Terms of Service

Welcome to BigCat Marketplace. By accessing or using our platform (website, mobile app, or any related services), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before using our services.

1. About BigCat Marketplace

BigCat Marketplace is a Nigerian e-commerce marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of goods and services. We provide the platform, payment infrastructure, escrow protection, and related tools. We are not a party to transactions between buyers and merchants, but we facilitate and protect them through our escrow system.

2. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to use this platform.
• You must provide accurate and truthful information when creating an account.
• You are responsible for all activity under your account.
• Merchants must hold valid business registration (CAC) and SMEDAN verification where applicable.

3. Buyer Obligations

• Buyers must provide an accurate delivery address and contact information.
• Buyers must only release escrow funds when they have received their order in satisfactory condition.
• Buyers must raise any disputes within 48 hours of delivery.
• Buyers must not attempt to defraud merchants through false dispute claims.
• Buyers must keep all communication on the platform — sharing contact details to bypass the platform is prohibited.

4. Merchant Obligations

• Merchants must list only goods and services they are authorised to sell.
• Product descriptions, images, and prices must be accurate and not misleading.
• Merchants must fulfil orders in a timely manner and ship within the stated timeframe.
• Merchants must not list counterfeit, prohibited, or illegal items.
• Merchants must respond to buyer messages and disputes promptly.
• Merchants are responsible for maintaining sufficient merchant tokens to receive orders.

5. Payments, Insurance & Escrow

• All payments are processed through PalmPay’s secure infrastructure.
• Funds are held in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt and releases payment.
• An insurance charge of 5% is applied to all goods and services at checkout to cover return delivery in case of product issues. Insurance is not charged on delivery fees.
• Escrow funds are auto-released to the merchant after 7 days if the buyer does not confirm or dispute.
• Platform fees are deducted from merchant payouts before credit to the merchant wallet.
• Refunds for resolved disputes are processed within 3–5 business days.

6. Prohibited Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited on BigCat Marketplace:

• Sharing phone numbers, emails, or social media handles to conduct transactions outside the platform.
• Listing counterfeit, stolen, or prohibited goods.
• Creating fake reviews or manipulating ratings.
• Filing false disputes or chargebacks.
• Impersonating another user, merchant, or BigCat staff.
• Using bots, scripts, or automated tools to interact with the platform.
• Any form of money laundering or fraudulent activity.

7. Strike System & Suspensions

Users who violate platform policies receive strikes. Upon accumulating 3 strikes, an account may be temporarily or permanently suspended. BigCat reserves the right to suspend any account immediately if serious fraud or safety violations are detected, without prior notice.

8. Dispute Resolution

Disputes between buyers and merchants should first be attempted through direct in-app chat. If unresolved, either party may escalate via the “Report Issue” function. BigCat’s support team will investigate and issue a binding decision within 5–7 business days. BigCat’s decisions on disputes are final within the platform.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the platform — including the BigCat name, logo, interface design, and software — is the property of BigCat Marketplace and is protected by Nigerian and international intellectual property laws. Merchants grant BigCat a non-exclusive licence to display their product images and descriptions on the platform for the purpose of facilitating sales.

10. Limitation of Liability

BigCat Marketplace is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or availability of products or services listed by merchants. Our total liability to any user for any claim arising from use of the platform shall not exceed the value of the specific transaction in dispute. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising from these Terms that cannot be resolved through our internal process shall be submitted to the appropriate courts in Lagos State, Nigeria.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify users of material changes via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at legal@bigcat.ng or visit our Contact page.