Terms of Service

1. About Us

Backyard Buddies Ltd (NZBN pending) ("we", "us", "our") provides a professional dog waste removal service operating in the Auckland region, New Zealand. Our registered address is Auckland, New Zealand. You can contact us at wastesolutions@backyardbuddies.co.nz.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing our website, placing an order, or using our service you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and our Service Agreement. If you do not agree, please do not use our service.

3. Consumer Guarantees

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA). Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under New Zealand consumer law. If something goes wrong with our service, you are entitled to a remedy under the CGA, including having the service performed again or receiving a refund for any failure of our statutory obligations.

4. Service Description

We provide:

• Scheduled removal of dog waste from your residential property
• Optional yard deodoriser treatment (enzyme-based odour elimination)

Our service does not include:

• Dog walking, feeding, grooming, or any form of pet care
• General gardening, lawn mowing, or property maintenance
• Waste removal from non-residential or commercial properties

5. Service Area

We currently service selected postcodes within the Auckland region, including parts of the North Shore, Central Auckland, and West Auckland. Service availability is confirmed at the time of sign-up via our postcode checker.

6. Subscriptions and Billing

Our services are offered on a recurring subscription basis. By subscribing you agree to the following:

• All prices are displayed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and are inclusive of GST.
• Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly depending on your chosen plan) until you cancel.
• Payment is processed securely via Stripe. We do not store your full credit card details.
• If a payment fails, we will notify you and attempt to collect payment again. Continued failure may result in service suspension.
• Price changes will be communicated at least 14 days in advance via email.

7. Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your dashboard or by contacting us. There is no lock-in contract and no cancellation fee. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. Services already paid for will be completed as scheduled.

8. Property Access

By subscribing, you grant Backyard Buddies employees a licence to enter your property for the sole purpose of performing the agreed service. You warrant that:

• You are the legal owner or occupier of the property and have authority to grant access.
• Access instructions (gate codes, key locations, entry points) you provide are accurate and up to date.
• You will notify us promptly of any changes to access arrangements.

9. Your Obligations

To ensure safe and effective service delivery, you agree to:

• Dog control: Ensure your dog(s) are under reasonable control during service visits, or are secured in a separate area if they pose a risk. Under the Dog Control Act 1996, dog owners are strictly liable for any injury or damage caused by their dog.
• Dangerous or menacing dogs: You must inform us immediately if any dog on the property has been classified as menacing or dangerous under the Dog Control Act 1996. Failure to disclose this may result in immediate service termination.
• Safe environment: In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, you must ensure the property is reasonably safe for our workers to access, including maintaining gates, fences, paths, and removing known hazards.
• Hazard notification: You must notify us of any known hazards on the property, including but not limited to aggressive animals, broken fencing, exposed wiring, toxic substances, or unstable ground.
• Dog registration and vaccination: You warrant that your dog(s) are registered with your local council and have current vaccinations as required by law.

10. Our Obligations

We commit to:

• Performing all services with reasonable care and skill as required by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
• Securing gates and access points after every visit to the same state we found them.
• Notifying you promptly if we observe any damage to your property or any concerns about your pet(s).
• Complying with our obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and all other applicable New Zealand legislation.
• Providing workers who are trained in safe property access procedures and dog behaviour awareness.

11. Service Interruptions

We may be unable to perform a scheduled service due to adverse weather, unsafe property conditions, aggressive dog behaviour, inability to access the property, or events beyond our reasonable control. In such cases we will:

• Notify you as soon as reasonably practicable.
• Reschedule the service or provide a credit for the missed visit.

12. Liability

Subject to clause 3 (Consumer Guarantees) and applicable law:

• We accept liability for damage to your property caused by our negligence. Claims must be reported within 48 hours of the relevant service visit.
• Our liability for indirect or consequential loss (such as loss of use or loss of enjoyment) is limited to the total amount you have paid for services in the billing period in which the loss occurred.
• These limitations do not apply to liability that cannot be legally excluded, including our obligations under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, or liability for personal injury caused by our negligence.

13. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Backyard Buddies Ltd, its employees, and contractors from any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including legal costs) arising from:

• Injury or damage caused by your dog(s) to our employees or equipment, in accordance with the strict liability provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996 (section 62).
• Your failure to disclose a dangerous or menacing dog classification.
• Your failure to provide a safe working environment as described in clause 9.
• Inaccurate property access or dog behaviour information.

This indemnity does not require you to indemnify us for loss caused by our own negligence or breach of duty.

14. Dog Escape

We will exercise reasonable care to secure all gates and access points after each visit. However, you acknowledge that:

• It is your responsibility to ensure your property's fences and gates are adequate to contain your dog(s).
• If a gate or fence is defective and you have not notified us, responsibility for any resulting dog escape rests with you.
• If a dog escapes due to our failure to secure a gate, we accept responsibility and will take all reasonable steps to assist in recovering the dog.

15. SuperGold Card Discount

We offer a 10% discount to verified New Zealand SuperGold Card holders. This discount is applied to the per-service price and cannot be combined with other promotional offers unless stated otherwise. We may request verification of your SuperGold Card status at any time.

16. Referral Programme

Our referral programme offers a $10 NZD credit to both the referrer and the referred customer when the referred customer completes their first subscription payment. Credits are applied as a balance adjustment on your Stripe account and are non-transferable and non-refundable. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the referral programme at any time.

17. Disputes

If you have a complaint about our service, please contact us at wastesolutions@backyardbuddies.co.nz and we will work to resolve it promptly. If we cannot resolve a dispute, either party may refer the matter to the Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand for claims up to $30,000.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of our service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

19. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.