Terms of use

1. About Mercatr

Mercatr helps brands and independent creators discover each other, agree sponsored content work, exchange drafts, verify publication and track payments. Our initial market is X creator marketing in Nigeria. Only countries, platforms and payment methods made available in the product are supported. Articles about other markets do not mean those markets are available for transactions.

The brand and creator agree the campaign deliverables and are responsible for performing their respective obligations. Mercatr provides the marketplace and its administrative services; an account verification or profile approval is not a guarantee of performance, audience quality or commercial results.

2. Eligibility and accounts

You must be at least 18 and able to enter into an agreement. If you act for a business, you must have authority to do so. Supply accurate account, organisation, social profile and payment information, and keep it current. Do not impersonate another person or claim control of an account you do not own or manage with permission.

Protect access to your email and sign-in links. Notify support if you suspect unauthorised use. You are responsible for activity you authorise through your account and for the members you invite to a brand workspace.

3. Campaigns, offers and delivery

Before accepting an offer, check its scope, price, currency, draft and publication deadlines, included revisions, usage rights and any additional terms. The accepted version is saved with the deal. Changes outside that scope require agreement between the parties; a chat message does not automatically change the recorded price or payment instructions.

Brands must provide accurate briefs and timely feedback. Creators must deliver the agreed work and submit publication links for verification. Do not publish content requiring approval until it has been approved. A brand may request the revisions included in the agreement. Approval does not waive rights that cannot lawfully be waived.

Where the offer specifies confirmation by both parties, the brand and creator check the published work and confirm delivery after any agreed minimum live period. The period begins when the publication link is submitted. Payment eligibility follows confirmation of all agreed publications and resolution of any dispute. A party must not confirm work that has not been delivered. API checks are periodic and do not prove uninterrupted availability; they do not replace either party’s delivery confirmation.

4. Sponsored content and intellectual property

Both parties are responsible for complying with applicable advertising, consumer protection and platform rules, including clear sponsorship disclosures. Do not request fake engagement, misleading claims, prohibited products, harassment or infringement of another person's rights.

Each party retains ownership of material it brings to the campaign. Permission to use campaign content follows the usage rights agreed in the accepted offer; there is no automatic transfer of all intellectual property. You give Mercatr permission to store, display and process your content as needed to provide the service, share it with authorised participants, and investigate disputes. Do not upload material you lack permission to share.

5. Campaign activation and respect for creator time

Browsing creators is free. Before outreach, Nigerian brands pay ₦2,500 to activate each campaign. This payment becomes credit against that campaign’s platform fees; it does not reduce creator earnings or cover payment processing charges. If the first funded deal uses less platform fee than the available credit, the balance stays with that campaign for later deals. Previously funded campaigns may retain outreach access without a new activation payment.

Activation is refundable through support before outreach begins, provided no credit has been allocated to a deal. Once an invitation, offer or other eligible outreach starts, activation is non-refundable, except where applicable law requires otherwise. Refunds of cancelled funded deals return the cash paid for the held deal; activation credit used on that deal returns to the campaign instead of being paid out as cash. Processing charges and exceptional cases follow the refund review process.

New brands may contact up to five distinct creators at a time and introduce themselves to five distinct creators per seven days across their campaigns. Limits can grow with funded campaign history and fall after missed funding deadlines. Closing an invitation or offer does not reset the seven-day introduction limit.

Newly accepted offers must be funded within 48 hours. If funding is not confirmed, the creator need not reserve time or start work. Missed deadlines cancel the unfunded deal and pause further brand outreach for support review. Provider checks may delay final status confirmation; a payment proved to have been made within the deadline is reconciled before a missed-payment decision. Existing funded work remains accessible.

Discussing fit does not entitle a brand to free custom concepts, scripts, samples or planning. Include custom work in the agreed paid deliverables and wait for confirmed funding before starting. These controls reduce time-wasting; they do not guarantee every participant’s conduct. Contact support to report abuse or challenge an outreach restriction.

6. Prices, funding and payouts

Check the payment breakdown before confirming a transaction. It identifies the creator amount and any platform or processing charges. Payment processing is provided by the payment provider available at checkout. Mercatr records funding, holds and releases in its transaction ledger; Mercatr accounts are not bank accounts and do not earn interest.

A creator must supply a valid supported payout account. Payout eligibility depends on the agreed work, verification and any outstanding dispute. Provider outages, review requirements and bank processing can delay settlement. Do not treat a pending payment, refund or payout as completed until it is confirmed. Each party is responsible for taxes arising from its own income or purchases, subject to any withholding required by applicable law.

7. Cancellation, refunds and disputes

Before funding, use the cancellation controls available for the deal. After funding, contact support or open a dispute through the deal page. A dispute pauses the normal completion and payout flow while the record and evidence are reviewed. Both sides should explain their position and supply relevant evidence without disclosing unnecessary personal information.

When a funded deal is cancelled and its full payment remains held, an authorised administrator can initiate a refund. The current refund workflow returns the held deal amount; separately collected payment processing charges are not included automatically. Any rights to a further refund under applicable law remain unaffected. Different outcomes, including payments already released, need individual review.

Refunds can remain pending with the processor. Mercatr checks their status and will not send a duplicate refund simply because confirmation is delayed. Contact support to challenge a decision or report missing funds. The internal review process does not remove statutory rights or access to applicable courts or regulators.

8. Files, moderation and account restrictions

Deal files are shared with both parties and authorised dispute reviewers. Do not upload passwords, malware, full card details or unrelated sensitive personal data. Keep your own copies of important agreements and deliverables. File type and size checks do not certify that every uploaded file is safe.

Mercatr may restrict content or account access when needed to investigate misuse, protect users, enforce these terms or comply with applicable obligations. Contact support to request review of a restriction. Outstanding deals, records and payment obligations may need to be resolved before an account can be closed.

9. Availability and responsibility

We aim to operate a reliable service, but access and third-party integrations may be interrupted. We do not promise a particular number of campaigns, followers, impressions, sales or income. Blog articles are general information, not a guarantee of marketing results.

Each party remains responsible for its own acts and omissions. Nothing in these terms excludes liability or consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded. Any disagreement about these terms is subject to applicable law, including mandatory protections that apply to you.

10. Changes and contact

Material changes will be identified by an updated effective date and communicated through an appropriate service channel. They do not automatically rewrite the commercial terms of an already accepted deal. Contact the support address above for account, campaign, payment or policy enquiries.