Terms of Service - Expenseek

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using Expenseek ("the App"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these Terms, you may not access the App.

2. Description of Service

Expenseek is a group expense management application that allows users to:

  • Create and manage expense groups
  • Track shared expenses and bills
  • Split costs among group members
  • Record payments between users
  • View analytics and reports
  • Export transaction data
  • Convert between multiple currencies

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

  • You must provide accurate and complete information during registration
  • You must maintain the security of your account credentials
  • You are responsible for all activities under your account
  • You must be at least 13 years old to use the App

3.2 Account Security

  • You must not share your account credentials with others
  • You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • We implement industry-standard security measures including:
    • Secure authentication services
    • Encrypted data transmission
    • Secure data storage
    • Rate limiting on API requests

3.3 Account Termination

  • You may delete your account at any time through the App settings
  • We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
  • Upon termination, your data will be deleted according to our Privacy Policy

4. User Data and Privacy

4.1 Data Collection

We collect and process the following data:

  • User profile information (name, email, phone number, profile picture)
  • Group membership and transaction data
  • Expense, bill, and payment records
  • Analytics and usage metrics
  • Device information and performance data
  • Push notification tokens

4.2 Data Storage

  • All data is stored securely using cloud database services
  • Data is cached locally for offline functionality
  • Cached data is encrypted and stored in secure device storage
  • Analytics are pre-computed and aggregated for performance

4.3 Data Sharing

  • Group data is shared only with group members
  • Transaction data is visible to all group participants
  • We do not sell or share your personal data with third parties
  • Anonymous usage statistics may be collected for service improvement

4.4 Data Retention

  • Active user data is retained indefinitely
  • Deleted account data is permanently removed within 30 days
  • Cached data is automatically cleared based on TTL policies:
    • Expenses, bills, payments: 24 hours
    • Group data: 24 hours
    • Analytics: 7 days
    • Currency rates: 6 hours

5. Acceptable Use

5.1 Permitted Use

You may use the App to:

  • Manage personal and group expenses
  • Track shared financial obligations
  • Generate financial reports and analytics
  • Export your transaction data

5.2 Prohibited Activities

You may NOT:

  • Use the App for illegal activities
  • Violate the rights of other users
  • Attempt to access unauthorized data
  • Manipulate or falsify transaction records
  • Exploit vulnerabilities in the App
  • Use automated tools to scrape data
  • Create fake accounts or impersonate others
  • Harass or abuse other users
  • Upload malicious code or viruses
  • Exceed rate limits or abuse API endpoints

6. Group Management

6.1 Group Creation

  • Users can create unlimited expense groups
  • Group creators become administrators with management privileges
  • Groups use unique 9-character alphanumeric join codes (format: XXX-XXX-XXX)

6.2 Group Membership

  • Users join groups via invitation or join code
  • All group members can view group transactions
  • Members can add expenses, bills, and payments
  • Administrators can remove members and delete the group

6.3 Group Data

  • All group members share access to group financial data
  • Transaction history is visible to all members
  • Deletion of a group permanently removes all associated data
  • Individual expenses cannot be hidden from group members

7. Financial Transactions

7.1 Expense Recording

  • Users can record expenses in multiple currencies
  • Currency conversion uses real-time exchange rates from third-party API services
  • Conversion rates are cached for 6 hours
  • The App supports multiple split types:
    • Equal split
    • Exact amounts
    • Percentage-based
    • Custom split
  • Multiple payers can be designated for a single expense

7.2 Payment Recording

  • Payments can be recorded between any group members
  • Payment verification requires manual confirmation
  • Payment history is permanently stored
  • Settled balances are calculated in real-time

7.3 Data Accuracy

  • Users are solely responsible for the accuracy of entered data
  • Expenseek is a tracking tool, not a financial institution
  • We do not verify or audit transaction accuracy
  • No financial advice is provided through the App

7.4 Currency Conversion

  • Exchange rates are obtained from third-party API services
  • Rates may not reflect actual market conditions
  • Conversion calculations are provided for convenience only
  • We are not responsible for rate fluctuations or conversion errors

8. Offline Functionality

8.1 Offline Access

  • The App provides offline access to cached data
  • Changes made offline are queued for synchronization
  • Sync occurs automatically when network connection is restored

8.2 Sync Queue

  • Offline operations are stored in a local sync queue
  • Queue items are processed in order when online
  • Failed syncs are retried up to 3 times
  • Persistent failures may require manual resolution

