Terms and Conditions

vLake offers hosting, domain registration, email, and consulting services to individuals and businesses who are legally eligible and agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions. You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to create an account. By using our services, you affirm that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement and agree to provide accurate and up-to-date information during registration.

Account Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials (username and password) and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to use our services solely for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Suspension or Termination: vLake reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account if we determine that you have violated these Terms or any applicable law.

All services are prepaid. Fees for hosting, domain registration, email, and consulting services must be paid in advance. vLake reserves the right to suspend or limit access to services if payment is not received by the due date.

Domain Registration and Renewal: Domain registration and renewal fees are non-refundable once the domain is successfully registered.

Service Delivery: Once a service is delivered or commenced (including hosting access, email setup, or consulting work), no refunds will be issued, except as required by applicable law.

Authorization for Recurring Charges: By using vLake’s services, you authorize vLake to charge the payment method on file for all recurring service fees as they become due.

Late Payments: If payment is declined or overdue, vLake may suspend your services until your account is brought current.

Non-Refundable Fees: Any promotional or one-time fees (such as domain registration) are final and non-refundable.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, vLake shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of profits, revenue, data, or business, arising from or related to the use of our services. This includes, without limitation, damages resulting from data corruption, service interruptions, or other technical issues, even if vLake was advised of the possibility of such damages.

Maximum Liability: In the event of a claim related to our services, vLake’s total liability shall be limited to the amount of fees paid by you for the specific service(s) giving rise to the claim.

No Warranties: All services are provided on an “as is” basis, without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied. vLake expressly disclaims all implied warranties, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not guarantee any specific results from the use of our services.

Third-Party Content: vLake shall not be responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or legality of any content provided by clients, nor for any third-party software, plugins, or services used in connection with our services.

vLake implements industry-standard security measures to protect both your website and email services, including SSL/TLS encryption, spam filtering, and regular security audits. You are responsible for securing your WordPress site by keeping it updated, using strong passwords, and following best practices. Similarly, for email hosting, you must secure your credentials and be cautious of phishing attempts.

If a security breach is detected, we will notify you immediately and take steps to resolve the issue. In case of any security concerns with your site or email, inform us right away for assistance. Security is a shared responsibility between vLake and you.

Domain Registrations: We do not offer refunds for domain registration fees once the domain has been successfully registered.

Web Hosting and Email Hosting: Refunds for web hosting and email hosting services are available if the refund request is submitted within 30 days of the initial order and the client has not had any active services with vLake in the 12 months preceding the order.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from these Terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.

vLake reserves the right to modify or update these Terms at any time. We will notify customers of significant changes (for example via email or account notice) at least 30 days before they take effect. Your continued use of vLake services after such notice will constitute acceptance of the updated Terms.

At vLake, we take the security and privacy of your data very seriously. We understand that your personal data belongs to you, and you have full control over how it is used. We are committed to protecting your personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In the event of a data breach affecting your personal data, vLake will notify you promptly with details of the breach, the risks involved, and actions being taken. We will also notify relevant authorities as required by applicable data protection laws. We are committed to protecting your data and taking the necessary steps to prevent future incidents.

Neither party will be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under this Agreement if caused by events beyond its reasonable control (a “Force Majeure Event”), including natural disasters, war, terrorism, government actions, labor disputes, internet or telecom outages, pandemics, or supplier failures. Performance will resume as soon as reasonably practicable after the event ends, and you remain responsible for any fees accrued during the Force Majeure Event.

Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms shall first be addressed through good-faith discussions between you and vLake. If you cannot resolve the dispute within 10 business days, you agree to submit it to binding arbitration under the rules of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa, held in Gauteng, with the arbitrator’s decision being final. Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek urgent interim relief from the courts of South Africa, whose exclusive jurisdiction is acknowledged.

By subscribing to or using any vLake service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you should not use our services.