Legal
Terms & Conditions
Last updated: July 23, 2026
Agreement to Terms
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Octobids, operated by Octobids (Registration No. 2026/221581/07) (“Octobids”, “we”, “us”). By creating an account, posting a job, submitting a bid, or otherwise using the platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.
These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect and handle personal information under POPIA.
Legal Framework
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (“CPA”) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (“ECTA”).
1. What Octobids Is (and Isn’t)
Octobids is a marketplace that connects Customers who post jobs with Providers who bid on and complete that work. We are not a party to the underlying service agreement between a Customer and a Provider — we facilitate discovery, communication, and secure payment through escrow. Providers are independent contractors and are not employees, agents, or representatives of Octobids.
2. How Jobs, Bids, and Escrow Work
- A Customer posts a job describing the work required and a budget.
- Providers submit bids; the Customer compares bids and awards the job to a chosen Provider.
- Once a bid is accepted, the Customer has 24 hours to fund the job through our payment processor, TradeSafe. If payment is not completed within that window, the acceptance automatically expires: the bid returns to pending status and the job reopens for other bidders.
- When payment succeeds, the funds are held in escrow by Octobids and are not released to the Provider until the Customer approves the completed work.
Platform & Escrow Fee
Posting a job is free. When a Customer funds an accepted bid, a platform fee (currently 10% of the bid amount) is added to the amount charged. This fee is itemised in the payment summary before you pay and compensates Octobids for operating the escrow and payment infrastructure. Fees are subject to change; any change will apply to jobs funded after the change takes effect.
3. Delivery & Work Review Policy
When a Provider marks a job as delivered, the Customer is notified and asked to review the submitted work. The Customer may:
- Approve the work — the escrowed funds are released to the Provider and the job is marked completed. This action is final and cannot be reversed through the platform.
- Request changes — the Customer describes what needs to be corrected, the job returns to in-progress status, and the Provider can resubmit. Escrow remains held throughout.
We encourage Customers to review submitted work promptly. Unreasonable delay in reviewing delivered work may itself be treated as a dispute requiring support intervention.
4. Cancellation Policy
Before a bid is accepted
A Customer may edit or cancel an open job, and a Provider may withdraw a bid, at any time before a bid is accepted, at no cost.
After acceptance, before payment
If the Customer does not fund the job within the 24-hour payment window, the acceptance is automatically cancelled and the job reopens to other Providers. No charge is made in this case.
After the job is funded (in escrow)
Once funds are held in escrow, the job cannot be unilaterally cancelled through the platform by either party. If a Customer or Provider needs to cancel a funded job — for example because the work can no longer proceed — contact our support team at help@octobids.co.za. We will review the circumstances and mediate an outcome between the parties, which may include a full, partial, or no refund depending on work already performed.
5. Refund Policy
Because payment is held in escrow rather than paid directly to the Provider, refunds are handled as follows:
- Not yet funded: if you cancel before paying, or the 24-hour payment window lapses, no charge occurs and there is nothing to refund.
- Funded, work not completed as agreed: contact support before approving the work. Approving the work releases the funds to the Provider and is treated as acceptance of delivery.
- Disputed or undelivered work: refund requests are evaluated case by case by our support team. Where a refund is approved, it is processed back to your original TradeSafe payment method; refund processing times depend on TradeSafe and your bank or card issuer and are outside our direct control.
Nothing in this policy limits any right you have under the Consumer Protection Act that cannot lawfully be excluded.
6. Disputes
If a Customer and Provider disagree about whether delivered work meets the agreed brief, they should first attempt to resolve it directly through the platform’s messaging. If unresolved, either party may escalate to Octobids support at help@octobids.co.za. Because funds remain in escrow until approval, Octobids can mediate and, where warranted, direct a release or refund of the escrowed amount.
7. Accounts & Acceptable Use
- You must provide accurate information and keep your account credentials secure.
- You must not post unlawful, fraudulent, or misleading job listings or bids.
- You must not attempt to circumvent escrow by arranging payment outside the platform.
- We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or applicable law.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Octobids is not liable for the quality, timeliness, or legality of work performed by Providers, or for indirect or consequential losses arising from use of the platform. Our role is limited to facilitating the marketplace and escrow payment process described above.
9. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated “Last updated” date on this page. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
10. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute not resolved through support mediation is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.
Contact Us
Questions about these Terms, refunds, cancellations, or deliveries can be sent to help@octobids.co.za.