8.3 Data Conflicts

  • The App uses "last-write-wins" conflict resolution
  • Offline changes may be overwritten by newer online data
  • Users should sync regularly to avoid conflicts

9. Performance and Monitoring

9.1 Performance Optimization

The App implements several performance optimizations:

  • Multi-layer caching (memory, storage, cloud)
  • Lazy loading and pagination
  • Pre-computed analytics aggregations
  • Incremental data synchronization
  • Rate limiting to reduce database operations

9.2 Usage Monitoring

We monitor the following metrics:

  • Database read/write operations
  • Cache hit/miss rates
  • Network connectivity status
  • Screen load times
  • Error rates and crashes
  • Listener activity

9.3 Database Usage

  • The App uses cloud database services for data storage
  • Database usage is subject to quotas and limits
  • Excessive usage may result in service throttling
  • The current plan supports up to 20K reads/day, 20K writes/day

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 App Ownership

  • Expenseek and all related code, design, and content are owned by the developers
  • The App interface, features, and functionality are protected by copyright
  • The Expenseek name and logo are proprietary trademarks

10.2 User Content

  • You retain ownership of data you enter into the App
  • You grant us a license to store and process your data for service provision
  • You can export or delete your data at any time

10.3 Open Source Components

The App uses various open-source libraries and frameworks. All open-source components are used in compliance with their respective licenses.

11. Service Availability

11.1 Uptime

  • We strive for 99% service availability
  • Scheduled maintenance may cause temporary unavailability
  • We are not liable for service interruptions

11.2 Service Changes

  • We may modify features or functionality at any time
  • Major changes will be communicated via in-app notifications
  • Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

11.3 Service Termination

  • We reserve the right to discontinue the App with 30 days notice
  • Users will be provided opportunity to export their data
  • No refunds will be provided (if applicable)

12. Limitations of Liability

12.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

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

  • Accuracy of calculations or currency conversions
  • Reliability of data synchronization
  • Availability of service
  • Fitness for a particular purpose

12.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

  • We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • Our total liability shall not exceed $100 or the amount you paid (if applicable)
  • We are not responsible for data loss due to device failure, user error, or service issues

12.3 Data Loss

  • Users are responsible for maintaining backup copies of important data
  • We recommend regular exports of transaction data
  • We are not liable for permanent data loss or corruption

13. Security and Compliance

13.1 Security Measures

We implement the following security measures:

  • Secure authentication with token management
  • Database security rules for data access control
  • Client-side input validation and sanitization
  • Rate limiting to prevent abuse
  • Secure HTTPS connections for all API calls
  • Encryption of sensitive cached data

13.2 Known Limitations

As documented in our Security Vulnerability Report:

  • Backend credentials are currently stored in app bundle (being migrated to secure configuration management)
  • Server-side validation is in development
  • Advanced security features are planned

13.3 Your Responsibilities

  • Keep your authentication credentials secure
  • Do not share your account with unauthorized users
  • Report security vulnerabilities responsibly
  • Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication when available

14. Third-Party Services

The App integrates with various third-party services:

  • Authentication and cloud database services for data storage and user management
  • Third-party currency exchange API for currency conversion
  • Mobile app development and deployment services
  • Mobile platform services for push notifications and authentication

Use of these services is subject to their respective terms and conditions. We are not responsible for the availability or accuracy of third-party services.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the applicable jurisdiction.

15.2 Arbitration

  • Disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration
  • Class action lawsuits are waived
  • Small claims court remains available

15.3 Contact for Disputes

For any disputes, contact: info@expenseek.com

16. Changes to Terms

16.1 Modifications

  • We may update these Terms at any time
  • Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
  • Material changes will be notified via email or in-app notification

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Email: info@expenseek.com

Developer: Expenseek Team

18. Special Provisions

18.1 Beta Testing

  • The App is currently in active development
  • Features may change without notice
  • Bug reports are appreciated and encouraged

18.2 Export and Backup

  • Users can export data in PDF and JSON formats
  • Regular exports are recommended
  • Export includes: expenses, bills, payments, analytics

18.3 Rate Limiting

To ensure fair usage and prevent abuse:

  • User operations: 100 per minute
  • Expense creation: 10 per minute
  • Group operations: 20 per minute
  • Excessive requests may result in temporary throttling

18.4 Data Migration

  • The App supports data migration between devices
  • Offline sync queue is device-specific
  • Cloud data syncs automatically across devices

19. Acknowledgment

BY USING EXPENSEEK, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.