Expert Terms of Service

Important – Please Read Carefully

These Terms govern your registration and participation as an Expert on the Clarified platform.

By completing registration, you confirm you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms in full.

Introduction

These Expert Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your registration and participation as an independent Expert on the Clarified platform, operated by Clarified Ltd (“Clarified”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). They form a binding legal agreement between you and Clarified.

By completing registration as an Expert, you confirm that you have read and understood these Terms and agree to be bound by them. If you do not accept any part of these Terms, you must not register or operate as an Expert on the Platform.

These Terms should be read alongside our User Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, both of which are available on the Platform.

1. Definitions

The following terms have the meanings set out below wherever they appear in these Terms.

Term

Definition

"Clarified"

The Clarified platform.

"Expert"

An independent individual or business registered on the Platform to offer consultation services to Users under these Terms.

"Platform"

The Clarified website, web app, mobile application, APIs, and all related digital services operated by Clarified.

"User"

An individual, sole trader, or business entity that creates an account to browse, book, or interact with Experts on the Platform.

"Booking"

A confirmed appointment or consultation session arranged between a User and an Expert via the Platform.

"Consultation"

Any 1:1 video session (15, 30, or 60 minutes) or other service delivered by an Expert to a User pursuant to a Booking.

"Fees"

The full amount payable by a User for a Booking, inclusive of the Platform Fee and the Expert Remittance.

"Expert Remittance"

The portion of Fees paid to the Expert after deduction of the Platform Fee (currently 85% of the total Fee).

"Platform Fee"

The service charge retained by Clarified (currently 15% of the total Fee), subject to change on 30 days' written notice.

"Regulated Activity"

Any activity constituting a regulated activity under FSMA 2000, or requiring FCA, SRA, or equivalent authorisation.

"Content"

Any text, data, or materials uploaded, shared, or communicated through the Platform by any party.

"Applicable Laws"

All laws, regulations, and binding guidance applicable to the Expert, including FSMA 2000, UK GDPR, FCA Rules, and consumer protection legislation.

2. The Clarified Platform

2.1 Marketplace Only

Clarified operates as a technology marketplace that connects Users with independent Experts for financial and professional guidance. We facilitate introductions and Bookings; we do not ourselves provide financial, legal, tax, investment, or any other professional advice.

2.2 Independent Contractor Status

You are an independent contractor. Nothing in these Terms creates any partnership, employment, joint venture, agency, or franchise relationship between you and Clarified. You have full control over the content and conduct of your Consultations. Clarified takes no responsibility for the quality, accuracy, suitability, or legality of your services.

2.3 What Clarified Does Not Do

Clarified does not:

Verify, endorse, or accept responsibility for advice or information you provide to Users;

Guarantee outcomes of any Consultation;

Confirm that your credentials, qualifications, or regulatory status are current or appropriate;

Act as your agent, representative, employer, or partner;

Carry out or facilitate Regulated Activities on the Platform.

3. Eligibility and Registration

3.1 Eligibility Requirements

To register as an Expert, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age;

Have legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under the laws of England and Wales;

Hold genuine, current, and verifiable credentials in your stated area of expertise;

Not be subject to any regulatory disqualification, bar, or prohibition that would prevent you from offering your services;

Not be an undischarged bankrupt or subject to any insolvency proceedings, unless this does not affect your ability to provide the relevant services.

3.2 Registration and Profile

When registering, you must provide accurate, complete, and truthful information. Your Expert profile must accurately represent your qualifications, credentials, experience, and areas of expertise. You must update your profile promptly if any information changes or becomes inaccurate.

3.3 Vetting Process

Clarified may carry out background checks, credential verifications, or identity checks as part of onboarding or at any time during your participation on the Platform. You agree to cooperate fully and provide any documentation reasonably requested. Clarified reserves the right to refuse or revoke registration at its sole discretion.

3.4 Certification and Credential Warranties

By uploading any certification, qualification, licence, or credential document to the Platform, you warrant that it is genuine, current, unaltered, and accurately represents your professional standing. You confirm that you are the named holder of each document submitted and that it has not been revoked, suspended, or otherwise invalidated. Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent documentation constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may be reported to the relevant regulatory or professional body.

