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Plain-English summary
This service contains several potential risks. Disputes with POF will be resolved through binding arbitration, waiving class action and jury trial rights (risk_flags-1). User accounts may be terminated immediately for initiating chargebacks (risk_flags-2). Purchases of Virtual Items are non-refundable, even if an account is closed (risk_flags-3). The service reserves a perpetual, transferable, and sub-licensable right to use user content, including for advertising purposes (risk_flags-4). Accounts may be terminated if users do not engage with mandatory features (risk_flags-5). POF retains the right to remove, edit, or block user content at its sole discretion, and may share user content with third parties or analyze it using automated technologies (risk_flags-6, data_use-1, data_use-2). Subscriptions automatically renew until canceled, and prices may change upon renewal (cancellation_renewal-1, cancellation_renewal-2).
90% confidence
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Risk Flags
6 findings
Critical issues or red flags that may indicate potential harm or significant risk to the user. These typically involve rights waivers, permanent loss of data/access, or one-sided liability clauses.
high95% confidence
Disputes handled by binding arbitration, with class action and jury trial waivers.
This agreement states that disputes will be resolved by binding and final arbitration, including disputes related to arbitrability, and includes waivers for class action and jury trials.
Why it matters: Users waive their right to a jury trial and participation in class action lawsuits, meaning disputes will be settled individually through arbitration, which typically offers less discovery and appellate review than court.
SECTION 15 ALSO INCLUDES A MANDATORY PRE-ARBITRATION INFORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS, SMALL CLAIMS COURT ELECTION, CLASS ACTION AND JURY TRIAL WAIVERS, AND ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES FOR MASS ARBITRATION FILINGS THAT AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS. IN ARBITRATION, THERE IS TYPICALLY LESS DISCOVERY AND APPELLATE REVIEW THAN IN COURT.
Plenty of Fish terms of use agreement, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high90% confidence
Account termination for chargebacks.
If a user initiates a chargeback or otherwise reverses a payment made with their External Service Account, POF may terminate their account immediately.
Why it matters: Initiating a chargeback can lead to immediate termination of the user's account, potentially resulting in loss of service or content without alternative recourse.
If you initiate a chargeback or otherwise reverse a payment made with your External Service Account, POF may terminate your account immediately in its sole discretion, on the basis that you have determined that you do not want a POF subscription.
8a. EXTERNAL SERVICE PURCHASES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Virtual Items are non-refundable.
All purchases and redemptions of Virtual Items through the services are final and non-refundable, and users will not receive money or other compensation for unused Virtual Items when an account is closed, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
Why it matters: Users will not be reimbursed for any Virtual Items they have purchased but not used, even if their account is closed or terminated.
ALL PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF VIRTUAL ITEMS MADE THROUGH OUR SERVICES ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POF IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REFUND FOR VIRTUAL ITEMS FOR ANY REASON, AND THAT YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE MONEY OR OTHER COMPENSATION FOR ANY UNUSED VIRTUAL ITEMS WHEN AN ACCOUNT IS CLOSED, WHETHER SUCH CLOSURE WAS VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY (SUCH AS THROUGH AN ACCOUNT BAN).
License to user content is perpetual and includes advertising.
By creating an account, users grant POF a worldwide, perpetual, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free right and license to use their content, including for advertising.
Why it matters: POF has broad and lasting rights to use user-generated content, including for commercial purposes like advertising, without needing further permission or compensation to the user.
By creating an account, you grant to POF a worldwide, perpetual, transferable, sub- licensable, royalty-free right and license to host, store, use, copy, display, reproduce, adapt, edit, publish, translate, modify, reformat, incorporate into other works, advertise, distribute and otherwise make available to the general public Your Content, including any information you authorize us to access from third-party sources (if applicable), in whole or in part, and in any way and in any format or medium currently known or developed in the future.
PRIVACY, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium85% confidence
Account termination if mandatory features are not engaged with.
