Join a Story – Terms & Conditions
Effective Date: [set before release]

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Join a Story mobile application, website (https://joinastory.com), and related services (collectively, the “Service”). The Service is operated by Portfolio Software Limited, a company registered in England & Wales (Company No. 4461613) with registered office at Unit 21 Kingspark Business Centre, New Malden, KT3 3ST, United Kingdom (“Portfolio Software”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).

These Terms constitute the End User Licence Agreement (EULA) for the Service.

By creating an account, downloading the App, subscribing, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Service.

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Service.
By using the Service, you confirm that you meet this requirement.

Accounts & Security

You must provide accurate information when creating an account.
You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and all activity on your account.
We are not liable for loss or damage caused by unauthorised use of your account.

Nature of the Service

Join a Story is a public, location-based content experience where:

Users create “bottles” containing messages

Bottles move between geographic regions over time

Other users may discover bottles and optionally contribute messages

The Service:

Does not provide direct user-to-user messaging

Does not enable private communication between users

Is not a social messaging or dating platform

Content is publicly accessible within the Service, subject to discovery mechanics and system limits.

Subscriptions, Plans & Limits

4.1 Plans and Features
The Service is offered under Free and Paid Plans.

Free Plan – limited features and usage limits as shown in the app or store listing.
Paid Plans – subscription plans with additional features (e.g. extended bottle lifespan), as published in the app or store listing.

4.2 Subscriptions and Billing
Subscriptions are managed through Apple App Store or Google Play, with RevenueCat used for subscription management.

Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period.

You can manage or cancel subscriptions through your app store account settings. Deleting the App does not cancel a subscription.

4.3 Refunds
Refunds are handled by the relevant app store in accordance with its policies.

4.4 Usage Limits
The Service may impose limits (e.g. number of bottles, daily discovery limits).
We may restrict access or functionality if limits are exceeded.

Bottles, Content & Ownership

5.1 Bottle Ownership
The creator of a bottle is the “Bottle Owner”.
The Bottle Owner controls the lifecycle of the bottle, including ending or deleting it.

5.2 Contributions
Users may add one message per bottle.
By contributing, you acknowledge that your message becomes part of a shared, public record within that bottle.

5.3 Content Visibility
Users who discover or contribute to a bottle may view its content.
Content is not private and may be visible to other users of the Service.

5.4 Deletion Rights

Users may delete their own messages from active bottles

Bottle Owners may delete or end their bottles at any time

If a user deletes their account, their associated content will be removed or anonymised

Acceptable Use Policy

You must not use the Service to:

Post personal information (including phone numbers, addresses, or contact details)

Share external links, advertising, or promotional content

Post abusive, hateful, discriminatory, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate content

Harass, threaten, or impersonate others

Break the law or facilitate unlawful activity

Attempt to bypass safety systems or moderation

We reserve the right to:

Remove or restrict content

Issue warnings

Suspend or permanently ban accounts

Serious violations may result in immediate termination without warning.

Moderation & Reporting

Users can report content or bottles within the Service.

Reported content may be restricted or removed pending review.

We may review content manually or using automated systems.

We may take action including:

Content removal

Warnings

Temporary suspension

Permanent account termination

Repeat violations may result in permanent removal from the Service.

Location & Functionality

The Service requires location data to function.

Your precise location is not shared with other users

Locations displayed in the Service are approximate and randomised within a broader geographic area

You must not attempt to identify or infer another user’s real-world location.

Data Retention & Deletion

We retain and delete data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Users can:

Download their data

Delete their account

via in-app settings.

Deletion of an account will result in removal or anonymisation of associated data.

Privacy & Data Protection

Portfolio Software Limited is the data controller.

Data is stored in Google Firebase (EU West 2 – London).

We do not store payment details.

Full details are available in our Privacy Policy.

Intellectual Property

The Service, including software, design, and branding, is owned by Portfolio Software Limited.

“Join a Story” is a trade name of Portfolio Software Limited.

Users are granted a limited, revocable, non-transferable licence to use the Service.

No ownership rights are transferred.

Service Availability & Changes

We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

Features and functionality may change at any time.

Termination & Suspension

You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time.

We may suspend or terminate accounts for breaches of these Terms, safety risks, or legal requirements.

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Portfolio Software Limited from claims, damages, costs, and liabilities arising from your use of the Service or your content.

Disclaimers

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available”.

We do not guarantee that the Service will be secure, uninterrupted, or error-free.

Limitation of Liability

We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

Our total liability in any 12-month period is limited to the amount you paid us in that period.

Nothing excludes liability that cannot be excluded under law.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Contact Information

Portfolio Software Limited
Unit 21 Kingspark Business Centre
New Malden, KT3 3ST
United Kingdom

Email: support@joinastory.com
Website: https://joinastory.com