Terms of Service

Version 1.0

This document is the English-language version of the terms of service. In the event of any discrepancy between the Dutch-language and the English-language version, the Dutch-language version shall prevail.

Arkintel B.V. is a company registered in the Netherlands, with the following information:

  • Company name: Arkintel B.V.
  • Address: [ADDRESS PLACEHOLDER]
  • Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) number: [KVK PLACEHOLDER]
  • VAT number: [VAT PLACEHOLDER]
  • Privacy contact: [EMAIL PLACEHOLDER]

This contract is a legal agreement between you (hereinafter referred to as "user", "you" or "your") and Arkintel B.V. (hereinafter referred to as "Arkintel", "we", "us" or "our").

The Arkintel platform is developed and operated using software licensed from Arkintel B.V. (hereinafter referred to as "Arkintel"), a software and AI service provider based in Delft, The Netherlands. References to the "platform" or "Services" in these terms encompass the full technology stack operated by Arkintel and provided by Arkintel.

General

These terms of service govern your access to and use of the Arkintel debt-assistance platform, including the website (the "Site") and any related mobile website, mobile application, or connected media form (collectively, the "Services").

Please read these Terms carefully before creating an account or using the Services. By creating an account and using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Our Services are not intended for children. You must be at least 18 years of age to use our Services. If you are under the age of 18, you may not use our Services.

Arkintel limits its Services to users from the European Union. If you are not a resident of the European Union, you may not use our Services.

By using the Services, you represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit will be true, accurate, current, and complete and (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information and promptly update such registration information as necessary.

Any user may only create a single account. If you create multiple accounts, we may suspend or terminate your accounts.

Purpose of the Platform

The Arkintel platform is a digital tool designed to assist users in organising and managing their personal debt situation. It provides:

  • An AI-powered chat assistant for informational guidance on debt-related questions.
  • An AI-powered document extraction feature that allows users to upload debt letters, invoices, and similar documents to automatically extract and track relevant financial data.
  • A personal financial overview where users can monitor their debts, income, and expenses.

The platform is a supportive tool only. It is not a substitute for professional financial advice, legal advice, or formal debt counselling (schuldhulpverlening). The AI assistant provides informational output only. Users are expected to consult their assigned counsellor or a qualified professional before making financial decisions based on information provided by the platform.

Use License

Subject to these Terms, Arkintel grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to access and use the Services for your personal, non-commercial use.

This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:

  • modify or copy the materials;
  • use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);
  • attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained in the Services;
  • remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
  • transfer the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server.

This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by Arkintel at any time.

Intellectual Property

The Services and their original content, features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of Arkintel and its licensors (including Arkintel). The Services are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the Netherlands and foreign countries. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of Arkintel.

AI Output and Financial Information Disclaimer

The user understands and agrees that:

  • Any financial information, data, or guidance presented by the Services, including output from the AI chat assistant, is for informational purposes only.
  • AI output does not constitute financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or any other form of professional advice.
  • AI systems may produce incorrect, incomplete, or misleading output. This is an inherent characteristic of generative AI technology and not a defect in the platform.
  • The user is solely responsible for verifying any information provided by the platform and for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of that information.
  • The platform is intended to be used alongside guidance from a qualified volunteer or professional from the schuldhulpverlening, not as a standalone advisory service.

AI Transparency (EU AI Act)

In accordance with the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), Arkintel discloses the following:

  • The platform uses artificial intelligence systems for two purposes: (1) an AI chat assistant that responds to user questions, and (2) an AI document extraction service that reads uploaded documents and extracts structured financial data.
  • Both AI features are powered by a third-party large language model (currently Google Gemini AI Enterprise API). The AI model is a general-purpose model that has not been fine-tuned or trained on user data from this platform.
  • AI-generated output is clearly presented as such within the platform. The user is always aware when they are interacting with an AI system.
  • No automated decisions are made by the platform. The AI provides informational output only. All decisions regarding the user's financial situation remain with the user and their counsellor. The platform does not engage in profiling, scoring, or automated decision-making as defined in Article 22 of the GDPR.

Document Upload and Data Handling

When you upload a document to the platform:

  • The document is processed by the AI extraction service to identify and extract structured financial data (such as creditor names, amounts, and dates).
  • The original file is immediately scheduled for deletion after extraction and is typically removed within minutes. Original documents are not stored, retained, or made downloadable.
  • Only the extracted financial data is persisted in the platform, as it is necessary for the debt tracking functionality.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the right to upload any document you submit to the platform. Do not upload documents belonging to other persons without their explicit consent.

Data Protection and Privacy

Arkintel B.V. is the data controller for personal data collected through the platform. Arkintel B.V. acts as a data processor on behalf of Arkintel under a data processing agreement (verwerkersovereenkomst) that meets the requirements of Article 28 GDPR.

By creating an account, you acknowledge and accept the processing of your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy forms an integral part of these Terms and contains complete information about:

  • the legal basis for the processing of your data;
  • what personal data is collected and for what purposes;
  • the sub-processors engaged in the delivery of the Services;
  • how and where your data is stored;
  • with whom your data is shared;
  • the applicable data retention periods;
  • your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
  • the procedure for lodging a complaint; and
  • the procedure in the event of a data breach.

All data storage and backup locations are within the European Economic Area (EEA). Please refer to the Privacy Policy for complete information.

Rules of Conduct

By using the Services, you agree to comply with the following rules of conduct:

  • You will not use the Services for any illegal or unauthorised purpose.
  • You will not upload, post, or transmit content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable.
  • You will not upload content that you do not have a right to transmit under any law or contractual relationship.
  • You will not upload content that you know is not correct or current with the intent to manipulate the platform's output.
  • You will not upload any material that contains software viruses or code designed to disrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment.
  • You will not interfere with or disrupt the Services, servers, or networks connected to the Services.
  • You will not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Services, other users' accounts, or any systems or networks connected to the Services.
  • You will not forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers to disguise the origin of any content transmitted through the Services.
  • The user takes full responsibility for the content of any messages sent and documents uploaded by the user.

