Terms of Service

What Handlink is

Handlink is a marketplace that connects customers with independent businesses and freelancers who list services and take bookings. Handlink is not the business providing the service — each listing is run by its own independent business or freelancer, responsible for the quality, legality, and delivery of what they offer.

Payments and fees

Customers pay through PayFast at the time of booking. Handlink deducts a commission from each booking (shown to the business as their platform fee); the business receives the remainder, either automatically or directly, depending on their payment setup. Any deposit collected up-front is the full amount Handlink processes — any remaining balance is agreed and settled directly between the customer and the business. Shop purchases are paid through Paystack; Handlink sells those products directly, so there's no commission split to account for.

Bookings: cancellations and refunds

Cancellation and refund terms for a service booking are set by each business, not by Handlink. Handlink provides the tools for a business to cancel a booking and mark a payment as refunded, but does not itself guarantee, process, or arbitrate refunds between a customer and a business.

Shop purchases: delivery, returns and refunds

Shop items work differently from bookings: Handlink (Citadene Technologies (Pty) Ltd) is the seller of the product, not a connector to someone else's business, so these terms apply directly and — unlike bookings — can't be varied by a third party.

Fulfillment. Shop orders are sourced and shipped by a third-party supplier on Handlink's behalf; Handlink does not pack or post items itself. Estimated delivery is a few business days after payment is confirmed. If an item turns out to be unavailable from the supplier after you've paid, we'll contact you with a substitute, a revised delivery estimate, or a full refund — your choice.

Faulty, unsafe, or misdescribed items. If a shop item is defective, unsafe, or doesn't match its description, you may ask for a repair, replacement, or refund within 6 months of delivery, under sections 55 and 56 of the Consumer Protection Act.

Eligibility. You must be able to enter into a binding contract — generally 18 or older, or purchasing with a parent or guardian's permission — to buy from the shop.

To report a problem with a shop order, contact us with your order reference (shown on your confirmation email and at /order/lookup).

Identity verification

Identity verification is optional and reviewed by hand. A verified badge means Handlink reviewed a submitted photo ID and selfie and approved the match — it is not a guarantee of the quality, licensing, or insurance of any business's work.

Acceptable use

Don't use Handlink to list anything illegal, to misrepresent who you are, or to attempt to take payment or contact details outside the platform in a way that avoids Handlink's commission before a booking is confirmed. Accounts found doing this may be suspended.

Limitation of liability

Handlink is provided "as is." To the fullest extent permitted by law, Handlink is not liable for the acts, omissions, or quality of work of any business or freelancer listed on the platform, or for any dispute between a customer and a business. For shop purchases, Handlink's liability is as set out under the Consumer Protection Act above, and does not extend to indirect or consequential loss.

Dispute resolution

If we can't resolve a complaint about a shop purchase directly, you may refer it to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, or lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission, under the Consumer Protection Act.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of the Republic of South Africa.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms as Handlink evolves. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.