Acceptable Use Policy

Mehndi.uk is committed to providing a safe, positive, and useful platform for couples planning weddings and vendors offering wedding services. This Acceptable Use Policy outlines the standards of behaviour we expect from all users.

This policy applies to all content posted on the Platform, all communications through the Platform, and all interactions between users. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent ban.

We reserve the right to update this policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated to users, and continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

2.1 For Couples

Couples may use Mehndi.uk to:

• Search for and discover wedding vendors across the UK
• Browse vendor profiles, portfolios, and reviews
• Save vendors to shortlists for comparison
• Send enquiries to vendors about their services
• Leave honest reviews based on genuine experiences with vendors
• Use planning tools such as checklists and calendars
• Read blog posts and wedding planning guides

2.2 For Vendors

Vendors may use Mehndi.uk to:

• Create and maintain a business listing
• Showcase services through descriptions, photos, and videos
• Receive and respond to enquiries from couples
• Respond professionally to reviews
• Access analytics about listing performance (paid subscribers)
• Promote services through legitimate subscription features

2.3 General Permitted Uses

All users may:

• Create one account per individual or business
• Share links to Platform content on social media
• Report violations of these policies
• Contact support for assistance
• Provide feedback on the Platform

You must not post, upload, or share any content that falls into the following categories:

3.1 Illegal Content

• Content that violates UK or international law
• Content promoting or facilitating illegal activities
• Content related to illegal goods or services
• Child sexual abuse material (immediately reported to authorities)
• Terrorist content or content promoting violence

3.2 Harmful or Offensive Content

• Hate speech targeting individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Content that promotes discrimination or prejudice
• Sexually explicit or pornographic material
• Graphic violence or gore
• Content glorifying self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders
• Content promoting dangerous or harmful activities

3.3 Misleading Content

• False or misleading information about businesses or services
• Fake reviews (positive or negative)
• Impersonation of individuals or businesses
• Manipulated images or content presented as authentic
• Clickbait or misleading headlines
• Scams, fraud, or phishing attempts

3.4 Privacy-Violating Content

• Private or personal information of others without consent
• Photos or videos of identifiable individuals without permission
• Confidential business or financial information
• Content obtained through hacking, theft, or deception

3.5 Infringing Content

• Copyrighted material used without permission
• Trademarked content used in a misleading way
• Content that violates patents or other intellectual property rights

3.6 Spam and Promotional Content

• Unsolicited commercial messages
• Repetitive or duplicate content
• Content primarily intended to drive traffic to external sites
• Excessive use of hashtags, keywords, or links
• Automated or bot-generated content

The following behaviours are prohibited on the Platform:

4.1 Harassment and Abuse

• Harassing, bullying, or intimidating other users
• Sending threatening or abusive messages
• Stalking or unwanted persistent contact
• Doxxing (publishing private information to harm someone)
• Coordinated attacks against individuals or businesses
• Encouraging others to harass or abuse someone

4.2 Manipulation and Deception

• Creating fake accounts or using false identities
• Operating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
• Impersonating staff, moderators, or other users
• Misleading users about your identity or intentions
• Manipulating ratings, reviews, or other metrics
• Using the Platform under false pretences

4.3 System Abuse

• Attempting to access accounts or data that is not yours
• Using automated tools to scrape, harvest, or collect data
• Interfering with the normal operation of the Platform
• Attempting to bypass security measures or access restrictions
• Uploading viruses, malware, or malicious code
• Overloading servers or infrastructure (DDoS attacks)
• Reverse engineering or decompiling the Platform

4.4 Commercial Misconduct

• Using the Platform for purposes other than wedding planning or services
• Advertising products or services unrelated to weddings
• Engaging in unfair competition against other vendors
• Attempting to poach customers from the Platform
• Reselling or redistributing access to the Platform

4.5 Enquiry System Abuse

• Sending spam or unsolicited commercial messages through enquiries
• Using the enquiry system to collect data rather than make genuine enquiries
• Sending abusive, threatening, or inappropriate messages
• Repeatedly contacting vendors who have declined your enquiry
• Using enquiries to promote competing services

4.6 Review System Abuse

• Leaving reviews for vendors you have not used
• Creating fake reviews (positive or negative)
• Offering or accepting incentives for reviews
• Threatening vendors with negative reviews
• Using reviews primarily to promote or denigrate
• Coordinating review campaigns

5.1 Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Keeping your login credentials secure and confidential
• Using a strong, unique password for your account
• Logging out when using shared or public devices
• Notifying us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access
• Not sharing your account with others

5.2 Account Activity

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not you authorised it. This includes:

• Content posted from your account
• Messages sent from your account
• Transactions made through your account
• Actions taken by anyone you have shared access with

5.3 Account Restrictions

You must not:

• Create more than one account per individual or business
• Create an account if you have been previously banned
• Create accounts using automated methods
• Sell, transfer, or rent your account to others
• Use another person's account without their permission

6.1 Respect for IP Rights

You must respect the intellectual property rights of Mehndi.uk, other users, and third parties:

• Only upload content you own or have rights to use
• Obtain permission before using copyrighted material
• Properly attribute content when required
• Do not remove watermarks or copyright notices

6.2 Platform Content

You must not:

• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute Platform content without permission
• Use the Mehndi.uk name, logo, or branding without authorisation
• Create derivative works based on Platform content
• Frame or embed Platform pages on external sites

6.3 Copyright Complaints

If you believe your copyrighted work has been used without permission, please contact us at legal@mehndi.uk with details of the infringement.

7.1 How to Report

If you encounter content or behaviour that violates this policy, please report it to us:

• Email: report@mehndi.uk
• In-app: Use the "Report" button on listings, reviews, or messages
• Contact form: Via our Contact page

7.2 What to Include

When reporting a violation, please provide:

• Your contact information
• The URL or location of the content
• A description of the violation
• Screenshots or evidence (if available)
• Any other relevant context

7.3 Investigation Process

We take all reports seriously and will investigate within a reasonable timeframe. Depending on the nature and severity:

• We may contact you for additional information
• We may contact the reported user for their response
• We will take appropriate action based on our findings
• We will notify you of the outcome when appropriate

7.4 False Reports

Submitting false or frivolous reports is a violation of this policy. Users who repeatedly submit unfounded reports may face action against their own accounts.

8.1 Actions We May Take

When we identify violations of this policy, we may take one or more of the following actions:

• Warning: We may issue a warning and request you correct the behaviour
• Content removal: We may remove content that violates this policy
• Feature restriction: We may restrict access to certain features
• Temporary suspension: We may temporarily suspend your account
• Permanent ban: We may permanently terminate your account
• Legal action: We may report violations to authorities or pursue legal remedies

8.2 Factors We Consider

When deciding on enforcement actions, we consider:

• The severity of the violation
• Whether it was intentional or accidental
• Your history of policy compliance
• The impact on other users
• Whether you have taken steps to address the issue

8.3 Appeals

If you believe we have taken action against your account in error, you may appeal by emailing legal@mehndi.uk within 14 days. Include:

• Your account email
• The action taken against your account
• Why you believe the action was incorrect
• Any supporting evidence

We will review appeals and respond within 14 days. Our decision on appeals is final.

8.4 Repeat Violations

Users who repeatedly violate this policy will face increasingly severe consequences. We operate a "three strikes" approach for minor violations, but serious violations may result in immediate permanent ban.

If you have questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, please contact us: