1. Who we are

MainBay (Pty) Ltd (“MainBay”, “we”, “us”) operates the website mainbay.co.za (the “Platform”), which lets vehicle owners (“you”) book appointments with independent service centres. We provide the Platform only; we are not a service centre, and we do not perform vehicle work.

2. What these Terms cover

These Terms apply to your use of the Platform and any booking or private consultation you make through it. By using the Platform, you agree to these Terms as well as our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Booking Fee & Cancellation Policy.

3. Definitions

Platform: The MainBay website and related services that facilitate bookings and consultations.

Service centre: The independent business that performs inspections, diagnostics, repairs or servicing.

Booking: Your reservation made through the Platform for services to be performed by a service centre.

Private consultation: A digital consultation (via WhatsApp, Teams, or similar) where MainBay provides general technical advice or guidance based on the information you share.

4. Our role (agent only)

We act as a booking agent and may facilitate payment of a booking/assessment fee shown at checkout. The service contract for work on your vehicle is between you and the service centre. MainBay is not a party to that service contract and does not supervise, direct, or control the service centre’s work.

5. Eligibility & your responsibilities

You must be 18+ and legally able to enter into contracts.

Information you provide (vehicle details, contact info, availability) must be accurate.

You authorise the service centre to contact you to confirm details, quote additional work, and arrange logistics.

If required information is missing or materially inaccurate at the time of booking, MainBay or the service centre may decline or cancel the booking, or require you to rebook with the correct details.

6. Bookings & fees

When you place a booking you may pay a booking/assessment fee to secure an appointment. What’s included in a package or inspection is shown on the relevant page and/or in your confirmation email. Any balance for services and parts is payable directly to the service centre against their invoice. Cancellations and rescheduling are governed by our Booking Fee & Cancellation Policy.

For service bookings, the service centre reserves the right to decline, cancel or postpone your booking if your vehicle displays any dashboard warning lights or has underlying mechanical or electrical issues that must first be repaired or resolved before a standard service can be safely carried out. In such cases, you may be advised to book a diagnostic appointment prior to proceeding with your scheduled service.

7. Prices, estimates & authorisation

Prices cover only the items listed in the relevant package/inspection. Packages do not include additional diagnostics, checks, consumables, fluids, parts, or repairs unless separately quoted by the service centre and approved by you. If extra parts or labour are required, the service centre will quote you for approval before proceeding. You are responsible for approving or declining extra work and for all amounts due to the service centre.

8. Payments & taxes

MainBay collects only the booking/assessment fee (where applicable). Payments for work and parts are settled with the service centre. Prices may include or exclude VAT as indicated; tax invoices for work are issued by the service centre.

9. Warranties & quality of work

MainBay provides no warranty or guarantee on workmanship or parts. Any warranties on workmanship and/or parts are solely provided by the service centre and/or the original part manufacturer/supplier. Concerns about quality, defects, or warranty claims must be taken up with the service centre. We’ll assist with coordination where reasonably possible, but we are not liable for outcomes.

10. Private consultations

MainBay offers private consultations to help you understand your vehicle’s condition and possible next steps. These consultations are advisory only and based entirely on the information, images, or descriptions you provide.

We do not physically inspect or test your vehicle.

Advice given is intended to guide your understanding, not replace a professional diagnosis or service.

You remain responsible for verifying any advice or recommendations before acting on them.

MainBay and its representatives are not liable for any loss, damage, or costs arising from reliance on information, opinions, or recommendations shared during a consultation.

By booking or participating in a private consultation, you acknowledge and agree to this limitation of liability.

11. Diagnostics & Assessments

Diagnostics and assessment bookings offered through the Platform are inspection-only services intended to identify and report on a vehicle’s current state or potential faults.

They do not include any dismantling, stripping, removal, or repair of vehicle components.

After the diagnostic or assessment, the service centre will provide you with a written or digital report summarising findings and, if applicable, a quotation for any repair or replacement work that may be required.

No repair work will begin until you have reviewed and expressly approved such quotation with the service centre.

Assessment and diagnostic fees cover only the inspection and testing time performed; they are non-refundable, even if you decide not to proceed with repairs.

12. Reviews

You may post a review of your experience with a service centre. By submitting a review you grant MainBay a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce and display it. You confirm it reflects your genuine experience. We may moderate or remove unlawful, abusive or misleading content.

13. Acceptable use

You may not misuse the Platform, attempt to bypass security, scrape or harvest data, interfere with the site’s operation, or upload unlawful or infringing content. We may suspend access for misuse.

14. Liability

The Platform and any consultation services are provided “as is”. MainBay is not liable for any loss, damage or costs arising from:

The acts, omissions, workmanship, or parts supplied by any service centre; or

Any reliance on advice, guidance, or opinions shared during private consultations.

To the maximum extent allowed by South African law, MainBay’s total liability to you for any claim relating to the Platform, consultations, or booking services is limited to the booking or consultation fee you paid to MainBay. Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (South Africa), or excludes/limits liability where such exclusion or limitation would be unlawful (including for fraud or for death/personal injury caused by negligence).

15. Privacy & cookies (POPIA)

We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for details on what we collect, why, and your rights.

16. Third-party links & tools

The Platform may include links or widgets operated by others (e.g., chat, maps, analytics). We are not responsible for their content, terms or privacy practices.

17. Intellectual property & trademarks

“MainBay”, our logo and related marks are the property of MainBay (Pty) Ltd and may not be used without permission. All other trademarks, service marks, logos and trade names (for example, vehicle manufacturers, parts suppliers, accreditations and service centre brands) are the property of their respective owners. Third-party names and logos on the Platform are for identification and informational purposes only and do not imply affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship. Rights holders can contact admin@mainbay.co.za about any IP concerns.

18. Electronic communications & notices

You agree to receive communications electronically (email/SMS/WhatsApp/in-site). Notices are deemed received when sent to the contact details you provided.

19. Force majeure

We are not responsible for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control (e.g., load-shedding, network outages, strikes, extreme weather).

20. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version posted on the Platform is the current one and applies to future bookings.

21. Law & jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of South Africa. Disputes should first be raised at admin@mainbay.co.za. Failing resolution, the courts of South Africa have jurisdiction.

22. General

If any part of these Terms is found invalid, the remainder remains in force (severability). Headings are for convenience only. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign your rights without our consent; we may assign these Terms as part of a business transfer. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and MainBay regarding the Platform and consultations.