These Terms & Conditions govern access to and use of the Hey Ruth Platform. By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to comply with these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, you must not access or use the Platform.

Hey Ruth may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time where reasonably necessary to support the safe and effective operation of the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after updated Terms are published constitutes acceptance of those updated Terms.

Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms & Conditions:

Hey Ruth means Hey Ruth Pty Ltd and includes the online platform, systems and services operated under the name Hey Ruth.

Platform means the Hey Ruth website, systems, booking tools and technology used to facilitate conversations between Customers and Friends.

Customer / Customers means a person who uses the Platform to connect with a Friend for conversation. References to a Customer or Customers may be used interchangeably throughout these Terms & Conditions.

Friend means an independent contractor approved by Hey Ruth to host catch-ups and participate in conversations on the Platform. Friends are not employees or agents of Hey Ruth.

Conversation / Catch-up / Connection means a scheduled one-to-one online interaction facilitated through the Platform between a Customer and a Friend for the purpose of conversation and human connection. These terms may be used interchangeably throughout these Terms & Conditions.

Nature of the Platform

Hey Ruth is an online platform designed to facilitate simple, respectful one-to-one conversations between Customers and approved Friends.

The Platform enables Customers to book scheduled catch-ups with Friends for conversational interaction.

Hey Ruth provides the technology and systems that enable these connections to occur.

Hey Ruth acts solely as a facilitator of connections between Customers and Friends.

Hey Ruth does not supervise, direct, or control the content of conversations conducted through the Platform.

Conversations on the Platform

Catch-ups on Hey Ruth are intended to be friendly, respectful, and conversational in nature.

Friends participate in conversations only. Hey Ruth does not provide counselling, therapy, mentoring, coaching, crisis support, or any medical, legal, financial, or other professional services.

Conversations on the Platform must not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice, support services, or personal support networks.

Customers remain responsible for their own decisions, wellbeing, and actions.

Hey Ruth is not designed to support Customers experiencing crisis, mental health emergencies, or situations involving immediate risk of harm. Customers should seek appropriate professional or emergency support where required.

Eligibility to Use the Platform

To use the Platform, you must be at least 18 years of age, provide accurate information when booking a catch-up, and use the Platform in a respectful and lawful manner.

By using the Platform, you confirm that you meet these requirements. Hey Ruth relies on the accuracy of information provided by users. Providing false or misleading information, including falsely confirming eligibility, constitutes a breach of these Terms & Conditions.

Hey Ruth may suspend or remove access to the Platform where these requirements are not met.

Booking Catch-ups

Customers may book catch-ups with Friends through the booking system provided on the Platform.

A catch-up is a scheduled one-to-one online conversation between a Customer and a Friend.

Friend availability may vary and Hey Ruth does not guarantee that specific Friends will always be available.

Payments

Payments for catch-ups are processed through the payment systems provided on the Platform.

Payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise stated.

Prices displayed on the Platform will be shown in the applicable currency indicated at the time of booking and may be updated from time to time.

Payment processing services are provided by third-party payment providers. Hey Ruth is not responsible for errors or interruptions caused by third-party payment systems.

Booking Changes and Refunds

Catch-ups may be changed or rescheduled in accordance with the Booking Changes & Refunds Policy.

Refunds may be provided in the circumstances outlined in the Booking Changes & Refunds Policy.

Hey Ruth may decline refund requests where the circumstances fall outside those defined in the Booking Changes & Refunds Policy.

Acceptable Use

Customers using the Platform must behave respectfully toward Friends and other users of the Platform.

The following behaviour is not permitted: harassment, abuse, or offensive language; sexual or romantic advances toward Friends; requests for professional advice or services; attempts to obtain personal contact details from Friends; attempts to move conversations off the Platform; promotion of external services, businesses, or platforms; or unlawful behaviour.

Hey Ruth may suspend or remove access to the Platform where behaviour is inconsistent with the purpose of the service.

Platform Boundaries

Interactions on the Platform must remain respectful and platonic.

Customers must not attempt to establish personal, romantic, or commercial relationships with Friends through the Platform.

Friends participate in conversations only and are not authorised to provide professional advice or services.

Recording and Privacy

Customers must respect the privacy of Friends participating on the Platform.

Customers must not record catch-ups, take screenshots, capture images, or otherwise record conversations without consent.

Personal information shared during catch-ups must not be collected, stored, or used for any purpose outside participation on the Platform.

Platform Disclaimer

Hey Ruth provides a Platform that enables Customers and Friends to connect for conversational catch-ups.

Hey Ruth does not control the content of conversations between Customers and Friends.

Hey Ruth does not guarantee the behaviour, conduct, or suitability of any Customer or Friend using the Platform.

Hey Ruth is not responsible for the conduct or statements of Friends, who participate on the Platform as independent contractors.

Participation in conversations on the Platform occurs at the Customer’s own discretion.

Technical Interruptions

Hey Ruth does not guarantee uninterrupted access to the Platform.

Hey Ruth is not responsible for interruptions caused by internet connectivity issues, device failures, third-party service providers, or technical faults outside the Platform’s control.

Where technical issues affect a catch-up, the matter will be handled in accordance with the Booking Changes & Refunds Policy.

Platform Discretion

Hey Ruth may suspend, restrict, or terminate access to the Platform at its discretion where it reasonably considers that these Terms & Conditions have been breached, behaviour is inconsistent with the purpose of the Platform, or continued use may negatively impact other users or the Platform.

Hey Ruth may take such action without prior notice where reasonably necessary.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hey Ruth is not liable for any loss, damage, or claim arising out of or in connection with conversations conducted between Customers and Friends, the conduct or statements of Customers or Friends, interruptions to Platform availability, or technical issues affecting the Platform.

Hey Ruth is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from the use of the Platform.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

Intellectual Property

All intellectual property relating to Hey Ruth, including the Platform, branding, systems, and content, remains the property of Hey Ruth.

Customers must not copy, reproduce, or distribute Hey Ruth materials without prior written permission.

Related Policies

Use of the Platform is also subject to additional policies issued by Hey Ruth, including the Booking Changes & Refunds Policy, the Privacy Policy, the Code of Conduct, and the Disclaimer. These policies form part of the terms governing use of the Platform and should be read together with these Terms & Conditions.

International Use

The Platform may be accessed by Customers from jurisdictions outside Australia. Customers who access or use the Platform from outside Australia do so on their own initiative and are responsible for ensuring that their use of the Platform complies with the laws of the jurisdiction in which they reside.

Hey Ruth makes no representation that the Platform complies with laws outside Australia.

Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia.

Contact

If you have questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, you may contact Hey Ruth through the Contact Us page on the Platform.