Terms of Use, Privacy Policy & Legal Policies

Applies to

1. Definitions

2. Terms of Service (Terms of Use)

2.1 Agreement

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the Services, you agree to these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and any additional terms referenced here (Membership Terms, Booking Terms, disclaimers). If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

Where you register an Account, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate and that you have authority to accept these Terms (or, for a minor, that a parent/guardian has accepted on your behalf where permitted).

2.2 Description of the Services

Life Changing Journey provides a digital client portal and community platform that helps users:

• Discover and learn about holistic wellness and related services (psychology, spiritual growth, hypnotherapy, integrated services, educational support, and financial guidance information);
• Create and manage an Account;
• Submit enquiries and contact requests;
• Schedule sessions via integrated booking (including Calendly embed where configured);
• View booking history and membership status;
• Access member-only content and features based on entitlements;
• Connect with LCJ through in-app communication channels (contact form, phone, email, WhatsApp links);
• Use an optional AI-powered assistant for general information (where enabled).

The Mobile App is intended as a native client experience, not a substitute for emergency services or crisis intervention.

2.3 Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an Account and purchase Membership, unless we expressly permit supervised use for minors with verifiable parental consent.
• You must have legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under South African law.
• You may not use the Services if you are barred under applicable law or if we have suspended or terminated your Account.

2.4 Account registration & security

• Accounts are created using email and password via Firebase Authentication.
• You are responsible for safeguarding your credentials and for all activity under your Account.
• Notify us immediately at info@lifechangingjourney.co.za if you suspect unauthorised access.
• We may suspend or terminate Accounts that violate these Terms, pose security risks, or contain false information.

2.5 Membership & payments

• Paid Membership is primarily completed on the Membership Web via Paystack Checkout (South African Rand — ZAR).
• The Mobile App may display your membership status and entitlements and link you to the web for purchase or upgrade.
• Membership fees, tiers, benefits, discounts, and session limits are described in Section 4 and in-app/on the website at the time of purchase.
• Membership is not a subscription to clinical treatment and does not guarantee outcomes, availability of specific practitioners, or immediate service delivery.

2.6 Bookings & appointments

• Bookings may be created through Calendly integration, in-app flows, and server webhooks that sync to our database.
• Booking availability may depend on your membership tier, operating hours, and practitioner schedules.
• See Section 5 for cancellation, rescheduling, and no-show rules.

2.7 User content & communications

You may submit information including name, email, phone, messages, service interests, and booking notes. You represent that:

• Your content is lawful and does not infringe third-party rights;
• You will not submit sensitive special personal information unless necessary and with informed consent (e.g. health details in a contact message);
• We may use your submissions to respond, provide Services, improve operations, and maintain records as described in the Privacy Policy.

2.8 Prohibited conduct

See Section 6 — Acceptable Use Policy.

2.9 Third-party services & links

The Services may link to or embed third-party websites, payment pages, scheduling tools, social media, partner businesses, and educational content. We do not control third-party terms or privacy practices. Your use of those services is at your own risk and subject to their policies.

2.10 Service changes & availability

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services (including features, membership benefits, or integrations) with reasonable notice where practicable. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. Maintenance, network failures, and third-party outages may affect availability.

2.11 Termination

• By you: You may stop using the Services and request Account deletion (see Section 12).
• By us: We may suspend or terminate access for breach of Terms, fraud, abuse, legal requirements, or prolonged inactivity, subject to applicable law.

Upon termination, rights granted to you cease; provisions that by nature should survive (disclaimers, limitation of liability, dispute resolution) remain in effect.

2.12 Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

See also Section 7 and Section 8.

2.13 Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law:

• LCJ and its directors, employees, contractors, and partners are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business interruption.
• Our total aggregate liability for claims arising from or related to the Services shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the amount you paid to LCJ for Membership in the 12 months before the claim; or (b) ZAR 1,000.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law (including gross negligence or wilful misconduct where applicable).

2.14 Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless LCJ against claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, misuse of the Services, or violation of any law or third-party rights.

2.15 Governing law & disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Disputes shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa in the province where LCJ is domiciled (currently KwaZulu-Natal), unless mandatory consumer protection law provides otherwise.

2.16 Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms by posting a revised version with a new “Last updated” date. Material changes may be notified in-app or by email where appropriate. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

2.17 Language

The authoritative version of these documents is English. Translations, if provided, are for convenience only.

3. Privacy Policy

3.1 Who we are

Life Changing Journey Organisation (“LCJ”) is the responsible party for personal information processed through the Services, unless stated otherwise for a specific partner service.

Contact: See Section 15.

3.2 Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through:

• The Life Changing Journey Mobile App;
• The Membership Web and checkout flows;
• Contact forms, booking flows, and support channels linked from the app;
• Cloud Functions and webhooks (e.g. Calendly → Firestore);
• Optional features such as push notifications and AI chat (when enabled).

3.3 Summary

3.4 Information we collect

A. Information you provide directly

B. Information collected automatically

C. Information from third parties

3.5 How we use personal information

We process personal information to:

1. Provide and maintain the Services;
2. Authenticate users and enforce entitlements;
3. Process membership purchases and record transactions;
4. Schedule, confirm, and manage bookings;
5. Communicate with you (responses, reminders where enabled, service updates);
6. Operate admin tools for staff (booking queue, tasks, events);
7. Improve security, prevent fraud and abuse;
8. Comply with legal obligations;
9. Send marketing only where you have opted in (you may opt out at any time).

Legal bases (POPIA / general): consent, contract performance, legitimate interests (operating and securing the Services), and legal obligation.

3.6 Sharing & disclosure

We may share personal information with:

We require processors to handle data under confidentiality and security obligations appropriate to their role.

We do not sell personal information.

3.7 International transfers

Firebase, Paystack, Calendly, and other providers may process data in countries outside South Africa (including the United States and European Union). Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards (contractual clauses, provider certifications, and your consent where applicable).

3.8 Retention

We delete or anonymise data when no longer needed, unless retention is required by law.

3.9 Security

We implement administrative, technical, and organisational measures including:

• Firebase Authentication and Firestore access rules (membership writes restricted to server/webhooks);
• HTTPS for web and API traffic;
• Paystack-hosted checkout for card payments;
• Least-privilege access for administrators.

No system is 100% secure. Report concerns to info@lifechangingjourney.co.za.

3.10 Your rights

Subject to POPIA and applicable law, you may:

• Access personal information we hold about you;
• Correct inaccurate information;
• Delete information (see Section 12);
• Object to or restrict certain processing;
• Withdraw consent where processing is consent-based;
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

We will respond within a reasonable period (typically 30 days).

3.11 Automated decision-making & AI assistant

Where the in-app assistant (e.g. powered by Google Gemini) is enabled:

• Responses are informational only, not professional advice;
• Do not submit highly sensitive health or financial details you would not share in an open channel;
• Conversations may be processed by the AI provider according to their terms.

We do not make solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects without human review.

3.12 Changes to this Privacy Policy

We will post updates with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes may be highlighted in-app or on the website.

4. Membership & payment terms

4.1 Membership model

LCJ offers once-off membership packages in South African Rand (ZAR), tiered as Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with pricing that varies by member category:

Prices and benefits shown in-app or on the Membership Web at checkout are authoritative if they differ from this table.

4.2 Purchase channel

• Primary checkout: Membership Web (/plans) via Paystack Checkout.
• Mobile App: Displays status and may deep-link or open the web for payment. The app does not store card details.
• When Paystack is not configured in a development environment, a mock payment mode may be used — not for production consumer billing.

4.3 Activation & entitlements

• Membership becomes active after successful payment confirmation (Paystack webhook / server verification).
• Entitlements (e.g. priority booking, content library, private community, coaching session caps) are defined per tier in our entitlement mapping.
• If status is not active or endAt has passed, entitlements may be suspended on the client and server.

4.4 Benefits (summary)

Benefits are descriptions of platform features and service access levels, not guarantees of clinical outcomes. Illustrative tier features include:

• Silver: Community access, service information, updates;
• Gold: Priority booking, discounts, reminders, progress tracking, content library, monthly coaching session allocation (per plan limits);
• Platinum: Enhanced discounts, 24-hour booking access window, call reminders, private community, meditation and weekly progress session allocations, broader content access.

Exact entitlements are implemented in software and may be updated with notice.

4.5 Discounts & session limits

• Booking discounts: Gold (10%), Platinum (20%) where applicable in booking flows.
• Monthly session caps (examples): Gold — 1 coaching session/month; Platinum — coaching, meditation, and weekly progress sessions per configured limits.
• Limits are enforced in the app client; production deployments should add server-side validation.

4.6 Refunds & cancellations

Unless required by South African consumer law or expressly stated at purchase:

• Membership fees are generally non-refundable once activated, except where we cancel the membership or fail to provide the purchased digital entitlements.
• Chargebacks: Fraudulent chargebacks may result in Account suspension.
• Refund requests: info@lifechangingjourney.co.za with proof of purchase and reason.

4.7 Taxes

Prices may be inclusive or exclusive of VAT as indicated at checkout. Tax invoices will be provided where applicable and required by law.

4.8 Failed payments

If payment fails or is pending, membership will not activate until confirmation. Do not rely on entitlements until your dashboard shows an active status.

5. Booking & scheduling terms

5.1 How booking works

Bookings may be made through:

• Calendly embed in the Mobile App (when EXPO_PUBLIC_CALENDLY_EMBED_URL is configured);
• Legacy or supplementary in-app booking flows writing to Firestore bookings;
• Calendly webhooks (Cloud Functions) syncing invitee.created / invitee.canceled events.

You must be signed in for bookings to attach to your Account where required.

5.2 Operating hours & tier access

• Non-Platinum tiers may be limited to booking UI during configured operating hours (e.g. 08:00–18:00 local time).
• Platinum may include extended / 24-hour booking access as described in-product.

5.3 Confirmation & status

Bookings may show statuses such as pending, confirmed, completed, or cancelled. Confirmation depends on practitioner availability and manual review where applicable.

5.4 Cancellations & rescheduling

• Cancel or reschedule through Calendly where available, or contact us at info@lifechangingjourney.co.za / +27 31 035 0208.
• Provide at least 24 hours’ notice where possible to avoid fees or forfeiture of session allocations.
• Repeated no-shows may limit future booking privileges.

5.5 Reminders

Gold and Platinum tiers may include reminder features (in-app flags, staff tasks). Push/email delivery depends on device permissions and infrastructure — not guaranteed in all builds.

5.6 Third-party scheduling

When you use Calendly, their privacy policy and terms also apply. We receive event data necessary to display your bookings in the app.

6. Acceptable use policy

You agree not to:

1. Violate any applicable law or regulation;
2. Impersonate any person or misrepresent affiliation with LCJ or partners;
3. Harass, threaten, defame, or discriminate against others;
4. Upload malware, scrape, reverse engineer, or attempt unauthorised access to systems;
5. Use the Services for spam, pyramid schemes, or unauthorised commercial solicitation;
6. Collect other users’ data without consent;
7. Submit false booking or payment information;
8. Circumvent membership entitlements, session limits, or security controls;
9. Use the AI assistant to generate illegal, harmful, or explicit content;
10. Record or distribute confidential sessions without consent of all parties and applicable law.

We may investigate violations and cooperate with law enforcement where required.

7. Health, wellness & professional services disclaimer

1. Not medical care: The Services and content (including articles, tips, chatbot responses, podcasts, and motivational materials) are for general information, education, and support. They do not constitute medical, psychiatric, psychological diagnosis, or treatment.

1. Emergency: If you are in crisis or may harm yourself or others, contact emergency services immediately (South Africa: 112 / 10111) or a local crisis line. The app is not an emergency service.

1. Qualified professionals: Psychology, hypnotherapy, spiritual, and integrated services may be delivered by independent practitioners or partner entities. LCJ facilitates access and information; clinical responsibility lies with the licensed or qualified provider conducting the session.

1. No guarantee of outcomes: Wellness journeys are individual. We do not guarantee specific health, mental health, or spiritual outcomes.

1. Your responsibility: Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making health decisions. Do not discontinue prescribed treatment based on app content.

1. Children: Services for children require parental/guardian involvement and appropriate professional consent.

This aligns with in-app disclaimers on membership screens: “This platform provides guidance and support. It does not replace professional medical or psychiatric diagnosis.”

8. Financial services disclaimer

1. Separate regulated entities: Financial guidance, loans, and credit services promoted through LCJ may be offered by Tshabalala Omhle Financial Group or other NCR-registered providers (e.g. registration NCRCP20083 where stated in-app). LCJ is not a registered credit provider unless separately stated.

1. Not financial advice: General content in the app is not personal financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to enter any credit agreement.

1. Responsible lending: Credit products are subject to affordability assessments, National Credit Act requirements, and the provider’s terms. “Financial services are subject to responsible lending practices” (in-app disclaimer).

1. Third-party websites: Links to tshabalalafinance.co.za and similar sites are governed by those entities’ policies.

1. No guarantee: LCJ does not guarantee loan approval, interest rates, or financial results.

For financial product queries, contact the relevant provider directly using details shown in the Financial Guidance section of the app.

9. Cookie & similar technologies policy (web)

Applies to the Membership Web and any LCJ website using cookies.

You can control cookies through browser settings. Blocking necessary cookies may prevent login or checkout.

We do not use cookies on the native Mobile App in the same way; the app may use local storage (e.g. AsyncStorage) for session and preferences.

Third-party cookies: Paystack and Firebase may set cookies during checkout/auth.

10. Children & minors

• The Services are directed primarily to adults (18+).
• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
• Membership categories may include “Children” pricing for family plans supervised by a parent/guardian account holder.
• If you believe we collected a child’s data improperly, contact info@lifechangingjourney.co.za and we will delete it.

11. Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)

LCJ processes personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

Information Regulator (South Africa):

Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/

Complaints may be directed to the Regulator if not resolved with us.

12. Account deletion & data requests

12.1 How to request deletion

Email info@lifechangingjourney.co.za from your registered address with subject “Account deletion request” and include:

• Full name;
• Registered email;
• Whether you want full deletion or anonymisation of booking history.

We will verify identity before processing.

12.2 What we delete

• Firebase Authentication user (where technically feasible);
• Firestore users/{uid} profile;
• user_memberships/{uid} (subject to financial record retention);
• Associated bookings/contacts where retention is not legally required.

12.3 What we may retain

• Transaction records for tax/audit;
• Information necessary for legal claims or regulatory compliance;
• Aggregated, non-identifying analytics.

12.4 Store-specific deletion (Apple)

Apple App Store users may also use Account Deletion requirements: provide an in-app path or web link. Recommended: Settings → Profile → “Delete account” linking to this process, or email flow above documented in App Store Connect notes.

13. Intellectual property

• LCJ content (logos, text, graphics, app design, videos, podcasts) is owned by LCJ or licensors and protected by copyright and trademark law.
• You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Services for personal, non-commercial purposes.
• You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without written permission.
• User content you submit remains yours; you grant LCJ a licence to use it to operate the Services.

14. App store & platform notices

14.1 Apple App Store

• Privacy Policy URL (required): use this combined document at one public HTTPS URL, e.g. https://www.lifechangingjourney.co.za/legal/terms-and-policies
• Terms of Use (EULA): Link to the same URL, or use standard Apple EULA and reference this document in the app description
• Account deletion: Required for apps with account creation — implement link per Section 12
• App Privacy labels: Declare contact info, identifiers, user content, purchase history, and other data per actual collection (Firebase, Paystack redirect, Calendly, notifications)
• Permissions declared (app.json): phone, camera, photo library, location when in use — align Privacy Nutrition Labels with actual use

14.2 Google Play

• Privacy policy URL (required) in Play Console
• Data safety form: Declare data types, encryption in transit, optional deletion
• Health app declaration if categorized under Health & Fitness — clarify app is a portal, not a medical device
• Financial features declaration if linking to credit services
• Target audience & content rating questionnaire accurate to content

14.3 Huawei AppGallery

• Privacy policy and user agreement URLs required
• Data processing disclosure for users in applicable regions
• Permission list must match APK permissions
• Ensure APK signing and package name com.lifechangingjourney.app consistency

14.4 In-app acceptance

The registration screen states: “By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.”

Link both labels to this single hosted URL before store submission.

15. Contact & data controller

Partner contact (examples referenced in-app — not LCJ data controllers):

16. Publication checklist for store deployment

Use this checklist before submitting to Apple, Google, and Huawei:

• [ ] Attorney review completed for South Africa (POPIA, NCA, consumer law, health claims)
• [ ] Information Officer appointed and POPIA registration completed if required
• [ ] Company/NPO registration details inserted in Section 15
• [ ] Host this combined file at one stable HTTPS URL (use the same URL for Privacy Policy and Terms in all stores)
• [ ] Update RegisterScreen / login to open those URLs (replace plain text with links)
• [ ] Replace outdated privacy.html in repo root OR redirect it to the new policy
• [ ] App Store Connect: Privacy Policy URL, support URL, demo account for reviewers
• [ ] Google Play: Data safety + content rating + financial/health declarations
• [ ] Huawei: User agreement + privacy URLs + permission justification
• [ ] Privacy labels match real data flows (Firebase, Calendly, Paystack web, optional Gemini, push)
• [ ] Account deletion process documented and accessible in-app
• [ ] Confirm production uses Paystack (not mock payments) on Membership Web
• [ ] Tighten Firestore security rules for production (bookings/contacts currently permissive in dev rules)

Store URL: Use one link everywhere — https://www.lifechangingjourney.co.za/legal/terms-and-policies (or host this .md as HTML at that path).

Document history

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