Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Rydsom mobile applications, websites and related services (together, the “Services”). By creating an account or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Services. Rydsom operates in Malawi and Zambia, and additional local terms may apply depending on where you ride or drive.

To use Rydsom, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old, or 21 to register as a driver;
• Provide accurate and complete registration information;
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement in your country of residence.

Drivers must additionally hold a valid driver’s licence, roadworthy and registered vehicle, and complete our verification and background checks before accepting trips.

You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for all activity that happens under your account. Notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised use.

You agree to keep your contact, payment and (for drivers) vehicle and document details up to date. We may suspend or close accounts that contain false information or that breach these Terms.

Rydsom connects riders with independent driver partners. We provide the technology platform; the transport itself is provided by drivers. You agree to use the Services only for lawful purposes and to treat drivers, riders and our staff with respect.

You agree not to:

• Use the Services for any illegal, unsafe or fraudulent activity;
• Damage a driver’s vehicle or behave abusively;
• Attempt to disrupt, reverse-engineer or misuse the platform;
• Impersonate another person or create accounts on their behalf.

You will always see an upfront price before you confirm a trip. Fares are calculated based on distance, estimated time and demand, and may change if the route or destination changes during the trip.

You can pay by cash, card or mobile money where available. By adding a payment method, you authorise us to charge the applicable fare and any agreed fees, including cancellation or cleaning fees where they apply.

You can cancel a trip before or shortly after it is accepted. A cancellation fee may apply if you cancel after a driver has already travelled towards your pickup, to fairly compensate them for their time and fuel. Applicable fees are shown in the app.

Driver partners use Rydsom as independent contractors, not employees. Drivers decide when and how often to go online and are responsible for their own vehicles, taxes and compliance with local transport regulations.

Rydsom charges a service fee on completed trips, which is deducted before payouts. Payout schedules and service fees are described within the driver app.

Safety is central to Rydsom. We provide features such as trip sharing, in-app emergency support, route monitoring and two-way ratings. Repeated low ratings, safety violations or abusive behaviour may result in suspension or removal from the platform.

The Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. While we work hard to keep Rydsom reliable, we do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted or error-free, and we are not the provider of the transport services arranged through the app.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Rydsom is not liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss arising from your use of the Services. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law in Malawi or Zambia.

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to our Services or the law. When we do, we will update the “last updated” date and, where changes are significant, notify you in the app. Continuing to use Rydsom after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the country in which your trip takes place, being the Republic of Malawi or the Republic of Zambia. Disputes will be handled by the competent courts of that country.

Questions about these Terms? Reach our team at hello@rydsom.com or call +265 999 000 000.