Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to BAP. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our marketplace platform that connects event hosts with venues through a competitive bidding system. By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

BAP operates as a marketplace platform. We facilitate connections between hosts and venues and provide dispute review and refund determinations as described in Sections 4.5 and 14 below, but we are not a party to the underlying event agreement between users.

2. Platform Description

BAP provides:

• A platform for event hosts to post event requirements and receive competitive offers from venues
• A system for verified venues to browse event listings and submit tailored offers
• A messaging system for hosts and venues to communicate within the platform
• Payment processing facilitation through our payment processor, PayPal
• Optional electronic signing of venue contracts through our e-signature provider, described in Section 5.4
• A cancellation, refund, and dispute review process, described in Section 4.5
• A mutual review system following completed events

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

You may create an account as either a Host or a Venue. You must provide accurate, complete information and keep your account credentials secure. Accounts are created via Google OAuth or email authentication.

3.2 Venue Verification

Venues must complete business identity and payment verification through our payment processor before submitting offers. Venues must provide valid identity and business information, including a Social Security Number or business Tax ID, and bank account details for payouts. This verification is conducted by our payment processor, not BAP.

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or misuse the platform. Certain violations — particularly platform circumvention — result in immediate and permanent suspension without warning or appeal.

4. Payments

4.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed through PayPal. Payments flow directly from hosts to venues via PayPal's platform payment infrastructure. BAP does not hold, process, or control user funds at any point.

4.2 Payment Schedule

When a host accepts a venue's offer, a deposit is charged immediately. The deposit amount is set by the venue in their offer. The remaining balance is due 3 days before the event, and the host pays it from their dashboard. If an offer is accepted within 3 days of the event, the full amount is charged at acceptance as a single payment. If the host requested a contract when posting the event, nothing is charged at acceptance: the deposit is due after the host signs the venue's contract (see Section 5.4), and if it is paid within 3 days of the event, the full amount is charged as a single payment.

4.3 Platform Service Fee

Hosts are charged an 8% platform service fee on top of the venue's offered price. This fee is applied to both the deposit and final payment proportionally. The fee is waived automatically on a host's first completed booking — no code or action required.

4.4 Sales Tax

Venues are responsible for setting their own sales tax rate accurately within their venue profile. Applicable sales tax is collected based on the rate the venue has configured and is passed through directly to the venue.

4.5 Cancellations, Refunds, and Disputes

BAP maintains the following cancellation and refund policy for bookings made through the platform:

• Host cancellation more than 72 hours before the event: The host receives a full refund of the deposit paid.
• Host cancellation within 72 hours of the event: No refund is issued. The deposit and any final balance already paid are non-refundable.
• Venue cancellation at any time: The host receives a full refund of all amounts paid for that booking.

Hosts can cancel a booked event directly from their dashboard. Upon cancellation, BAP automatically determines the refund amount owed under this policy and notifies both the host and the venue. Because payments are deposited directly to the venue's PayPal account and BAP does not hold booking funds, any refund owed is issued by the venue directly to the host through PayPal, not by BAP.

For disputes or issues with a booking that fall outside straightforward cancellation — such as disagreements about event quality or performance — either party may contact support@bapapp.org, and BAP will review the accepted offer terms and relevant in-platform messaging and respond within 2 business days.

This policy addresses cancellations and the refund amounts described above. It does not obligate BAP to resolve broader disagreements about event quality or performance between hosts and venues, which remain subject to Section 14.1.

5. Offers and Bookings

5.1 How Offers Work

Hosts post event listings with their requirements and budget. Venues browse listings and submit competitive offers that may include a specific room, menu package, deposit amount, and other details. Each listing has a bidding window set by the host — once that window closes, no further offers can be submitted. Hosts review all offers and accept the one that best fits their needs.

5.2 Binding Acceptance

When a host accepts an offer and payment is processed, the booking is considered confirmed, subject to the cancellation terms in Section 4.5. Both parties are expected to honor the terms of the accepted offer.

5.3 Offer Integrity

Offer details — including room selection and menu packages — are captured as a snapshot at the time of submission. Subsequent changes a venue makes to their profile do not affect accepted offers.

