Acceptable Use Policy | Susu

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") outlines the rules and guidelines for using Susu. Our goal is to maintain a safe, trustworthy, and positive environment for all users.

By using Susu, you agree to comply with this AUP. Violations may result in account suspension, termination, or legal action.

2. Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited on Susu:

2.1 Illegal Activities

Using the Service for any illegal purpose under local, state, federal, or international law
Money laundering or facilitating money laundering
Terrorist financing or funding illegal organizations
Tax evasion or structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements
Fraud, forgery, or identity theft
Selling or purchasing illegal goods or services
Violating any applicable financial services regulations

2.2 Fraudulent Behavior

Providing false, misleading, or inaccurate information
Using a fake identity or impersonating another person
Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or bans
Manipulating the trust score system through artificial activity
Initiating chargebacks on legitimate transactions
Coordinating with others to defraud circle members
Using stolen payment methods or bank accounts

2.3 Abusive Conduct

Harassing, threatening, or intimidating other users
Using hate speech, discriminatory language, or inciting violence
Bullying, stalking, or doxxing (sharing private information)
Sending spam, unsolicited messages, or advertisements
Engaging in sexually explicit or inappropriate behavior
Encouraging or facilitating self-harm or suicide

2.4 Platform Abuse

Attempting to hack, compromise, or gain unauthorized access to our systems
Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling the app
Using automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the Service
Scraping or extracting data from the platform
Attempting to bypass security features or authentication mechanisms
Overloading our servers with excessive requests (DDoS attacks)
Exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities for personal gain

2.5 Circle Misconduct

Deliberately missing contributions without valid reason
Abandoning a circle after receiving a payout
Pressuring or coercing members into joining circles
Creating circles with the intent to defraud members
Using circles for gambling or pyramid schemes
Excluding or discriminating against members based on protected characteristics

2.6 Intellectual Property Violations

Infringing on JoinSusu's trademarks, copyrights, or intellectual property
Using our branding or name without permission
Copying or reproducing our app design, features, or content
Violating the intellectual property rights of other users

3. Expected Behavior

We expect all users to:

3.1 Be Honest and Authentic

Provide accurate and truthful information
Use your real identity (not fake names or personas)
Honor your commitments to circle members
Report bugs or security vulnerabilities responsibly

3.2 Be Respectful

Treat other users with kindness and respect
Communicate professionally and constructively
Respect cultural differences and diverse backgrounds
Resolve conflicts amicably or involve support when needed

3.3 Be Responsible

Make contributions on time
Maintain sufficient funds in your linked payment method
Communicate if you encounter financial difficulties
Read and understand circle terms before joining
Only join circles you can financially commit to

3.4 Protect Your Account

Keep your password secure and confidential
Enable two-factor authentication if available
Do not share your account with others
Immediately report suspicious activity or unauthorized access

4. Reporting Violations

If you become aware of behavior that violates this AUP, please report it immediately:

How to Report:

In-App: Use the "Report" button within the app (on user profiles, circles, or messages)
Email: Send details to support@joinsusu.co with subject "AUP Violation Report"
Emergency: For urgent security or safety concerns, email security@joinsusu.co

What to Include in Your Report:

Description of the violation
Username(s) or circle name(s) involved
Screenshots or evidence (if available)
Date and time of the incident
Your contact information

All reports are confidential. We take every report seriously and investigate promptly.

5. Enforcement and Consequences

Violations of this AUP may result in the following actions, depending on severity:

5.1 Warning

For minor first-time violations, we may issue a formal warning. The warning will be documented in your account and may affect your trust score.

5.2 Temporary Suspension

For moderate or repeat violations:

Account access may be suspended for a specified period (e.g., 7, 14, or 30 days)
You will be unable to create new circles or join new circles
Existing circle obligations must still be honored
Trust score will be negatively impacted

5.3 Permanent Termination

For serious or repeated violations:

Your account will be permanently closed
You will be banned from creating new accounts
You may be removed from all active circles
Outstanding obligations may be settled or refunded as appropriate
We may report illegal activity to law enforcement

5.4 Legal Action

For illegal activities or serious harm:

We reserve the right to pursue legal action
We may cooperate with law enforcement investigations
You may be liable for damages caused to JoinSusu or other users

5.5 Trust Score Impact

All violations negatively affect your trust score:

Minor violations: -5 to -15 points
Moderate violations: -20 to -40 points
Serious violations: -50 to -100 points (reset to 0)

6. Appeals Process

If you believe an enforcement action was made in error, you may appeal:

How to Appeal:

Email appeals@joinsusu.co within 14 days of the action
Include your username, the action taken, and your explanation
Provide any supporting evidence or documentation
Our team will review your appeal within 7 business days
You will receive a written response with our decision

Appeal decisions are final. We do not accept second appeals on the same matter.

7. Content Guidelines

When using circle chat, activity feed, or any communication features:

7.1 Appropriate Content

Content should be:

Relevant to the circle and its purpose
Respectful and professional
Free from offensive language or imagery
Appropriate for all ages

7.2 Prohibited Content

Do not post:

Explicit sexual content or nudity
Graphic violence or gore
Hate speech or discriminatory content
Spam, advertisements, or promotions (unless relevant to the circle)
Misinformation or false claims
Personal information of others without consent
Copyrighted material without permission

8. Third-Party Services

When using third-party services integrated with Susu (e.g., Stripe, bank connections):

You must comply with the third-party's terms of service
Violations of third-party terms may result in Susu account action
We are not responsible for third-party service failures or violations

9. Monitoring and Investigation

To enforce this AUP and maintain platform safety:

We may monitor activity on the platform
We use automated systems to detect fraud and abuse
We may review reported content, messages, or transactions
We may investigate suspicious behavior
We cooperate with law enforcement when required

Note: We do not routinely read private messages, but we may review them if reported or if we suspect violations of this AUP or illegal activity.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this AUP from time to time. Changes will be communicated via:

Email notification
In-app notification
Notice on our website

Continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated AUP.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Acceptable Use Policy:

JoinSusu LLC - Compliance Team

General Questions: support@joinsusu.co

Report Violations: support@joinsusu.co (subject: "AUP Violation")

Appeals: appeals@joinsusu.co

Security Issues: security@joinsusu.co

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Building Trust Together

This Acceptable Use Policy exists to protect our community and ensure Susu remains a safe, trustworthy platform for everyone. By following these guidelines, you help create a positive environment where people can save together with confidence.

Thank you for being a responsible member of the Susu community.