 |
Terms
& Conditions
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CAREFULLY. They govern the relationship between you and VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless (Locus Telecommunications, Inc.) and explain our
respective legal rights concerning all aspects of our relationship,
including without limitation:
• Rates and charges
• Availability of the service and features
• Replenishment and expiration of balances
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Your rights related to Customer Proprietary Network Information
• Modifications to the agreement
• Limitations of liability and warranty
• Resolution of past or future disputes by mandatory binding arbitration
instead of court trials and class actions.
IF YOU USE THE SERVICE OR THE WIRELESS DEVICE, YOU CONSENT TO
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU
DO NOT AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DO NOT USE THE
SERVICE OR PHONE AND NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY TO CANCEL SERVICE.
I. SERVICE
a. Availability/Interruption. Service is normally
available to your Device when it is within the operating range
of our system, and may be available outside of that area in
other participating carrier service areas. Service is subject
to transmission limitation or interruption caused by weather,
terrain, obstructions such as trees or buildings, and other
conditions. Service may be limited in some areas where coverage
is not available or may be temporarily limited or interrupted
due to system capacity limitations and system repairs or modifications
or to combat potential fraud. Digital PCS features require
a compatible digital multi-network phone, are only available
in the Digital PCS features area, and may require local telephone
company support and message sender access to computer and modem.
Not all features or Service offerings are available.
b. Use of Service/Device/Number. Reproduction,
retransmission, dissemination or resale of Service is prohibited
without prior written contractual arrangements with us and
any required regulatory approvals. You are responsible for
the purchase and maintenance of any additional hardware, software
and/or Internet access from your PC required to use the Service.
You consent to receiving advertising, alerts and other broadcast
messages from us or our authorized agents. You have no ownership
rights to the Number, any IP address, any e-mail address or
any other identifier provisioned by us, our agents or the manufacturer
of your Device to be used with the Service, and you agree we
may change any such Number, IP address, e-mail address or any
other identifier at any time with or without prior notice to
you. By using Service, you agree to abide by the terms and
conditions of any applicable software license.
Use of Premium SMS and Mobile Content.
c. Use of Premium
SMS and Mobile Content. Locus Telecommunications, VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless and its underlying carrier, may provide
you with access to a mobile content delivery service (each, a "Service"),
together with a third-party content provider. This access will
allow you to download to your compatible mobile phone various
third-party mobile entertainment content, such as ringtones,
wallpapers, games, graphics, data, news, etc. (collectively,
the "Content") via the Internet, SMS, MMS, WAP, BREW
and other means of mobile content delivery through the use of
Premium SMS messaging or other mobile technologies. A surcharge
of 50¢ will be assessed for Premium SMS messaging.
This surcharge is in addition to and independent from any charges
assessed by the third-party content provider. This surcharge,
plus all other charges assessed by the mobile content provider,
will be incurred when you consent to download the third
party content provider’s Content. By using these Content
services you warrant and represent that (i) you have read and
understood this Agreement and agree to be bound by its terms
and conditions; (ii) you are at least 21 years of age; (iii)
you are the owner of the Device whose phone number you are using,
or if you do not own the Device you have explicit permission
from the owner of the Device to use the Device and to enter the
phone number for such Device; and (iv) you are a resident of
the U.S. Please note, given the aforementioned herein, that the
downloading of mobile Content and use of Premium SMS messaging
is up to the discretion of the owner of the phone and whomever
the owner gives permission to utilize these services. You agree
to hold Locus Telecommunications, VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless and
its underlying carrier harmless for any and all Content that
is downloaded to your phone. If you do not agree (or cannot comply)
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Locus Telecommunications
/ VIVASM Prepaid Wireless Privacy
Policy and any applicable Rules, you are not authorized to access
or use any services or products, register for or use any Service
provided by Locus Telecommunications, VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless and its underlying carrier, and your
sole remedy is to immediately stop accessing and using any service
or product provided by Locus Telecommunications, VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless, and its underlying carrier.
d. Unauthorized
Usage. You agree
not to use the Device or Service for any unlawful,
unauthorized or abusive purpose or in any way
that damages our property or others' property,
or interferes with, harms or disrupts our system or other operators'
systems or other users. You will comply with all laws while using
the Service and you will not transmit any communication or data
that would violate any laws, court order, or regulation, or would
likely be offensive to the recipient. You are responsible for
all content you transmit using the Service. You may not install
any amplifiers, enhancers, repeaters or other devices that modify,
disrupt or interfere in any way with the radio frequency licensed
to us to provide Service. If your Device, user name or password
is stolen or Service is fraudulently used, you must immediately
notify us and provide us with such documentation and information
as we may request (including affidavits and police reports).
