Terms & Conditions

1. Parties and Agreement

These Terms and Conditions ("Agreement") constitute a legally binding contract between Stratus Net (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2016/418098/07, with its principal place of business at 30 Mitchell Street, Meyerton, Gauteng, 1961, South Africa ("Stratus Net", "we", "us", or "our"), and any person or entity ("Client", "you", or "your") who accesses our website at stratusnet.co.za, uses our payment portal at payment.stratusnet.co.za, or engages our services.

By accessing our website, submitting an order, making a payment, or signing a service agreement, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement.

2. Services Offered

Stratus Net provides the following digital services to individuals and businesses:

• Web Hosting — managed shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting solutions on South African infrastructure
• Website Design & Development — custom websites, landing pages, and multi-page corporate sites
• Web Application Development — bespoke web-based software, portals, client dashboards, and custom tools
• Digital Advertising — Google Ads management, social media advertising, SEO campaigns, and performance marketing
• Domain Registration & Management — domain registration, transfers, DNS configuration, and renewals
• Email Hosting & Configuration — business email setup, migration, and ongoing management
• Stratus Managed Website — an all-inclusive, month-to-month managed website, web address, email, and hosting package for small businesses (see §3.7)

Specific deliverables, timelines, pricing, and scope for each engagement are set out in the applicable Service Agreement, Proposal, or Quote accepted by the Client.

3. Payment Terms

3.1 Payment Portal

All payments are processed securely through payment.stratusnet.co.za, powered by PayFast. By making a payment, you agree to PayFast's terms and conditions in addition to this Agreement.

3.2 Monthly Recurring Services

Hosting, email hosting, domain management, digital advertising management, and similar recurring services are billed monthly in advance. Invoices are issued on or before the first business day of each calendar month and are payable within 7 days of issue.

3.3 Website & Application Development — Financed Packages

3.4 Once-Off Projects

Once-off projects are subject to the payment schedule set out in the applicable proposal or quote, typically comprising a deposit of 50% upon acceptance and the balance prior to or upon delivery.

3.5 Late Payments

Invoices not settled within the agreed payment period will attract interest at the rate of 2% per month on the overdue balance. Stratus Net reserves the right to suspend services without notice if an account is overdue by more than 14 days, and to terminate services if the account remains unpaid after 30 days. Reactivation fees may apply. The Stratus Managed Website subscription instead follows the separate non-payment process set out in §3.7.

3.6 Disputed Invoices

If you dispute an invoice, you must notify us in writing within 7 days of the invoice date, specifying the nature of the dispute. Undisputed portions of an invoice remain payable by the original due date.

3.7 Stratus Managed Website (R449/month)

The Stratus Managed Website is an all-inclusive, month-to-month managed web-presence service. For a single monthly fee (currently R449, inclusive of VAT), Stratus Net provides and maintains, on the Client's behalf, a website, a web address (domain), business email, hosting, security, backups, and ongoing technical management. For the avoidance of doubt, this service is not a financed development package under §3.3, is not subject to any fixed term, and is governed by this §3.7, which prevails over §3.2, §3.3, §3.5, §4.1, §4.2 and §8 to the extent of any conflict.

Billing. The service is billed monthly in advance as a recurring subscription through PayFast. The first month is charged on sign-up and each subsequent month on the same date. There is no setup fee, no minimum term, and no fixed contract. The monthly fee may change on notice in accordance with §11.

Ownership during the subscription. While the subscription is active, Stratus Net owns and retains all rights in the website, the domain registration, and the hosting environment, and grants the Client a non-exclusive licence to use the website for the Client's business for as long as the subscription remains paid and active. The Client does not acquire ownership of the website files or the domain unless and until a Buyout is completed (below).

If a payment fails (this process applies in place of §3.5):

• PayFast re-attempts the charge in accordance with its own process. The website remains live and Stratus Net will send payment reminders.
• If the subscription remains unpaid, Stratus Net may suspend the service 7 days after the failed payment: the website is temporarily replaced with a notice and email delivery stops. Nothing is deleted at this stage.
• The Client may restore the service in full at any time before removal by bringing the account up to date; the website and email are reinstated as they were.
• If the subscription remains unpaid 60 days after the failed payment, Stratus Net may permanently remove the website, mailboxes, and associated data, at which point the subscription ends and restoration is no longer guaranteed.

Cancelling (no notice, no penalty). The Client may cancel at any time through the client panel or in writing to info@stratusnet.co.za, by selecting a switch-off date. There is no notice period and no early-termination penalty. On the switch-off date the service is suspended as described above. The Client's website and configuration are retained for 60 days from that date, during which the Client may reactivate by resuming payment. 60 days after the switch-off date the website, mailboxes, and data are permanently removed and the subscription ends. No pro-rata refund is given for the paid month in which cancellation takes effect.

