel before the trial ends, your chosen subscription plan will activate and your payment method will be charged
• Trial periods are available once per user and are non-transferable

6.4 Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings in the application, or by contacting us at admin@stewardbudget.co.za.

• Effect of cancellation: Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current paid billing period. You will not be charged for the next renewal cycle.
• Access after cancellation: You will retain full access to the Service until the end of your current billing period, after which your account will revert to a restricted state.
• No partial refunds: Cancellation mid-cycle does not entitle you to a refund for the unused portion of the billing period, except as provided in the Refund Policy below.
• Annual subscriptions: If you cancel an annual subscription, you will retain access until the end of the annual period. No pro-rata refund is provided for the remaining months, except as required by law.

In accordance with Section 17 of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, you may cancel a fixed-term agreement with 20 business days' written notice. Month-to-month subscriptions may be cancelled at any time before the next billing date with no cancellation penalty.

6.5 Refund Policy

All subscription fees are generally non-refundable. However, we will consider refund requests in the following circumstances:

• Duplicate or erroneous charge: If you are charged more than once for the same billing period due to a technical error, we will refund the duplicate amount in full.
• CPA cooling-off period: In accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, you have the right to cancel within 5 business days of your first paid subscription charge and receive a full refund, provided the request is submitted in writing to admin@stewardbudget.co.za within that period.
• Extended service outage: If the Service is unavailable for a continuous period exceeding 72 hours due to causes within our reasonable control, you may request a pro-rata credit for the affected period.
• Company-initiated termination: If we terminate your account other than for breach of these Terms, you will receive a pro-rata refund for any unused portion of a prepaid billing period.

To request a refund, contact us at admin@stewardbudget.co.za with your account email address, the transaction reference, and the reason for your request. Approved refunds will be processed within 7–10 business days to your original payment method.

6.6 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change subscription pricing at any time. If we increase the price of your current plan:

• We will notify you by email at least 30 days before the new pricing takes effect
• The new price will apply from your next renewal date following the notice period
• If you do not accept the new price, you may cancel your subscription before the next renewal date with no cancellation penalty and receive access until the end of your current paid period
• Continued use of the Service after the new pricing takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised price

6.7 Failed Payments

If a scheduled payment fails:

• We will notify you by email and prompt you to update your payment details
• A grace period of 7 days will apply, during which you retain access to the Service
• If payment is not resolved within the grace period, your account will be suspended and access to subscription features will be restricted
• Your account and data will be retained; access will be restored upon successful payment
• We reserve the right to retry the payment during the grace period

7. Intellectual Property Rights

7.1 Our Intellectual Property

All Service content, features, functionality, software, design, text, graphics, logos, and trade marks are owned by or licenced to JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd t/a STEWARD and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not use, reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any part of the Service without our prior written consent.

The STEWARD name, logo, and brand identity are trade marks of JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use our trade marks, trade names, or branding in any manner.

7.2 Your Data

You retain full ownership of all financial data and content you input into the Service. By using the Service, you grant JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, store, process, and display your data solely for the purpose of providing and improving the Service.

We may use aggregated, anonymised, and de-identified data derived from user activity to improve the Service, conduct research, and develop new features. Such data will not identify you personally and will not be sold to third parties.

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Accuracy, reliability, or completeness of data

8.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• We shall not be liable for loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• We shall not be liable for any damages arising from:
  • Use or inability to use the Service
  • Unauthorized access to your account
  • Data breaches or security incidents
  • Errors or omissions in Service content
  • Financial decisions made based on Service data
  • Third-party service failures
  • Interruptions or cessation of Service

8.3 Maximum Liability

Our total liability for any claims arising from or related to the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or R1,500 (ZAR), whichever is greater.

9. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, including the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd t/a STEWARD, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another
• Your violation of any applicable laws
• Any content or data you provide
• Any financial decisions made based on Service data

10. Data Breaches and Security Incidents

No system is 100% secure. We implement industry-standard security measures, but we cannot guarantee absolute protection against all security threats. In the event of a data breach, we will notify the South African Information Regulator and affected users within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach, as required by POPIA and applicable law. For full details of our data breach procedures, see our Privacy Policy.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for any damages arising from data breaches or security incidents, including but not limited to:

• Identity theft
• Financial losses
• Credit score impacts
• Emotional distress
• Business interruption

11. Service Availability and Modifications

We reserve the right to modify or update the Service at any time. We will endeavour to provide reasonable advance notice of material modifications where practicable. We may suspend the Service temporarily for maintenance, security, or technical reasons, and will aim to minimise disruption to subscribers.

We are not liable for any losses or damages resulting from Service unavailability or modifications, except as provided in the refund provisions of Section 6.5 (extended outage credit) and Section 2 (discontinuation refund).

12. Third-Party Services

The Service uses and may integrate with third-party services including payment processors, email delivery providers, and cloud infrastructure. Each third-party service operates under its own terms and conditions and privacy policy, which we encourage you to review.

We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content, or practices of third-party services. We are not liable for third-party service failures, data breaches, policy changes, or losses resulting from third-party actions. Your use of any third-party service in connection with STEWARD is at your own risk.

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by You

You may cancel your subscription or close your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at admin@stewardbudget.co.za. Upon cancellation:

• Your subscription access continues until the end of the current paid billing period
• Your account data is retained for 30 days after the period ends, after which it will be deleted or anonymised
• You may export your data at any time before closure

13.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately and without prior notice if you:

• Violate any provision of these Terms
• Engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Pose a security risk to the Service or other users
• Fail to pay subscription fees within the grace period
• Are required to be removed by applicable law or court order

Where we terminate your account for breach of these Terms, no refund will be issued for any prepaid period. Where we terminate your account for reasons other than your breach, a pro-rata refund for the unused prepaid period will be provided.

13.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination of your account for any reason, your right to use the Service ceases immediately or at the end of the applicable billing period as set out above. All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall do so, including but not limited to: Intellectual Property Rights, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, and Dispute Resolution.

14. Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms shall be resolved as follows: (1) the parties shall first attempt resolution through good faith negotiation within 30 days of written notice; (2) failing negotiation, the dispute shall be referred to mediation; (3) failing mediation within 60 days, the dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in Pretoria, South Africa, under the rules of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with those rules. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding. You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive the right to participate in class actions. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

15. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters
• Wars, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government actions or regulations
• Internet or telecommunications failures
• Cyberattacks or security incidents
• Third-party service failures
• Pandemics or public health emergencies

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will notify you by email or Service notification at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Non-material changes (such as corrections, clarifications, or changes required by law) may take effect immediately.

If you do not accept material changes to these Terms, you may cancel your subscription before the effective date without cancellation penalty and retain access until the end of your current paid period. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. The current version of these Terms is always available at the Terms and Conditions page of the Service.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement and No Waiver

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd t/a STEWARD with respect to the Service and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether written or oral.

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms on any occasion shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision on any future occasion. No waiver shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by an authorised representative of JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd.

19. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, contact us:

JTS Tekobo (Pty) Ltd t/a STEWARD
Email: admin@stewardbudget.co.za
Address: Moreleta Park, Pretoria

20. Acknowledgment

BY USING THE SERVICE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

• You have read and understood these Terms
• You agree to be bound by these Terms
• You understand the limitations of liability and warranties
• You accept responsibility for your use of the Service
• You understand that financial data is provided "as is" without warranties
• You acknowledge that we are not liable for data breaches or security incidents beyond our reasonable control