Until you notify us, you will remain responsible for all charges.
We have the right to interrupt or restrict Service to your Number,
without notice to you, if we suspect fraudulent, illegal, or
abusive activity. You agree to cooperate with us in any fraud
investigation and to use any fraud prevention measures we prescribe.
Failure to provide reasonable cooperation may result in your
liability for all fraudulent usage.
e. Release of Information. You
consent to our release of information about you
when we believe release is appropriate to comply
with the law (e.g. a lawful subpoena, E911 information);
to enforce or apply our customer agreements; to initiate, render,
bill and collect for Services; to protect our rights or property;
to protect users of those Services and other carriers from fraudulent,
abusive, or unlawful use of, or subscription to, such Services;
or if we reasonably believe that an emergency involving immediate
danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires
disclosure of communications or justifies disclosure of records
without delay. You are deemed to have reviewed and consented
to our Privacy Policy posted on our website at www.VIVA-Wireless.com.
f. Your Rights to
End This Agreement. You may terminate your Service at any time by notifying
us of your intention to terminate Service. There
is no penalty or termination fee; however, it may
take up to 30 days to process the termination request
and the balance remaining in your account is forfeited
upon termination of Service. Your Service will resume and the
termination request will be cancelled if you use your Service
prior to our processing your termination notification.
g. Number Portability. You may
be able to take your current wireless phone number
to another service provider. This is called "porting" and
will also terminate our service to you for that
number. If you request your new service provider
to port a number from us, and we receive your request
from that new service provider, we'll treat the request as notice
from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful
completion of porting. After the porting is completed, you won't
be able to use our service for that number even if you have unused
airtime on that account, and you won't be entitled to a refund
for any unused airtime. If you're porting a phone number to us
from another company, we may not be able to provide some services,
such as 911 location services, immediately.
II. CHARGES/PAYMENTS/DEFAULT
a. Generally. You are responsible
for paying all charges, including but not limited
to: airtime, access, features, voice mail access,
voice mail delivery, data usage, text messages,
downloadable, alerts, roaming, long distance, directory and operator
assistance charges, the price of Devices and accessories, charges
for other goods and services and shipping/handling fees. You
will be billed at domestic airtime or roaming
rates for 800, 866, 877, 888, and other "toll free" calls. Applicable international
wireless long distance charges, if applicable, will be charged
for calls placed from your wireless phone. For all incoming Service,
the length of the call will be measured during the time that you
are connected to our system, which is approximately from the time
you press "Send" or other key to answer a call until
approximately the time you press "End" or other keys
to terminate the call. For all outgoing Service, the length of
the call will be measured from when you are released by the automated
balance notification system until approximately the time you press "END" or
other key to terminate the call. Airtime usage on each call is
deducted in full minute increments, with partial minutes of use
rounded up to the next full minute. For calls placed in the United
States, you will not be charged for busy or unconnected calls if
you press "End" or "No" within a reasonable
time. Call waiting, 3-way calling, call forwarding, voicemail
will incur applicable airtime or roaming and wireless long distance
charges.
b. Account Balance. All charges
incurred will be deducted automatically from your
account. Any amounts loaded into your account are
not transferable or refundable. You should take reasonable
efforts to safeguard your Phone and replenishment
airtime cards. No refunds or other compensations will be given
for returned, expired, lost, damaged, or stolen cards. Airtime
expiration varies by card denomination. If additional amounts
are placed into your account before the current account balance
expires, the existing balance will be carried over to the new
expiration date. If new amounts are not added to your account
prior to the expiration date any remaining amounts will be forfeited.
If your account balance remains zero for 30 days you may lose
your Number. In some instances you may be able to complete a
call when the billing functionality is interrupted. When this
occurs you will not receive correct balance information. All
calls, however, will be deducted from your account and the balance
updated when the billing functionality is operable. You are responsible
for all data usage sent through our network and associated with
the Device, regardless of whether the Device actually receives
the information. In some cases our network will re-send certain
packets to ensure complete delivery. In these cases you will
be responsible for paying for the re-sent packets.
c. Use of Service/Rates. Your
Service rates and other charges and conditions
for each Number or Phone are described in the Rate
Card or at our website at www.VIVA-Wireless.com.