3.5 Business Entities

If you are registering on behalf of a business or professional firm, you warrant that you have full authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and that the individuals conducting Consultations meet all eligibility requirements personally.

3.6 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity conducted under your account. You must notify us immediately at hello@getclarified.co.uk if you suspect any unauthorised access.

4. Regulatory Position and Compliance

Important – Regulatory Notice

The Platform is designed for general informational and educational guidance only.

It is not designed or authorised for Regulated Activities under FSMA 2000.

You are solely responsible for determining whether your services constitute

Regulated Activity and for obtaining all required authorisations.

4.1 Platform Scope

Consultations delivered via Clarified are intended to provide general, experience-based financial guidance to help Users understand their options. The Platform is not designed for personal investment recommendations, regulated mortgage advice, or any other Regulated Activity as defined under FSMA 2000.

4.2 FCA Authorisation

Clarified is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). No activities requiring FCA authorisation are carried out through the Platform.

4.3 Your Regulatory Responsibility

You bear sole and full responsibility for:

Determining whether any aspect of your proposed services constitutes Regulated Activity;

Obtaining and maintaining all required FCA authorisations, SRA registrations, or other regulatory licences applicable to your services before offering them — whether on or off the Platform;

Ensuring each Consultation remains within the unregulated scope of the Platform;

Conducting any Regulated Activity outside the Platform, under a separately documented regulated engagement with the User;

Complying at all times with all Applicable Laws, FCA Rules, professional conduct obligations, and advertising standards.

4.4 Anti-Money Laundering

Where your professional activities require it, you must comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and any other applicable AML legislation. Clarified is not responsible for your AML compliance.

5. Expert Obligations and Warranties

By registering and operating as an Expert on the Platform, you warrant, represent, and undertake on an ongoing basis that:

5.1 Qualifications and Expertise

You possess the qualifications, credentials, and experience you represent on your profile, and these are current, genuine, and valid;

You will only accept Bookings and conduct Consultations in areas within your genuine expertise and competence;

You will not misrepresent your professional background, credentials, regulatory status, or areas of expertise to Clarified or to Users.

5.2 Service Standards

You will deliver all Consultations with reasonable skill, care, and diligence consistent with industry standards;

You will prepare appropriately for each Consultation, having reviewed any pre-session information provided by the User;

You will be punctual, professional, and respectful in all interactions with Users;

You will clearly explain the general nature and limitations of your guidance at the outset of each Consultation, and will direct Users to seek regulated or specialist advice where appropriate.

5.3 Conflicts of Interest

You will proactively disclose to Users any actual or potential conflicts of interest before or at the start of a Consultation;

You will not recommend specific financial products, firms, or services in which you hold a financial interest, without express disclosure.

5.4 Consumer Protection

You will not engage in any conduct that is misleading, deceptive, coercive, or in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008;

You will not place undue pressure on Users to take any particular course of action;

You will treat all Users fairly, regardless of background, and comply with applicable equality legislation.

5.5 Data and Confidentiality

You will treat all User information as strictly confidential and will not disclose it to third parties without the User's consent or a legal obligation to do so;

You will comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of any personal data you process in connection with Consultations;

You will not record any Consultation without the prior informed consent of the User.

5.6 Insurance

You will maintain professional indemnity insurance appropriate to the nature and scale of your services throughout the period of your registration on the Platform;

You will provide evidence of such insurance to Clarified on request.

5.7 Non-Solicitation

During the period of your registration and for 12 months following termination of your account, you must not directly or indirectly solicit, recruit, or encourage any other Expert registered on the Platform to leave the Platform or to join a competing service.

5A. Clarified's Rights in Relation to Experts

5A.1 Profile Amendments

Clarified reserves the right to edit, supplement, or remove your Expert profile at any time where we reasonably consider it to be inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, or reputationally damaging to the Platform. Where practicable, we will notify you before making material changes.

5A.2 Ongoing Audit Rights

Clarified may, at any point during your registration, request evidence of your current credentials, professional indemnity insurance, regulatory status, or any other information relevant to your eligibility to participate on the Platform. You agree to provide such evidence within 7 days of request. Failure to respond may result in temporary suspension of your profile pending receipt of the requested documentation.