If users do not wish to engage with mandatory features introduced by POF, they may lose access to their account or be required to terminate it.
Why it matters: Users might be forced to adopt new features they don't want or risk losing access to their account, potentially disrupting their use of the service.
As these features are mandatory, if you do not wish to engage with these features, you may lose access to your account or be required to terminate your account as set forth in Section 9.
Plenty of Fish terms of use agreement, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Content can be removed at POF's sole discretion without obligation to display or review.
POF has the right to remove, delete, edit, limit, block, or prevent access to any user's content at any time at its sole discretion, and has no obligation to display or review user content.
Why it matters: User content can be removed or restricted without explanation, and there is no guarantee that POF will even review content before taking action, potentially leading to arbitrary content moderation.
You understand and agree that we may monitor or review Your Content, and we have the right to remove, delete, edit, limit, or block or prevent access to any of Your Content at any time at our sole discretion. If Your Content is prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction where our Services are available, we may remove it even if it is not illegal in your location. Furthermore, you understand and agree that we have no obligation to display or review Your Content.
3a. YOUR CONTENT, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use
2 findings
How the company collects, uses, shares, and protects user data. This includes types of data collected, purposes of use, and third-party sharing.
medium90% confidence
POF can analyze and use user content with automated technologies.
POF may analyze, access, store, and use user content, including messages and other communications, to monitor, develop, personalize, and improve its services, including through machine learning and other automated technologies.
Why it matters: User communications and content are subject to automated analysis, meaning sensitive or private information may be processed by algorithms for various service-related purposes.
You understand and agree that we may analyze, access, store, and use Your Content, including messages and other communications, to monitor, develop, personalize, and improve our Services, including through the use of machine learning and other automated technologies, in accordance with applicable law.
3a. YOUR CONTENT, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Account information and content may be disclosed if required by law or for safety reasons.
Users agree that POF may access, preserve, and disclose account information, including user content, if required by law or if POF believes it's reasonably necessary for legal processes, enforcement of terms, addressing third-party claims, customer service requests, protecting rights/property/personal safety, or investigating illegal activity/fraud.
Why it matters: User data, including private communications, can be accessed and disclosed by POF under various circumstances, potentially compromising privacy, even without explicit user consent.
You agree that POF may access, preserve, and disclose your account information, including Your Content, if required to do so by law or upon a good faith belief that such access, preservation, or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (i) comply with legal process; (ii) enforce these Terms; (iii) respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third parties; (iv) respond to your requests for customer service; or (v) protect the rights, property or personal safety of the Company or any other person, or (vi) to investigate, prevent, or take other action regarding illegal activity, suspected fraud or other wrongdoing.
PRIVACY, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation & Renewal
2 findings
Terms related to subscription, service, or account cancellation, including procedures, refund eligibility, and automatic renewal policies.
medium95% confidence
Subscriptions automatically renew until cancelled.
If a user purchases a subscription, it will automatically renew and they will be charged until they cancel.
Why it matters: Users will be continuously charged for their subscription unless they actively cancel it, which could lead to unintended expenses if they forget to cancel.
If you purchase a subscription, it will automatically renew - and you will be charged - until you cancel.
Price changes for renewing subscriptions may occur.
In the event of a price change for a renewing subscription, POF will attempt to notify users in advance, and if users do not timely cancel, their subscription will be renewed at the new full price.
Why it matters: Users may be charged a higher price upon renewal if they do not cancel their subscription after a price change, requiring them to monitor communications from POF.
In the event of a price change for a renewing subscription, we will attempt to notify you in advance of the change by sending an email and/or other communication message to the contact information you have registered for your account. If you do not wish to accept a price change, you may cancel your subscription in accordance with the instructions included in that communication and below. If you do not timely cancel your subscription, your subscription will be renewed at the full price as indicated when the purchase was made, without any additional action by you, and you authorize us to charge your payment method for these amounts.
Potentially hidden or subtle clauses that could work to the user's disadvantage, including unexpected fees, restrictive clauses, or unfavorable default settings.
