Terms of Use

Last updated: May 2025

1. The Ferried Marketplace

Ferried, LLC (“Ferried,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the peer-to-peer pet transport marketplace located at getferried.com (the “Platform”).

Our Role: Ferried provides a digital venue that connects individuals or businesses seeking pet transportation services (“Pet Owners”) with independent third-party service providers (“Transporters”).

Service Disclaimer: Ferried is a logistics software platform, not a transportation carrier, motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder. We do not own vehicles, employ drivers, or provide pet transport services. The legal contract for any transport job is strictly a private agreement between the Pet Owner and the Transporter.

2. Binding Agreement & Incorporation

By accessing the Platform, creating an account, or participating in any transaction, you expressly agree to be bound by these Terms. The following policies are incorporated into this agreement by reference:

• Cancellation & Refund Policy
• $2,000 Pet Protection Plan
• Health, Vaccination & Equipment Standards
• Privacy Policy
• Review & Community Conduct Policy

3. User Eligibility & Account Integrity

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform.

Singular Identity: Users may maintain exactly one (1) account. Creating duplicate or alias accounts to circumvent platform bans, fees, or negative reviews is a material breach of these terms and will result in a permanent ban.

Verification: Transporters must pass a mandatory third-party background screening (criminal and motor vehicle records). Ferried reserves the right to re-screen any user at any time at its sole discretion.

4. The Ferried Payment Flow (Stripe)

Payment Collection: When a Pet Owner accepts a bid, Ferried collects the total funds (Booking Fee + Transporter Fee) via Stripe Connect.

Payment Clearing: To protect both parties, the Transporter's portion of the funds is held by our payment processor in a pending state and is not immediately available for payout.

Authorized Release: Funds are only cleared for payout to the Transporter once the transport is marked as complete on the Platform and verified by the Pet Owner (or via verified proof of delivery).

Direct Payment Prohibition: Attempting to bypass Ferried's secure payment flow by paying a Transporter directly (via cash, Zelle, Venmo, etc.) is a material breach of these Terms. Such actions void all platform protections, including the $2,000 Pet Protection Plan, and are grounds for immediate account termination.

5. USDA & Regulatory Compliance

Transporter Status: Transporters are independent contractors and are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, insurance, and licenses required by federal and state law.

Insurance Requirement: All Transporters are required to carry valid personal or commercial auto insurance as required by their state of operation. Transporters must provide proof of insurance during the onboarding process. Ferried does not provide, maintain, or guarantee any insurance coverage on behalf of Transporters. The existence of the Ferried $2,000 Pet Protection Plan does not constitute insurance and does not replace any coverage Transporters are independently required to carry.

USDA Registration: Any Transporter operating as a “for-hire” carrier must comply with USDA APHIS regulations. Ferried reserves the right to display and verify USDA registration numbers on Transporter profiles.

6. Independent Contractor Relationship

Transporters using the Ferried Platform are independent contractors, not employees, agents, partners, or joint venturers of Ferried, LLC. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment relationship of any kind.

• Ferried does not provide Transporters with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, health benefits, or any other employment-related benefits.
• Transporters are solely responsible for their own taxes, including self-employment tax obligations.
• Ferried does not control the manner or means by which Transporters perform their services, only the standards required to use the Platform.
• Transporters may not represent themselves as employees or agents of Ferried.

7. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

If a Pet Owner initiates a chargeback or payment dispute with their credit card issuer or bank without first attempting resolution through Ferried's support process, Ferried reserves the right to:

• Suspend the Pet Owner's account pending investigation.
• Provide transaction records, communications, and evidence to the payment processor to contest the chargeback.
• Recover any chargeback-related fees or losses from the Pet Owner, including fees assessed by Stripe.

Pet Owners are strongly encouraged to contact support@getferried.com before initiating any dispute with their financial institution. Ferried's support team can resolve most payment issues faster than the chargeback process.

9. Intellectual Property

Ferried, LLC retains all ownership rights to the Platform, including the getferried.com domain, logos, “Ferry” branding, proprietary algorithms, and user databases. You are granted a limited, revocable license to use the Platform for its intended purpose. You may not scrape, crawl, or reverse-engineer any portion of the Platform.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the State of Michigan, Ferried, LLC, its officers, and employees shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from a transport.

Direct Liability: Ferried is not responsible for pet injury, illness, loss, or property damage.

Maximum Cap: In the event Ferried is found liable for any claim not covered by the $2,000 Pet Protection Plan, our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the total fees paid by the user to Ferried in the six (6) months prior to the event.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Ferried, LLC from and against any and all claims, damages, or legal expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your breach of these Terms.
• Your interactions with other users.
• Any injury or damage caused by a pet you listed or transported.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided on an “As Is” and “As Available” basis. Ferried makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the reliability of Transporters, the truthfulness of Pet Owner listings, or the continuous availability of the website. You interact with other users at your own risk.

13. Dispute Resolution & Governing Law

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.

Mandatory Mediation: Before seeking legal action, both parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes through support@getferried.com.

Arbitration: If mediation fails, all disputes shall be settled by binding arbitration in Michigan on an individual basis.

Class Action Waiver: You expressly waive the right to participate in any class-action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against Ferried, LLC.