5A.3 Use of the Clarified Brand

You must not use the Clarified name, logo, trade marks, or any associated branding in your own marketing materials, website, social media, or professional profiles without Clarified's prior written consent. Any permitted reference must accurately represent the nature of your relationship with the Platform (i.e. as an independent Expert listed on Clarified) and must not imply endorsement, employment, or partnership.

6. Fees, Payments, and Taxes

6.1 Setting Your Rate

You are free to set your own consultation rates on the Platform, subject to any minimum or maximum rates Clarified may introduce with 30 days' notice. Your rates should accurately reflect the service you offer and must not be misleading.

6.2 Fee Collection and Remittance

Users pay the full consultation Fee upfront via the Platform. Clarified collects payment as a facilitator on your behalf. Following successful completion of a Consultation — and subject to any dispute resolution hold — Clarified will remit your Expert Remittance (currently 75% of the Fee) to you within the payment cycle set out in your Expert account dashboard.

6.3 Platform Fee

The Platform Fee is currently 15% of the total Fee for each Booking. Clarified may amend this rate on not less than 30 days' written notice. Continued use of the Platform after the notice period constitutes acceptance of the revised rate.

6.4 Payment Processing

Payments are processed by third-party providers (currently Stripe and/or PayPal). You agree to comply with any requirements imposed by these providers to facilitate payment to you, including completing identity and bank verification. Clarified does not store your payment card or full bank details.

6.5 Your Tax Obligations

You are solely responsible for determining and meeting all tax obligations arising from fees you receive through the Platform, including income tax, National Insurance contributions, VAT (where applicable), and any other levies. Clarified does not provide tax advice and does not withhold tax on your behalf. You should seek independent tax advice if required.

6.6 VAT

If you are VAT-registered, you are responsible for ensuring your fees are set and declared correctly. Clarified will not charge VAT on the Platform Fee unless required to do so by law.

7. Bookings, Availability, and Cancellations

7.1 Availability

You are responsible for keeping your availability up to date on the Platform. Clarified is not liable for Bookings made on the basis of inaccurate availability information you have provided.

7.2 Response Times and Session Standards

You agree to:

Respond to Booking requests and Platform messages within 48 hours;

Join each scheduled Consultation on time and prepared, having reviewed any pre-session information provided by the User;

Conduct Consultations in a professional environment — with your camera on, adequate lighting, a stable internet connection, and free from background noise or distractions;

Not double-book or accept Bookings you are unable to honour;

Maintain a minimum session quality standard as may be set out in Clarified's Expert guidelines from time to time.

7.3 Profile Maintenance

You are responsible for keeping your Expert profile accurate and current at all times. This includes your stated qualifications, areas of expertise, rates, availability, and any other information displayed to Users. Clarified reserves the right to suspend your profile if it appears materially out of date, misleading, or incomplete, pending your update.

7.4 Confirmation

A Booking is confirmed when the User completes payment via the Platform. You will receive notification of confirmed Bookings via the Platform and/or email. You agree to honour all confirmed Bookings.

7.5 Cancellation by You

You should avoid cancelling confirmed Bookings. Where cancellation is unavoidable, you must notify the User and Clarified as soon as possible. Repeated or short-notice cancellations by Experts may result in account suspension or removal from the Platform.

7.6 Cancellation by Users

Cancellations by Users are governed by the cancellation policy displayed at the point of booking. In general:

Cancellations made more than 24 hours before the scheduled Consultation: full refund to the User;

Cancellations made within 24 hours: at your discretion, with any refund agreed between you and Clarified;

User no-shows: generally no refund, and your Expert Remittance will be paid as normal.

7.7 Consumer Cancellation Rights

Users who are consumers may have a statutory right to cancel within 14 days of booking under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Where a User exercises this right before a Consultation has taken place, a full refund will ordinarily be processed. These rights are not affected by anything in these Terms.