✓
Looking good
No hidden gotchas
Verbaterm only flags concerns it can cite. Nothing easy-to-miss stood out in this section.
Protections
8 findings
Advantageous clauses or commitments that benefit the user, such as strong privacy guarantees, clear data deletion policies, or favorable refund terms.
Protection95% confidence
California subscribers have extended cancellation rights.
California subscribers may cancel their subscription without penalty or obligation any time prior to midnight of the third business day following the date they subscribed.
Why it helps: This provides California users with a cooling-off period to cancel their subscription and receive a refund, offering flexibility and protection against impulse purchases.
California subscribers: You may cancel your subscription, without penalty or obligation, at any time prior to midnight of the third business day following the date you subscribed.
Plenty of Fish terms of use agreement, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
Refunds handled by Apple for Apple ID subscriptions.
If a user subscribed through their Apple ID, refunds are handled by Apple, not POF.
Why it helps: Users who subscribed via Apple ID can benefit from Apple's refund policies and processes, which may be more straightforward or familiar to them.
If you subscribed through your Apple ID, refunds are handled by Apple, not POF.
Plenty of Fish terms of use agreement, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland subscribers are entitled to a refund within 14 days.
For subscribers residing in the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland, according to local law, they are entitled to a full refund during the 14 days after the subscription begins.
Why it helps: This guarantees a 14-day window for users in specified regions to receive a full refund, providing a significant consumer protection right.
For subscribers residing in the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland: In accordance with local law, you are entitled to a full refund during the 14 days after the subscription begins.
German subscribers can terminate subscriptions with a one-month notice after renewal.
For subscribers residing in Germany, they may terminate their subscription after it has renewed with a notice period of one month.
Why it helps: This allows German users more flexibility in canceling their subscriptions after the initial term, providing a manageable notice period.
For subscribers residing in Germany: You may terminate your subscription after it has renewed with a notice period of one month. Your right to terminate for cause remains unaffected.
Refunds for death or disability before subscription ends.
In the event of a user's death or disability before the end of their subscription period, their estate or the user (respectively) is entitled to a refund for the unused portion of the subscription.
Why it helps: This provides a compassionate and fair policy for refunds in tragic circumstances, ensuring that users or their estates do not lose money for services they cannot use.
In the event that you die before the end of your subscription period, your estate shall be entitled to a refund of that portion of any payment you had made for your subscription which is allocable to the period after your death. In the event that you become disabled (such that you are unable to use our Services) before the end of your subscription period, you shall be entitled to a refund of that portion of any payment you had made for your subscription which is allocable to the period after your disability by providing the Company notice in the same manner as you request a refund as described below.
California, Ohio, and other state users have a 3-business day cancellation right.
Subscribers residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Israel may cancel their subscription without penalty or obligation prior to midnight of the third business day following the date they subscribed.
Why it helps: This grants users in these specific US states and Israel a consumer-friendly right to cancel their subscription and receive a refund within a few days of purchase, offering protection for new subscribers.
For subscribers residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Israel: Your Right to Cancel - You may cancel your subscription, without penalty or obligation, at any time prior to midnight of the third business day following the date you subscribed.
Privacy Policy explains data collection and sharing.
For information about how POF and its affiliates collect, use, and share personal data, users are directed to read the Privacy Policy.
Why it helps: This explicitly points users to a dedicated Privacy Policy, indicating that detailed information on data practices is available, which helps users understand their privacy implications.
For information about how POF and its affiliates collect, use, and share your personal data, please read our Privacy Policy .
PRIVACY, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
No interest or finance charges for installment plans.
No interest or finance charges apply to the installment plan purchase, though fees from the user's payment method issuer may still apply.
Why it helps: This ensures that users taking advantage of installment plans are not subjected to additional interest or finance charges from POF, making the payment option more affordable.
No interest or finance charges apply to this installment plan purchase. Any interest, finance charges or fees assessed by the issuer of your Payment Method may still apply.