Buyout — taking ownership (once-off R3,995). At any time the Client may buy out their website for a once-off fee of R3,995 (inclusive of VAT). On receipt of the buyout fee: (a) the domain (web address) is transferred into the Client's own name or registrar account; (b) the Client is provided with a copy of their website files; and (c) the monthly subscription ends. Following a buyout, the Client is solely responsible for arranging their own hosting, domain renewals, email, and maintenance, and Stratus Net's managed service and any bundled hosting or email cease on completion of the transfer. Domain transfers are subject to the relevant registry and registrar processes and timeframes; Stratus Net will action the transfer promptly but does not control third-party registrar timelines. The buyout fee is non-refundable once the transfer has commenced.

Domain on removal. If the service ends without a buyout (whether through non-payment or cancellation), the domain registration — being owned by Stratus Net — may be retained or released at Stratus Net's sole discretion, and the Client has no claim to it unless a Buyout is completed before removal.

4. Cancellation and Termination

4.1 Recurring Services (Hosting, Advertising, Email, Domains)

Either party may cancel a monthly recurring service by providing no less than 30 calendar days' written notice to the other party. Notice must be submitted in writing via email to info@stratusnet.co.za. The service will remain active and billable for the full 30-day notice period. No pro-rata refunds are issued for the notice period. The Stratus Managed Website subscription may be cancelled at any time under §3.7 and is not subject to this 30-day notice period.

4.2 Website & Web Application Development — Financed Packages

4.3 Once-Off Projects

Once a once-off project has commenced, the deposit is non-refundable. If the Client cancels a project after commencement, all work completed to date will be invoiced at the agreed project rate and the balance due will be payable within 7 days.

4.4 Termination for Cause

Stratus Net reserves the right to terminate this Agreement immediately and without notice if the Client:

• Fails to make payment as required and does not remedy the default within 7 days of written notice
• Uses our services for any unlawful, fraudulent, or abusive purpose
• Violates any applicable law, including the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECT Act) or the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA)
• Engages in activities that damage the reputation, infrastructure, or operations of Stratus Net

5. Refund Policy

Stratus Net's services are rendered on a subscription or project basis. The following refund terms apply:

• Monthly recurring services: No refunds are issued for any portion of the current or notice-period billing cycle.
• Stratus Managed Website subscription: No refund is issued for the current monthly period on cancellation. The once-off buyout fee is non-refundable once the domain transfer has commenced.
• Financed website/app packages (12-month): No refunds. The outstanding contract balance is payable in full upon early termination.
• Once-off project deposits: Non-refundable once a project has commenced.
• Advertising spend: Third-party advertising spend (Google, Meta, etc.) paid to Stratus Net for onward disbursement is non-refundable once submitted to the relevant platform.
• Domain registrations and renewals: Non-refundable once processed with the relevant registry.

If you believe you have been incorrectly charged, please contact us at info@stratusnet.co.za within 7 days of the charge.

6. Delivery of Services

Digital services are delivered electronically. No physical delivery is applicable. Estimated timelines for project-based work are set out in the relevant proposal or service agreement. Stratus Net will make reasonable efforts to meet agreed timelines, but delays caused by Client feedback, third-party dependencies, or circumstances beyond our control do not constitute a breach of this Agreement.

Hosting and recurring services are activated within 1 to 3 business days of receipt of first payment unless otherwise agreed.

7. Client Obligations

The Client agrees to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information required for service delivery
• Respond promptly to requests for content, approvals, or feedback during project engagements
• Ensure that all content, images, text, and materials provided to Stratus Net are owned by the Client or that the Client holds the necessary rights and licences to use such materials
• Not use Stratus Net's services or infrastructure to host, distribute, or transmit unlawful, defamatory, infringing, or harmful content
• Maintain the confidentiality of any login credentials provided

8. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• All intellectual property in deliverables developed by Stratus Net vests in Stratus Net until full payment has been received, at which point ownership transfers to the Client.
• Stratus Net retains the right to display completed work in its portfolio unless the Client expressly requests otherwise in writing.
• Any third-party software, themes, plugins, or libraries incorporated into a project remain subject to their respective licences.
• Content, materials, and assets provided by the Client remain the property of the Client.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by South African law:

• Stratus Net's total liability to the Client shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
• Stratus Net shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of revenue, loss of data, loss of business, or loss of goodwill.
• Stratus Net does not warrant that hosting services will be uninterrupted or error-free, and makes no guarantee regarding uptime beyond what is specified in any applicable SLA.

10. Governing Law and Disputes

This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from this Agreement shall first be referred to good-faith negotiation between the parties. If unresolved within 30 days, the dispute shall be submitted to mediation or arbitration in terms of the Arbitration Act 42 of 1965, as amended, before any court proceedings are initiated.

11. Amendments

Stratus Net reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Clients will be notified of material changes via email or through a notice on stratusnet.co.za. Continued use of our services after notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the amended terms.

12. Contact Details