You can place domestic and international calls from the U.S.
to certain designated international locations. Weekday and night & weekend
rates may vary. Night & weekend hours are 9:00 p.m. – 6:59
a.m. Monday - Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Per-minute
rates include roaming in all VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless network
cities and domestic long distance charges. Off network roaming
calls and direct dialed international calls will incur additional
per minute charges on top of the standard airtime rates. For
off-network roaming and direct dial international rates, please
see store, contact service provider or visit www.VIVA-Wireless.com for more details. All rate change notices will be provided either
through dealer, rate card or www.VIVA-Wireless.com. The prepaid
per minute rates are based on the card value purchased. International
rates vary and are subject to change. Call Customer Care (at
the number listed on our website or in your replenishment card
packaging) or visit www.VIVA-Wireless.com for
international rates and available countries. You cannot use the
Service to place calls to 500, 700, 855, 900 or 976 numbers;
or to place operator-assisted calls such as third-party-billed,
and collect calls. Rates for calls to directory assistance are
$1.25 per call plus airtime or roaming charges. You will be billed
at domestic rates for 800, 888, 877, and 866 number calls. You
are responsible for all taxes and surcharges associated with
your use of the Service. Other than calls to 911, you can only
make and receive calls when your account has a positive balance.
Special dialing patterns may be required when making roaming
calls. There may be surcharge for incoming calls made from pay
phones. Prepaid wireless service is not available for purchase
in all areas. Voicemail setup, deposits and retrievals are billed
at a regular airtime rates and will deplete balance. If a caller
reaches or leaves a message on your Voicemail, it will deplete
your minutes even if your Voicemail box has not been activated.
A Domestic text message will be charged at 10¢ to receive
or send. International text messages will be charged at 20¢ to
send and 10¢ to receive. Please note that a 2-way text capable
phone is required to send and receive text messages. When using
Call Waiting or Three-Way Calling, you will incur two simultaneous
airtime charges and if you disconnect from a conference call
while the other two parties remain connected, you will continue
to incur airtime charges for all calls.
d. Default/Termination. If you
breach any representation to us or fail to perform
any of the promises you made in the Agreement,
you will be in default and we may, without notice
to you, suspend Service and/or terminate this Agreement, in addition
to all other remedies available to us.
e. Account
Information. Any person
able to provide your Number and personal identification
number is authorized by you to make changes to
your account. You consent to disclosure of any
information about you to any person as permitted
by law if any Device programmed with your Number
calls an emergency service number such as 911 or,
if we reasonably believe that an emergency involving
immediate danger of death or serious physical injury
to any person requires disclosure of communications
or justifies disclosure of records without delay
f. CPNI
Consent. Under federal
law, you have a right, and we have a duty, to protect
the confidentiality of information about the amount,
type, and destination of your wireless service
usage (CPNI). You consent to us sharing your CPNI
with Locus Telecommunications, Inc., its affiliates
and its contractors, to develop or bring to your
attention any products and services. This consent
survives the termination of your Service and is
valid until you remove it. To remove this consent at any time,
notify us in writing at Locus Telecommunications, Inc. Att: CPNI,
P.O. Box 376 Fort Lee, NJ 07024, providing your name, home address,
home telephone including area code, and personal identification
number. Removing consent will not affect your current Service.
III. CHANGES TO THIS AGREEMENT. We
may amend the terms of this Agreement, including rate changes,
upon advance notice to you either through dealer, replenishment
package or www.VIVA-Wireless.com
IV. LIMITATIONS. The parties intend that
the limitations on liability, warranty and damage
awards provided for in this Agreement will apply
to the fullest extent allowed by law. Some jurisdictions
do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties
or the waiver, limitation or exclusion of liability for punitive,
incidental or consequential damages, or for intentional or
willful conduct in some circumstances. To the extent that any
of these limitations are not permitted by applicable law, they
will not apply to you.
a. Limitation
of Liability. WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF ANOTHER
SERVICE PROVIDER OR ANY THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS
OF SERVICES RELATED TO USE OF THE DEVICE OR SERVICE,
FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH YOUR DEVICE, LACK OF PRIVACY
OR SECURITY EXPERIENCED WHEN USING THE DEVICE, EQUIPMENT FAILURE
OR MODIFICATION, OR OTHER CAUSES BEYOND OUR REASONABLE CONTROL,
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE SERVICES
WILL BE ERROR-FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR FREE FROM UNAUTHORIZED
ACCESS (INCLUDING THIRD PARTY HACKERS OR DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS).
WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR SERVICE OUTAGES NOR FOR SERVICE LIMITATIONS
OR INTERRUPTIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 1.C ABOVE. OUR LIABILITY
AND THE LIABILITY OF ANY UNDERLYING CARRIER FOR ANY FAILURE OR
MISTAKE SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED OUR SERVICE CHARGES DURING THE
AFFECTED PERIOD. WE AND ANY UNDERLYING CARRIER ARE NOT LIABLE
FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SUCH AS
LOST PROFITS. YOU AND WE BOTH WAIVE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED
BY LAW, ANY CLAIMS TO RECOVER INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE AND CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES. WE AND ANY UNDERLYING CARRIER ARE NOT LIABLE FOR (i)
ECONOMIC LOSS OR INJURIES TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ARISING FROM
USE OF THE SERVICE, THE DEVICE OR ANY EQUIPMENT USED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE DEVICE UNLESS CAUSED BY OUR SOLE AND GROSS NEGLIGENCE,
OR (ii) THE INSTALLATION OR REPAIR OF THE DEVICE BY ANY PARTIES
WHO ARE NOT OUR EMPLOYEES. THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL SURVIVE TERMINATION
OF THIS AGREEMENT.
b. Indemnification. YOU AGREE
TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD US, OUR AFFILIATES
AND AGENTS AND ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER, HARMLESS
FROM CLAIMS OR DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR YOUR PROMISES OR STATEMENTS MADE IN IT AND USE OF THE DEVICE
OR SERVICE UNLESS DUE TO OUR SOLE AND GROSS NEGLIGENCE. YOU ALSO
AGREE TO PAY OUR REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES
AND COSTS INCURRED IN ENFORCING THIS AGREEMENT THROUGH APPEAL
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 5, BELOW. USE OF YOUR DEVICE
WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE OR IN ANOTHER DISTRACTED OR NEGLIGENT
MANNER MAY BE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW IN SOME AREAS.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONFORM TO ALL SUCH LAWS OR REGULATIONS
AND YOU SHALL INDEMNIFY US FROM CLAIMS ARISING FROM ANY SUCH
UNLAWFUL OR NEGLIGENT USE. THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL SURVIVE TERMINATION
OF THIS AGREEMENT.
c. No Warranties. WE MAKE NO EXPRESS
WARRANTY REGARDING THE SERVICE OR THE DEVICE OR
ANY SERVICES PROVIDED BY ANY THIRD PARTIES, AND
DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. WE DO NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO MAKE ANY
WARRANTY ON OUR BEHALF AND YOU SHOULD NOT RELY
ON ANY SUCH STATEMENT. WE ARE NOT THE MANUFACTURER
OF THE DEVICE AND ANY STATEMENT REGARDING IT SHOULD
NOT BE INTERPRETED AS A WARRANTY. THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL SURVIVE
TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
V. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY.
IT AFFECTS RIGHTS THAT YOU MAY OTHERWISE HAVE. IT PROVIDES FOR
RESOLUTION OF MOST DISPUTES THROUGH ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF COURT
TRIALS AND CLASS ACTIONS. ARBITRATION IS FINAL AND BINDING AND
SUBJECT TO ONLY VERY LIMITED REVIEW BY A COURT. THIS ARBITRATION
CLAUSE SHALL SURVIVE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
a. Binding
Arbitration. This provision
is intended to be interpreted broadly to encompass
all disputes or claims arising out of our relationship.
Any dispute or claim, including those against any
of our subsidiary, parent or affiliate companies,
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, our Privacy Policy
or the Service or any equipment used in connection with the Service
(whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation
or any other legal theory) will be resolved by binding arbitration
except that (1) you may take claims to small claims court if
they qualify for hearing by such a court, or (2) you or we may
choose to pursue claims in court if the claims relate solely
to the collection of any debts you owe to us.
b. Arbitration
Procedures. You
must first present any claim or dispute to us by
contacting Customer Care to allow us an opportunity
to resolve the dispute. You may request arbitration
if your claim or dispute has not been resolved
within 90 days. The arbitration of any dispute
or claim shall be conducted in accordance with
the American Arbitration Association ("AAA")
under the Wireless Industry Arbitration Rules ("WIA Rules"),
as modified by this Agreement. The WIA Rules and information
about arbitration and fees are available upon request from the
AAA online at www.adr.org. You and we agree that this Agreement
evidences a transaction in interstate commerce and this arbitration
provision will be interpreted and enforced in accordance with
the Federal Arbitration Act and federal arbitration law. Unless
you and we agree otherwise, any arbitration will take place in
the county seat for the county in which your billing address
is located. At either party's election, the arbitration shall
be held telephonically. An arbitrator may award any relief or
damages (including injunctive or declaratory relief) that a court
could award, except an arbitrator may not award relief in excess
of or contrary to what this Agreement provides and may not order
relief on a consolidated, class wide or representative basis.
