Terms of Service

Acceptance

By creating an account, ordering a service, or otherwise using the LochStudios Panel, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, do not use the service.

Who we are

"LochStudios" is the registered business name under which MURDOCH, LACHLAN ALEX (ABN 20 447 022 747), an Australian individual sole trader based in Grafton, NSW, 2460, provides services. In these terms, "we", "us" and "our" refer to that business.

The service

LochStudios provides web hosting, domain registration, email hosting, SSL certificates, content management, and adjacent technical services through the Panel at lochstudios.com.au. Specific service definitions, inclusions, and quotas live on the relevant catalogue page and on the invoice you accept at order time. The catalogue page at the time of order, together with that invoice, forms part of these terms.

Your account

When you create an account (or accept an invitation to join one), you must provide information that is accurate, complete, and truthful. That includes your real legal name, a working email address you control, your phone number, billing and postal address, and any business or tax identifiers you submit. You must not register under a false name, use another person’s identity without authority, or supply fabricated, outdated, or deliberately misleading contact or billing details.

You must keep your account details up to date for as long as the account remains open. Providing false or misleading information, or failing to correct it when we ask, is a material breach of these terms and may result in suspension or termination of your account and services without refund of prepaid fees, to the extent permitted by law.

You are responsible for everything that happens under your account, including the actions of any team member you invite. Keep your login secret, enable two-factor authentication, and tell us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised.

Payment

Services are billed in advance on the renewal cycle stated on the invoice. Card payments are processed by Stripe (Stripe Payments Australia Pty Ltd). We do not store card numbers. Late or failed payments may result in service suspension; see the SLA and the Acceptable Use Policy for the suspension cascade.

Cancellation and refunds

You may cancel any subscribed service at any time through the Panel. We assess each cancellation request for a refund on its merits. The outcome depends on how the service is billed and the circumstances of your request, as set out below.

Monthly billing. Services billed monthly are, as a rule, non-refundable. A refund may be granted only in exceptional circumstances and at our discretion — ordinarily where the service has been available to you for a very brief period and you notify us promptly of your intention to cancel. No refund is payable where you have used the service for any material part of the current billing month, including where cancellation is requested shortly before the renewal date. Cancelling a monthly service prevents the next renewal from being charged; amounts already paid for the current billing period are not refunded.

Annual billing. Services billed annually are eligible for a pro-rata refund of prepaid fees for unused time. On cancellation, we calculate an equivalent monthly fee (the annual amount divided by twelve), retain charges for each month (or part thereof) the service was available to you, and refund the balance attributable to whole months not yet elapsed. By way of example only: an annual service priced at $100.00 equates to $8.33 per month; if you cancel after three months of use, we retain $25.00 for the period used and refund $75.00 for the nine unused months.

Domain registrations. You may cancel a domain registration order at any time before our upstream registrar, Synergy Wholesale Pty Ltd, submits the order to the relevant registry and that registry accepts it. If you cancel within that window, we will process the cancellation and refund any fees paid. Once the registry has accepted the order, the registration is final and fees are non-refundable.

Nothing in this section limits any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded by agreement.

Acceptable use

Your use of any LochStudios service is also governed by the Acceptable Use Policy. A breach of the AUP is a breach of these terms.

Service availability

Service-level commitments, credit eligibility, and the published incident process live in the Service Level Agreement. Beyond the SLA, LochStudios provides the service "as is" to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, LochStudios is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, revenue, or data. Where liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the amount you paid LochStudios for the affected service in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account for non-payment, a material breach of these terms, or a breach of the Acceptable Use Policy. Where reasonably possible we will provide notice and a window to remediate. Termination does not release you from amounts already owed.

Changes

We may update these terms; the current version is always published here with a version number and last-updated date. Continued use of the service after a change is acceptance of the updated terms.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. The courts of New South Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Email support@lochstudios.com or open a ticket from the Panel.