8. Platform Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree that you will not:

Use the Platform for any unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive purpose;

Misrepresent your identity, credentials, experience, or regulatory status to Clarified or Users;

Solicit Users to make payments or engage your services outside the Platform in circumvention of Clause 9;

Where a User requires regulated financial or professional advice that falls outside the scope of the Platform, you must formally notify Clarified in writing before entering into any off-platform working relationship with that User. Such notification must identify the User, the nature of the regulated advice required, and your intention to engage them directly. Failure to notify Clarified constitutes a breach of Clause 9 and these Terms;

Record or transcribe Consultations without the User's prior informed consent;

Share, disclose, or exploit User data for any purpose other than delivering the relevant Consultation;

Post, transmit, or share content on the Platform that is defamatory, offensive, discriminatory, or legally infringing;

Attempt to manipulate your reviews, ratings, or profile through artificial or deceptive means;

Reverse-engineer, interfere with, or attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Platform or its technical infrastructure;

Use the Platform to conduct or facilitate any Regulated Activity without the required authorisation.

9. Off-Platform Circumvention

Prohibited Conduct

You must not arrange, conduct, or receive payment for Consultations or services outside the

Platform where the User introduction was first made through Clarified.

This prohibition applies for 12 months from the date of the relevant introduction via the Platform. It is intended to protect the integrity of the marketplace and the trust Users place in the Platform.

Where Clarified has reasonable grounds to believe this clause has been breached, we reserve the right to:

Immediately suspend or permanently terminate your account;

Invoice and recover the Platform Fee that would have been payable in respect of the off-platform transaction;

Pursue any other legal remedy available to Clarified.

10. Reviews and Ratings

10.1 User Reviews

Users may leave reviews and ratings following Consultations. Clarified may publish these on your Expert profile. We reserve the right to moderate, remove, or decline to publish reviews that breach our content standards, but we are not obliged to do so.

10.2 Your Right to Respond

You may respond professionally to User reviews via the Platform. Responses must be factual, respectful, and must not identify or disclose confidential information about the User.

10.3 No Manipulation

You must not solicit, incentivise, or arrange for false or misleading reviews to be posted. Any attempt to manipulate the review system will be treated as a material breach of these Terms.

10A. Technical Requirements

To deliver Consultations on the Platform, you warrant that you have and will maintain:

A reliable broadband internet connection capable of supporting high-quality video calls;

A functioning camera, microphone, and audio output;

A professional, tidy, and distraction-free environment appropriate for client-facing video sessions;

Up-to-date software and a device capable of running the Platform's video infrastructure without material degradation in quality.

Where a Consultation is materially impaired due to your technical environment or equipment, Clarified reserves the right to issue a refund to the User and withhold or reclaim your Expert Remittance for that session.

10B. Safeguarding and Vulnerable Users

Duty to Report

If you believe a User may be vulnerable, at risk of financial harm, or subject to financial abuse or coercion, you must report this to Clarified immediately.

Do not proceed with the Consultation until you have done so.

Given the financial nature of Consultations on the Platform, Experts have a responsibility to be alert to signs that a User may be vulnerable. Indicators may include:

Apparent confusion, distress, or pressure from a third party during the session;

Requests for guidance that suggest the User may be in acute financial difficulty or at risk of exploitation;

Behaviour or statements indicating the User may lack capacity to make informed financial decisions.

Where you identify any such concern, you must:

Pause or conclude the Consultation professionally;

Notify Clarified at hello@getclarified.co.uk as soon as practicable, with relevant details;

Not disclose personal User information beyond what is necessary to report the concern to Clarified.

Clarified will review all such reports and take appropriate action, which may include contacting the User, withholding payment pending review, or referring the matter to relevant authorities. Experts who act in good faith when raising safeguarding concerns will not be penalised for doing so.

10C. Dispute Escalation Process

10C.1 Raising a Dispute

Either party may raise a formal dispute in connection with a Booking or Consultation by contacting Clarified at hello@getclarified.co.uk within 7 days of the relevant session or event. Disputes raised outside this window may not be considered.

10C.2 Clarified's Response

Clarified will acknowledge receipt of a dispute within 3 business days and will aim to provide an initial response or resolution within 14 calendar days. Where a dispute requires further investigation, we will notify both parties of the extended timeline.