In any arbitration applying the WIA Rules applicable to large/complex
cases, the Arbitrators must also apply the Federal Rules of Evidence,
and the losing party may have the award reviewed in accordance
with the review procedures set forth in the WIA Rules. Judgment
on any arbitration award may be entered in any court having proper
jurisdiction. If any portion of this arbitration clause is determined
by a court to be inapplicable or invalid, then the remainder
shall still be given full force and effect.
c. Costs of Arbitration. For claims
of less than $1,000, you will be obligated to pay
$25 and we will pay all other administrative costs
and fees. For claims over $1,000 but under $75,000,
you will be obligated to pay your share of the
arbitration fees, but no more than the equivalent
court filing fee for a court action filed in the
jurisdiction where your billing address is located.
For arbitrations in excess of $75,000, all administrative
fees and expenses of arbitration will be divided
equally between you and us. In all arbitrations, each party will
bear the expense of its own counsel, experts, witnesses and preparation
and presentation of evidence at the arbitration.
d. Waiver of Class
Actions. By
this Agreement, both you and we are waiving certain
rights to litigate disputes in court. You and we
both agree that any arbitration will be conducted
on an individual basis and not on a consolidated,
class wide or representative basis. If for any
reason this arbitration clause is deemed inapplicable
or invalid, or to the extent this arbitration clause
allows for litigation of disputes in court, you
and we both waive, to the fullest extent allowed
by law, any right to pursue any claims on a class
or consolidated basis or in a representative capacity.
e. Limitations
Period. Any arbitration
or legal action with respect to any and all claims
or causes of action related to or arising out of
this Agreement must be brought within two years
after the cause of action arises, or within the
applicable statutory period of time, whichever
is shorter. This limitations period does not apply
to any given cause of action when the statutory
limitations period for that cause of action cannot be waived,
restricted or otherwise limited by you.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS
a. Privacy. We are not liable
for any lack of privacy which may be experienced
with regard to the Service. You authorize our monitoring
and recording of calls to us concerning your account
or the Service and consent to our use of automatic
dialing equipment to contact you. We have the right to intercept
and disclose any transmission over our facilities in order to
protect our rights or property.
b. Assignment. We may assign all
or part of this Agreement without such assignment
being considered a change to the Agreement, and
without notice to you. We are then released from
all liability. You may not assign this Agreement
without our prior written consent.
c. Notices. We may send you notices
by mail or electronic means, in our sole discretion.
Notices to you shall be effective 1) 3 days following
the date deposited in the U.S. Mail or delivered
to a nationally recognized courier or delivery
service, postage prepaid and addressed to your
address as kept in our files and/or 2) immediately
upon our transmission using an electronic means
such as e-mail or text messaging service. You are
responsible for notifying us of any changes in
your mailing or e-mail address. Written notice
to us shall be effective when directed to our Customer Care Department (at the mailing address listed
on our website) and received by us. Your notice
must contain specific information adequate to identify
you and your Service. Oral and electronic notices
shall be deemed effective on the date reflected
in our records.
d. Entire Agreement. These Terms
and Conditions, together with the Sales Information,
represent the entire agreement between you and
us, which may only be amended as described in this
Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any inconsistent
or additional representations made to you by any
of our representatives, agents or dealers. If any
part of this Agreement is found invalid, the balance
of the Agreement remains enforceable. If, at any
time, we do not enforce any right or remedy available under this
Agreement, that failure is not a waiver of our right to enforce
the right or remedy at a later time. Copied, microfiched, scanned
or other duplicate or electronic images of this Agreement are
admissible for all purposes.
e. Governing
Laws. This Agreement
is subject to applicable federal laws, federal
or state tariffs, if any, and the laws of the state
associated with the Number. Where our Service terms
and conditions are regulated by a state agency
or the FCC, the regulations are available for your
inspection; if there is any inconsistency between
this Agreement and those regulations, this Agreement
shall be deemed amended as necessary to conform
to such regulations.
f. Capacity. You represent that
you are legally competent to enter into this Agreement,
and that you are not aware of any disability that
would prevent you from entering into this Agreement.
g. You shall acquire no proprietary
interest in the Number assigned by VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless for its use, except for any rights federal law grants.
h. The supplier of Services to VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless shall have no liability whatsoever for the losses, claims
or damages for any cause whatsoever, including but not limited
to any failure or disruption of Services provided hereunder,
regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or in tort
or otherwise, You shall not be deemed a third-party beneficiary
of any contract between VIVASM Prepaid
Wireless and the underlying carrier. |