1. Acceptance of these terms
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Vantage Media website (vantagemedia.online) and, where you engage us, the provision of our digital agency services. By using this website or signing a proposal, quote, or statement of work with us, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use this website or engage our services.
2. About Vantage Media
Vantage Media is a digital agency based in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. References to "we", "us", or "our" mean Vantage Media; references to "you" or "client" mean the person or organisation using this website or engaging our services.
3. Our services
We provide web development and related digital agency services, including design, development, and ongoing support, as described on this website and as set out in the specific proposal, quote, or statement of work agreed with you for your project. The exact scope, deliverables, timeline, and price for any engagement are defined in that separate written agreement, which takes precedence over the general descriptions on this website.
4. Quotes, engagements & payment
Project quotes are typically fixed-scope and fixed-price, or billed as an ongoing monthly retainer for dedicated-team engagements. Unless otherwise agreed in writing:
- A quote is valid for 30 days from the date issued;
- Fixed-scope projects require a deposit before work begins, with the balance invoiced against agreed milestones;
- Retainer engagements are invoiced monthly in advance;
- Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date; and
- Work outside the agreed scope will be quoted separately before we proceed.
Website builds: process, deposit and refunds. For standard website projects, the process is as follows:
- Discovery call: a free 30-minute call to understand your business and requirements;
- Deposit: a deposit of 50% of the agreed price is payable before we begin building;
- Review: we present the finished website for your review. You may request additions, and if you are not satisfied with the design you may ask us to restart the project until you are happy with the result;
- Refund: if, after reviewing the finished website and before it goes live, you decide not to proceed, we will refund your 50% deposit. Refunds are only available at this review stage; once your website has been launched, no refunds are given;
- Domain and launch: once you approve the website, you are responsible for registering and paying for a domain name if you do not already have one (currently around R94 per month, renewing at around R200 per year; domain prices are set by the registrar and may change). We then deploy your website live. Any remaining balance is invoiced as set out in your agreement; and
- Maintenance: after launch, we will maintain your website twice each year for two years at no charge. After those two years, maintenance continues at R500 per visit, twice each year. During each maintenance visit we will ask whether you would like anything added to your website; additions outside the agreed scope are quoted separately.
5. Client responsibilities
To help us deliver your project on time, you agree to provide timely feedback, content, access credentials, and approvals as reasonably requested, and to designate a point of contact authorised to make decisions on the project. Delays caused by late client input may affect agreed timelines.
6. Intellectual property
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, upon full and final payment, ownership of the custom code, designs, and documentation created specifically for your project transfers to you. We retain the right to reuse general knowledge, pre-existing tools, frameworks, and components not unique to your project, and to display your project in our portfolio and case studies unless you request otherwise in writing.
7. Confidentiality
We treat information you share with us about your business and project as confidential, and we will not disclose it to third parties except as necessary to deliver the engagement, with your consent, or as required by law. We're happy to sign a mutual non-disclosure agreement before detailed project discussions if you'd like one.
8. Acceptable use of this website
You agree not to use this website to: violate any applicable law; transmit harmful code or malware; attempt unauthorised access to our systems; or scrape, copy, or reproduce our content without permission. We may restrict access to this website for anyone who breaches these Terms.
9. Disclaimers & limitation of liability
This website and its content are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Vantage Media will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this website or our services. Our total liability arising from any engagement is limited to the fees paid by you for the specific project giving rise to the claim, except where liability cannot be limited by law (for example, in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct).
10. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify Vantage Media against any claims, losses, or damages arising from content, materials, or instructions you provide to us for use in your project, or from your breach of these Terms.
11. Termination
Either party may terminate an ongoing retainer engagement with 30 days' written notice. Fixed-scope projects may be terminated early by mutual agreement; work completed and expenses incurred up to the termination date remain payable. This does not affect the deposit refund described in section 4, which applies only where you decide not to proceed after reviewing the finished website and before it goes live. We reserve the right to suspend services if invoices are not paid within a reasonable period after the due date.
12. Governing law & jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from these Terms or our services will be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Free State Division, South Africa.
13. Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms from time to time, and will update the "Effective date" above when we do. For active engagements, the terms of your specific written agreement will continue to apply unless we agree changes with you directly.
14. Contact us
Questions about these Terms can be sent to protea@vantagemedia.online or 063 259 0691. We're based at Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.