10C.3 Payment Holds

Clarified reserves the right to place a hold on your Expert Remittance for the relevant Booking while a dispute is under review. Any held funds will be released promptly once the dispute is resolved.

10C.4 Escalation

Where informal resolution through Clarified does not resolve the dispute, either party may seek independent resolution through a recognised alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider or through the courts of England and Wales.

11. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property in the Platform — including software, branding, trade marks, databases, and design — is owned by or licensed to Clarified. These Terms grant you no licence to use Clarified's intellectual property except as strictly necessary for your participation on the Platform.

You retain ownership of all Content you create and upload to the Platform. By submitting Content, you grant Clarified a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, host, store, and display that Content for the purpose of operating and improving the Platform.

12. Liability

12.1 Your Liability to Users

You are solely and fully liable for the content, quality, accuracy, and outcomes of all Consultations you conduct via the Platform. Clarified accepts no responsibility for any advice, guidance, or information you provide to Users.

12.2 Clarified's Liability to You

Clarified's aggregate liability to you in connection with these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the total Expert Remittances paid to you in the 12 months preceding the claim. This cap does not apply to liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or death or personal injury caused by Clarified's negligence.

12.3 Exclusions

Clarified is not liable to you for:

Loss of profits, revenue, business, or anticipated earnings;

Loss of data or goodwill;

Any indirect, special, or consequential loss;

Platform unavailability or technical failures outside Clarified's reasonable control;

Any regulatory action taken against you arising from your services.

13. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Clarified and its officers, directors, employees, and agents against all claims, losses, costs, damages, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or in connection with:

Your breach of these Terms or any Applicable Laws;

Any advice, guidance, or service you provide to Users;

Any regulatory breach, professional misconduct, or act or omission in the course of your Consultations;

Any infringement of third-party intellectual property or data protection rights;

Any dispute in which Clarified is joined or implicated as a result of your activities on the Platform.

14. Suspension, Termination, and Exit

14.1 Termination by You

You may close your Expert account at any time by notifying us at hello@getclarified.co.uk. Termination does not affect any outstanding payment obligations or confirmed Bookings, which must be honoured or cancelled in accordance with Clause 7.

14.2 Suspension or Termination by Clarified

Clarified may suspend or permanently terminate your account, with or without prior notice, where:

You have committed a material or repeated breach of these Terms;

We have reasonable grounds to suspect fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity;

Your account poses a regulatory, legal, or reputational risk to Clarified;

We receive credible evidence of professional misconduct;

We are required to do so by law, court order, or regulatory direction.

14.3 Consequences of Termination

Upon termination: all outstanding Expert Remittances in respect of completed Consultations will be paid in the normal payment cycle, less any amounts owed to Clarified; your profile will be removed from the Platform; and the following clauses will survive: Clause 4 (Regulatory), Clause 9 (Off-Platform), Clause 12 (Liability), Clause 13 (Indemnity), and Clause 16 (Governing Law).

15. General Provisions

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any Booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between you and Clarified in respect of your participation as an Expert and supersede all prior representations, understandings, and agreements.

15.2 Amendments

Clarified may amend these Terms at any time by posting the revised version on the Platform with at least 14 days' notice for material changes. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the amended Terms. We will notify you by email of any material changes.

15.3 Severability

If any provision is found to be invalid or unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary. All remaining provisions will remain in full force.

15.4 Waiver

No failure or delay by Clarified in exercising any right under these Terms shall operate as a waiver of that right.

15.5 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer any rights or obligations under these Terms without Clarified's prior written consent. Clarified may assign these Terms to any successor entity following a merger, acquisition, or restructuring.

15.6 Force Majeure

Clarified shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, government action, pandemic, cyberattack, or failure of third-party infrastructure.

15.7 Notices

Notices to you will be sent to the email address registered on your account. Notices to Clarified should be sent to hello@getclarified.co.uk. Notices are effective on the date of receipt.

15.8 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for the resolution of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms.

Clarified Ltd · Expert Terms of Service · Version 1.0 · May 2026