Disclaimer

The materials and services on the platform are provided "as is" and "as available". Arkintel and its suppliers and licensors (including Arkintel) hereby disclaim all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Neither Arkintel nor its suppliers and licensors makes any warranty that the Services will be error-free or that access thereto will be continuous or uninterrupted. You understand that you use the Services at your own discretion and risk.

Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights as a consumer under Dutch law.

Limitations of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Arkintel, Arkintel, and the Gemeente Delft shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to damages for loss of data, profit, revenue, goodwill, business interruption, or any other financial or non-financial loss, arising out of or in connection with the use or inability to use the Services.

In all cases where liability cannot be fully excluded under applicable law, the aggregate liability of Arkintel, Arkintel, and the Gemeente Delft, jointly and severally, for any and all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be limited to direct damages only and shall not exceed the total amount paid by the user to Arkintel in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or one hundred euros (€100), whichever is greater.

Furthermore, Arkintel is not responsible for the content of any third-party websites linked to or from the Services. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Arkintel. Use of any such linked website is at the user's own risk.

The limitations in this section apply regardless of the legal theory on which the claim is based, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

  • death or personal injury caused by negligence;
  • fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
  • intentional misconduct (opzet) or gross negligence (grove schuld);
  • liability arising from a breach of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the extent that such limitation would be contrary to applicable law; or
  • any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable Dutch law.

Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights as a consumer under Dutch law.

Force Majeure

Arkintel shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond Arkintel's reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited to: natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, epidemics or pandemics, government actions or regulations, power outages, internet or telecommunications failures, cyberattacks, failures of third-party service providers (including cloud infrastructure and AI API providers), and labour disputes. During any period of force majeure, Arkintel's obligations under these Terms are suspended without liability for the duration of the event.

Termination

We may terminate or suspend access to our Services immediately if you breach these Terms. We may also terminate or suspend access with reasonable notice for other legitimate business reasons, such as discontinuation of the Services or significant changes to the platform.

All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, limitations of liability, and the governing law and dispute resolution provisions.

The user may terminate their account at any time by contacting Arkintel. Upon termination, Arkintel will delete all personal data associated with the user's account in accordance with the data retention periods set out in the Privacy Policy, unless retention is required by law.

Arkintel makes no obligation or guarantee to store the user's information for any period of time after the termination of the user's account. Users are encouraged to exercise their right to data portability and request a copy of their data prior to terminating their account.

Indemnification

The user agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Arkintel, Arkintel, the Gemeente Delft, and their respective employees, contractors, agents, officers, and directors from any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees) arising out of:

  • a breach of these Terms by the user;
  • any content or data uploaded or submitted by the user that infringes the rights of a third party or violates applicable law;
  • the user's violation of any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right in connection with the use of the Services; or
  • any misuse of the Services by the user, including use in a manner not contemplated by these Terms.

The user acknowledges and agrees that they are solely responsible for:

  • the accuracy and completeness of any information they provide to the platform;
  • any decisions or actions taken on the basis of information or output provided by the platform, including AI-generated content;
  • exercising reasonable judgement in relation to the use of the Services and any information obtained through the platform.

Arkintel, Arkintel, and the Gemeente Delft accept no responsibility for the consequences of any decision or action taken by the user based on information or output provided by the platform. The platform is a supportive tool only and users are expected to verify information independently and consult qualified professionals before making financial, legal, or other significant decisions.

Modifications to Terms

Any new features or tools added to the current Services shall also be subject to the Terms. We reserve the right to update, change, or replace any part of these Terms by posting updates to our website. It is your responsibility to check this page periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to the Services following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

In the case of major changes, we will inform you by email at least fourteen (14) days before the new terms take effect. The classification of a change as minor or major is at the sole discretion of Arkintel.

For material changes that adversely affect your rights, you will be given the opportunity to reject the changes by terminating your account before the effective date without penalty. If you do not agree with the revised Terms, you may terminate your account and request deletion of your data in accordance with the data retention periods in the Privacy Policy. Continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Partial Validity

In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the parties agree to work together in good faith to amend or replace the invalid provision with a valid one that most closely achieves the original provision's intent and purpose, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, unaffected by the invalidity or unenforceability of any specific part.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement, including all terms and conditions and any disputes arising from or related to it, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter amicably through good-faith negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation within thirty (30) days, either party may initiate formal proceedings.

Disputes may be resolved by arbitration if both parties agree. In such case, arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of a recognized arbitration institution selected by mutual agreement, with the seat of arbitration in the Netherlands. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Dutch or English. The parties shall share the costs of arbitration equally, unless the arbitrators decide otherwise. Any award made by the arbitrators shall be final and binding on both parties.

If the parties do not agree to arbitration, or for any dispute where arbitration is not agreed, the competent courts of the Netherlands shall have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory provisions of consumer law grant you the right to bring proceedings in the courts of your habitual residence.

Nothing in this section shall prevent you from exercising your right to lodge a complaint with the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens or from bringing proceedings regarding the protection of your personal data before the courts of your habitual residence, in accordance with Article 79 GDPR.

Notice

Any notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the email address associated with the user's Arkintel account. The user shall promptly notify Arkintel of any changes to or loss of access to the email address associated with their account. Notices sent to the email address associated with the user's account shall be deemed received upon transmission. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that they regularly check their email for notices from Arkintel.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Arkintel with respect to the use of the Services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, whether electronic, oral, or written, between you and Arkintel regarding the Services.