5.4 Venue Contracts

After a host accepts an offer, the venue may choose to send the host a written contract for the booking. The host reviews and signs it electronically through our e-signature provider, DocuSign. Contracts are optional unless the host requests one when posting the event, in which case the deposit is due after the host signs (see Section 4.2). Either way, a booking is confirmed once payment is processed. For any contract sent through the platform:

• Agreement between users: The contract is an agreement between the host and the venue. BAP is not a party to it, does not draft or review its terms, and is not responsible for its contents, validity, or enforcement.
• Review before signing: Hosts should review a contract carefully — with their own legal counsel where appropriate — before signing. A host may message the venue to request changes, and may decline to sign. Declining a contract does not cancel the booking.
• Relationship to these Terms: Payments, cancellations, and refunds for bookings made through BAP are handled under Section 4 of these Terms.
• Keeping your copy: Once a contract is signed, a copy of the signed contract and its Certificate of Completion is emailed to both the host and the venue and is available from each party's dashboard. Contract documents are stored by our e-signature provider, not by BAP. Each party is responsible for downloading and keeping its own copy for its records. BAP does not guarantee that contract documents will remain available through the platform and is not liable for their loss.

6. Messaging

BAP provides an in-platform messaging system for hosts and venues to communicate. All messages are subject to content filtering. The following are automatically detected and redacted:

• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Social media handles and external URLs
• Language suggesting off-platform arrangements

Attempting to share contact information or arrange bookings outside the platform constitutes circumvention and will result in immediate permanent account suspension. See Section 7.

7. Prohibited Conduct

7.1 Platform Circumvention

The following actions constitute platform circumvention and result in immediate, permanent account suspension with no appeal:

• Sharing personal contact information (phone, email, social media) through the messaging system
• Arranging or completing a booking outside of BAP that originated from a BAP listing
• Soliciting off-platform bookings from other users
• Directing another user to an external website or service to complete a transaction

7.2 General Prohibited Activity

You may not:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings or offers
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the platform for any unlawful purpose
• Interfere with or disrupt platform operations
• Attempt to access accounts or data that does not belong to you
• Submit fake or retaliatory reviews

8. Venue Responsibilities

Venues agree to:

• Provide accurate information in their venue profile, including room details, menu packages, and sales tax rate
• Only submit offers for events they have the genuine capacity and intention to host
• Honor the terms of any accepted offer
• Maintain an active, verified payment account to receive payments
• Comply with all applicable local laws and licensing requirements for hosting events

9. Reviews

Following a completed event, both hosts and venues are invited to leave a review of one another. Reviews must be honest and based on actual experience. Submitting false, retaliatory, or fraudulent reviews is prohibited and may result in account suspension.

BAP does not edit or remove reviews except in cases of clear policy violation, factual inaccuracy, or content that violates these Terms.

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 Platform-Only Service

BAP provides a marketplace platform, including the cancellation, refund, and dispute review process described in Section 4.5. Beyond that process, we are not responsible for:

• The quality, safety, or legality of events or venues
• The accuracy of listings or offers
• The performance of obligations between hosts and venues
• The contents, validity, enforcement, or continued availability of contracts exchanged between hosts and venues, as described in Section 5.4
• Disputes, damages, or injuries arising from bookings, except as addressed under Section 4.5
• Actions or omissions of platform users

10.2 Maximum Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, BAP's total liability shall not exceed the platform fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim.

10.3 No Warranties

The platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BAP, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, your violation of these Terms, or events hosted or attended through the platform.

12. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the BAP platform — including text, graphics, logos, and software — are the property of BAP and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You retain ownership of content you upload to the platform but grant BAP a worldwide, non-exclusive license to use, display, and distribute such content for platform operation purposes.

13. Privacy

Your use of the platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Between Users

Cancellations and refunds under Section 4.5 are handled automatically through the platform when a host initiates a cancellation. For disputes reported to support@bapapp.org that fall outside straightforward cancellation, BAP will review the matter and respond as described in Section 4.5. Broader disagreements between hosts and venues — including those related to event quality or performance — must be resolved directly between the parties. BAP is not obligated to mediate such disagreements.

14.2 With BAP

Any disputes with BAP shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Cook County, Illinois.

15. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or prominent notice on the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at: