Acceptable Use & Refund Policy

Purpose & Scope

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") applies to all users of HypeCity, regardless of subscription tier — Free (Explorer), Plus, Intelligence, Pro, and Enterprise.

This AUP supplements our Terms of Service. In the event of conflict between the Terms and this AUP, the Terms govern unless this AUP explicitly states otherwise.

Violations of this AUP may result in account suspension, termination, and/or civil or criminal legal action, depending on the severity and nature of the violation.

Permitted Uses

You may use HypeCity to:

• Research neighborhoods and markets for personal investment decisions
• Compare cities, neighborhoods, and investment signals
• Build and manage personal watchlists
• Export data within the limits of your subscription tier
• Access the API within published rate limits (Pro and Enterprise tiers)
• Share screenshots of platform content with proper HypeCity attribution
• Use the platform for internal organizational purposes on multi-seat tiers

Prohibited Uses

The following activities are strictly prohibited. Violation may result in immediate termination.

API Usage

API access is available on Pro and Enterprise tiers, subject to the following rules:

• Rate limits are enforced per tier and published in the API documentation. Exceeding limits triggers throttling, then temporary suspension.
• Caching: You may cache API responses for a maximum of 24 hours. Longer caching requires written permission.
• Attribution: Any public-facing use of API data must include the attribution: "Data: HypeCity Intelligence"
• Security: API keys must be stored server-side only. Embedding API keys in client-side code (JavaScript, mobile apps) is prohibited.
• Resale: Resale or sublicensing of API data is prohibited without a separate commercial license agreement.

Full API documentation is available at docs.hypecity.com.

Reporting Violations

If you become aware of any violation of this AUP, please report it to:

• General abuse: abuse@hypecity.com
• Security vulnerabilities: security@hypecity.com (responsible disclosure encouraged — we do not pursue legal action against good-faith security researchers)

All reports are reviewed within 48 hours. We may request additional information to investigate.

Enforcement

We enforce this AUP through an escalating response framework:

Note: Termination for AUP violation does NOT entitle the user to a refund of any prepaid subscription fees.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee

We offer a full refund within 14 days of your first paid subscription, no questions asked.

To request a refund, email billing@hypecity.com from the email address registered on your account. Include your account email and the word "refund" in the subject line.

Refunds are processed within 5 business days of approval and typically appear on your statement within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer.

After 14 Days

Refund eligibility after the initial 14-day period varies by subscription tier:

Cancellation

You can cancel your subscription at any time through:

• Account Settings → Subscription tab (self-service, immediate confirmation)
• Email: billing@hypecity.com (processed within 2 business days)

Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You retain full access until then.

Upon cancellation, your account reverts to the Free (Explorer) tier. Your watchlist data is preserved for 12 months in case you re-subscribe.

Failed Payments

If a payment fails, the following process applies:

• Day 0: Email notification of failed payment with instructions to update payment method.
• Days 1–14: Three automatic retry attempts by Stripe.
• Day 14: If all retries fail, subscription is suspended. Access restricted to Free tier.
• Day 30: If payment remains unresolved, subscription is cancelled. Locked pricing (including Founders Price) may be forfeited.

Disputes & Chargebacks

If you believe a charge is incorrect, please contact billing@hypecity.com first. We resolve most billing issues within 5 business days.

Filing a chargeback with your bank without first contacting us may result in:

• Immediate account suspension pending investigation
• Permanent loss of any locked or promotional pricing
• Ban of the associated payment method from future use on HypeCity

We encourage open communication and will work in good faith to resolve any billing concerns.

Consumer Rights

Nothing in this policy limits your statutory consumer protection rights. Where applicable law grants stronger refund or cancellation rights, those rights prevail:

• EU: 14-day right of withdrawal under the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU)
• Israel: Consumer Protection Law 1981 — 14-day cancellation right for distance contracts
• UK: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
• California: CCPA and California Consumer Protection Act provisions

If you believe your statutory rights entitle you to a refund beyond what this policy provides, contact billing@hypecity.com and cite the applicable regulation.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes — particularly changes affecting refund terms or enforcement procedures — will be notified via email at least 30 days before taking effect.

The "Effective" date at the top of this document reflects the latest version. Continued use of the platform after notice constitutes acceptance.