These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the SparkleCharge website (sparklecharge.org), interactive portfolio demonstrations, the SparkleCharge Client Portal, and all software engineering, web development, and technical consulting services provided by Abdulsamad Usman / SparkleCharge ("SparkleCharge", "we", "us", or "our").
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing this website, creating or logging into a Client Portal account, submitting a project inquiry, or approving a project proposal or invoice, you ("Client", "User", or "you") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a company or organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity.
2. Services Offered
SparkleCharge provides professional digital engineering services and technical resources, including:
- Custom Web & Software Development: Full-stack application engineering, API architecture, database design, e-commerce systems, and performance optimization.
- Technical & Security Consulting: Codebase audits, defensive architecture reviews, cloud deployment readiness, and system refactoring.
- Portfolio Demonstration & Live Sandboxes: Interactive case studies and isolated demo deployments showcasing engineering capabilities.
- Client Portal Workspace: A dedicated portal for tracking project milestones, reviewing proposals, exchanging messages, accessing shared files (via Google Drive or direct downloads), and managing invoices and payments.
3. Client Responsibilities
To ensure timely and successful project delivery, the Client agrees to:
- Provide accurate, complete project requirements, branding assets, content, and necessary third-party credentials in a timely manner.
- Designate a primary point of contact for milestone reviews, feedback, and sign-offs within agreed schedules.
- Maintain the confidentiality of Client Portal login credentials and immediately notify SparkleCharge of any suspected unauthorized account access.
- Ensure that any text, media, trademarks, or datasets supplied to SparkleCharge do not infringe third-party intellectual property rights or violate applicable laws.
4. Payment Terms (Project-Based, Invoicing & Payment Methods)
- Project-Based & Milestone Pricing: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, projects are billed on a fixed-scope milestone basis or agreed retainer schedule as detailed in your approved proposal or invoice.
- Deposits & Commencement: Standard engagements require an initial commencement deposit (typically 40%–50% of total project scope) before development begins, with subsequent payments tied to verifiable project milestones and final delivery.
- Invoicing & Payment Proof: All invoices are issued electronically via the SparkleCharge Client Portal. Clients may remit payment using the approved payment methods displayed in the portal (including bank transfer, wire, or configured digital payment rails) and upload payment proof directly for verification and official receipt generation.
- Late Payments: Invoices are due by the date specified on the invoice. Overdue balances may pause active development or staging deployments until the account is brought current.
5. Refund Policy Summary
Because custom software engineering involves dedicated architectural labor and milestone allocation, refunds are governed by project phase and milestone completion. Deposits cover initial discovery, architecture, and resource allocation; completed and approved milestones are non-refundable. Full terms are detailed in our dedicated Refund Policy.
6. Intellectual Property Ownership
- Client Deliverables Upon Full Payment: Upon receipt of full and final payment for a commissioned project, the Client is granted full ownership and title to the custom source code, visual designs, and project-specific deliverables created specifically for the Client, unless otherwise specified in a separate written contract.
- SparkleCharge Pre-Existing IP & Frameworks: SparkleCharge retains ownership of all pre-existing libraries, reusable architectural boilerplates, internal tooling, and portfolio case study content. The Client receives a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use any such underlying helpers integrated into their deliverable.
- Portfolio Display Rights: Unless a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) explicitly prohibits public attribution, SparkleCharge reserves the right to reference the completed project (screenshots, summary of technical architecture, and link) in our professional portfolio.
7. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to hold in strict confidence all non-public business, technical, financial, and operational information disclosed during an engagement ("Confidential Information"). SparkleCharge will never sell, publish, or disclose your proprietary business logic, private source code, or customer data to third parties.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SparkleCharge shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, revenue, data, or business interruption arising out of or related to the use of this website, live demo sandboxes, or commissioned software. In all cases, SparkleCharge's total aggregate liability under any engagement shall not exceed the total fees actually paid by the Client to SparkleCharge for the specific project milestone giving rise to the claim during the preceding six (6) months.
9. Termination
Either party may terminate an active project engagement upon written notice if the other party materially breaches these Terms and fails to cure such breach within fourteen (14) days of notice. Upon termination, the Client shall pay for all completed milestones and work-in-progress performed up to the effective termination date, and SparkleCharge will deliver all paid work artifacts.
10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms and any contractual relationship with SparkleCharge shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
11. Dispute Resolution
In the event of any disagreement or dispute arising from these Terms or a project engagement, both parties agree to first attempt good-faith informal resolution through direct written negotiation within thirty (30) days. If the dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it shall be submitted to confidential mediation or binding arbitration in the jurisdiction of the owner before resorting to litigation.
12. Contact Information
Questions regarding these Terms & Conditions may be directed to [email protected].