These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Mechanic Finder(the “Service”), a directory product operated by Jwsoat Limited (NZBN registered, New Zealand) (“Directory Network”, “Jwsoat”, “we”, “us”). By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
Mechanic Finderis part of the Directory Network family of products. “Jwsoat” is a trademark of Jwsoat Limited and is used under licence.
Please be aware
- automotive services (including repairs, parts supply, pre-purchase inspections, diagnostic assessments, or any other service or repair) listed on Mechanic Finder are not provided by Us. They are provided by independent third-party automotive businesses (“Listed Shops”) found through our directory;
- because Listed Shops, not Us, perform the work, we are not responsible for any issues with how those services are carried out, any failure to carry them out, or any dispute that arises between you and a Listed Shop;
- We are not responsible for the conduct, whether online or offline, of any user of the Service, including any customer or Listed Shop, and you hereby release us from any liability related thereto. We will not be liable for any claim, injury, or damage arising in connection with your use of the Service. You acknowledge that Listed Shops may not have all the required professional licences, registrations, or permits, and it is your responsibility to verify a Shop’s suitability before engaging them. You agree that we have no responsibility or liability to you in relation to any automotive service provided to you by a Listed Shop;
- any prices, ratings, photographs, opening hours, service lists, and other information shown on a Listing are supplied by the Listed Shop or compiled from public sources. Prices are indicative only, are not legally binding on Us, and may change once the Shop inspects the vehicle or quotes the work directly;
- information available on the Service does not constitute technical, legal, or expert advice with respect to your motor vehicle. You should obtain appropriate professional advice before relying on it;
- when you submit an enquiry through the Service, any resulting contract for work is between you and the relevant Listed Shop. The Shop’s own terms, pricing, warranties, and policies will apply to that work. Please review them before engaging the Shop;
- if you are under the age of 18, you are not permitted to use the Service. By using the Service you confirm that you are at least 18 years old. The Service is intended for use in New Zealand only;
- you can find the date on which these Terms were last updated at the top of this page. The version in force at the time you submit an enquiry will apply to that enquiry.
1. The Service
Mechanic Finderlets vehicle owners discover service providers (“Shops”) and submit enquiries. Shops may claim their listing and receive customer enquiries via email and a dashboard. We provide the platform but are not a party to any transaction or contract between you and a Shop.
2. Accounts
Some features require an account, which is created via a one-time email sign-in link. You are responsible for keeping your email account secure and for all activity under your account. You must provide accurate information and notify us promptly of any unauthorised access.
3. Acceptable Use
You agree not to:
- submit false, misleading, or unlawful content;
- scrape, harvest, or bulk-extract listings, reviews, or contact details;
- impersonate another person or claim a Shop you are not authorised to represent;
- interfere with the Service, attempt to gain unauthorised access, or probe for vulnerabilities outside a sanctioned disclosure programme;
- use the Service to send spam, harass, or breach any law.
4. Shop Listings & Claims
Listings may be created from publicly available data and improved by Shops once claimed. By claiming a Shop, you warrant that you are authorised to act on behalf of that business. We may verify claims and reserve the right to suspend, edit, or remove any listing that breaches these Terms or applicable law.
5. Enquiries & Leads
When you submit an enquiry, we share your details with the relevant Shop so they can respond. Your contact information is processed in line with our handling of personal data (described separately on request). Shops are independent businesses; the quality, pricing, and outcome of any work is their responsibility, not ours.
6. Reviews & User Content
You retain ownership of content you submit (reviews, photographs, messages) but grant Directory Network a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to host, display, reproduce, and distribute that content as part of operating and promoting the Service. You are solely responsible for your content and warrant it is accurate, lawful, and does not infringe any third-party rights.
7. Fees & Paid Features
Basic listings are free. Paid features (such as featured placement or expanded subscriptions) are billed under the terms presented at checkout. Fees are non-refundable except where required by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (NZ) or other applicable law.
8. Intellectual Property
The Service, including its software, design, branding, and compiled directory data, is owned by Jwsoat Limited or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. The Jwsoat name is trademark of Jwsoat Limited. You receive a limited, revocable, non-transferable licence to use the Service for its intended purpose.
9. Disclaimer
The Service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we exclude all warranties, conditions, and representations not expressly set out in these Terms. We do not guarantee the accuracy of listings, reviews, or third-party information.
We are not responsible for the conduct, whether online or offline, of any user of the Service, including any customer or Listed Shop, and you hereby release us from any liability related thereto. We will not be liable for any claim, injury, or damage arising in connection with your use of the Service. You acknowledge that Listed Shops may not have all the required professional licences, registrations, or permits. You agree that we have no responsibility or liability to you in relation to any automotive service provided to you by a Listed Shop.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Jwsoat Limited will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive loss, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill arising from your use of the Service. Our total aggregate liability for any direct loss is capped at NZD $100 or the amount you paid us in the twelve months preceding the claim, whichever is greater. Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 where you acquire the Service as a consumer.
11. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Jwsoat Limited and its directors, employees, and agents from any claim, loss, or expense arising out of your breach of these Terms, your user content, or your use of the Service.
12. Suspension & Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time if you breach these Terms or if continued provision would expose us or other users to risk. You may stop using the Service at any time. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including IP, disclaimers, liability, and governing law) will survive.
13. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page shows when the current version took effect. Material changes will be highlighted on the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts in respect of any dispute, save where applicable consumer law preserves your right to bring proceedings in another forum.
15. Definitions
- “Customer” / “You” / “Your”
- — a person visiting the Service, browsing Listings, or submitting an Enquiry.
- “Customer Data”
- — personal information you provide when submitting an Enquiry, claiming a Listing, or signing in (including name, email, phone, vehicle details, and message).
- “Device”
- — any device (computer, smartphone, tablet, or similar) used to access the Service.
- “Enquiry”
- — a request you submit through the Service asking a Listed Shop to contact you about a service, repair, or quote.
- “Intellectual Property”
- — all rights in patents, registered and unregistered trademarks, domain names, designs, copyright, database rights, moral rights, and similar rights worldwide, including applications for the foregoing.
- “Listing”
- — the public profile of a Listed Shop on the Service, including name, contact details, services offered, and any Quote.
- “Listed Shop” / “Shop”
- — an independent third-party automotive business whose Listing appears on the Service. Listed Shops are not employees, agents, or partners of Jwsoat Limited.
- “Quote”
- — an indicative estimate of the cost of a service, reflecting parts, labour, miscellaneous costs, and applicable taxes. Quotes shown on the Service are supplied by the Listed Shop, are indicative only, and may change once the Shop inspects the vehicle.
- “Review”
- — a rating, comment, or photograph submitted by a Customer about a Listed Shop.
- “Service”
- — the Mechanic Finderwebsite and any associated features, dashboards, or communications operated by Us. Where used in lower case (“service”), the word refers to automotive work performed by a Listed Shop.
- “We” / “Us” / “Our”
- — Jwsoat Limited, a company registered in New Zealand, trading the Directory Network family of products including Mechanic Finder.
16. Complaints
If you would like to make a complaint about anything on the Service, contact us using the details below. We aim to acknowledge complaints within two business days.
- Email: hello@mechanicfinder.co.nz
- Operator: Jwsoat Limited (registered in New Zealand)
Complaints about the work carried out by a Listed Shop should be raised with that Shop in the first instance, since they — not Us — performed the work. We can help relay information where appropriate but cannot direct or compel a Shop to take any particular action.
17. Contact
General questions about these Terms? Email hello@mechanicfinder.co.nz, or visit our contact page.