Angler Terms of Service

Version 2.0 · Effective October 6, 2026 · THE HARD WAY COMPANY, LLC

The short version: following Pros is free. A paid subscription is monthly, to one Pro and one tier, and the money goes directly to that Pro through Stripe. You can cancel anytime and keep access through the month you paid for. You can ask the Pro for a refund within 30 days of a payment; refunds are the Pro's decision. Follow the Community Rules. Disputes go to small claims court or individual arbitration unless you opt out (section 16).

1. Who we are and this agreement

BaitKast is operated by THE HARD WAY COMPANY, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company, P.O. Box 128, Galesville, MD 20765 ("BaitKast," "we," "us"). These Angler Terms are an agreement between you and us. They cover following Pros, paid subscriptions, reading content, messaging, Support and the BaitKaster game. You agree to them when you accept them in the app.

Creator activities are covered by the separate Pro Terms. A Pro who subscribes to another Pro is an Angler for that purchase. The Privacy Policy, Community Rules and Copyright Policy are part of these Terms.

2. Eligibility and your account

• You must be 18 or older and live in the United States. Using the app while traveling is fine.
• Give accurate account information, keep your password private, and tell Support right away if you think someone else is using your account.
• Don't share paid access through shared accounts, impersonate anyone, or use someone else's payment card without permission.
• You're responsible for activity on your account, except as the law provides for unauthorized use.

3. How BaitKast works

• Free follows: follow any Pro to see their free posts in your feed. The Open Feed shows public posts from all Pros.
• Paid subscriptions: each subscription is to one Pro and one tier (Basic, Pro or Platinum) and is billed monthly. Higher tiers include that Pro's lower-tier posts. A subscription to one Pro doesn't include any other Pro.
• Messaging is included only when the Pro turns it on for your tier. A tier name alone (like "Platinum") doesn't promise messaging, fast replies, calls or a posting schedule.
• Pros are independent. Each Pro creates their own content, sets their own prices and decides what each tier includes. Read the offer before you pay. Unless a Pro's offer promises a posting schedule or a number of posts, none is guaranteed.
• What BaitKast doesn't do: we don't write Pros' content, check its accuracy, or guarantee how often a Pro posts, how long they stay, fishing results or the value of their content. We do enforce our rules and act on reports, including reports that a Pro isn't delivering what they promised.

4. Payments, renewal and price changes

• Checkout: you pay on Stripe's secure checkout, directly to the Pro's Stripe account. BaitKast keeps a 10% fee. Before you pay, checkout shows the Pro, tier, monthly price and how to cancel. Only pay through BaitKast's checkout, never through payment instructions sent by another user.
• Automatic renewal: subscriptions renew every month on your billing date, at the price shown, until you cancel. You authorize those monthly charges when you subscribe. We remind you in the app at least once a year what you're subscribed to, the price and how to cancel.
• Upgrades start right away. You're charged the difference between the two tiers' monthly prices now, and your billing date stays the same. The new price applies from your next renewal.
• Downgrades start at your next renewal. You keep your current tier until then.
• Price and perk changes: a Pro may change prices or tier perks at any time. New subscribers get the new terms right away. If you're already subscribed, we notify you, and the change applies starting with your first renewal at least 7 days after the change. You can cancel before then. A Pro can't take away perks you've already paid for during the current month.
• Taxes: if a tax applies to your purchase, it's shown at checkout.
• Declined cards: if a renewal payment fails, your access pauses until it's paid. You can update your card from the app, and Stripe will try again.

5. Cancelling

• Cancel anytime from the Pro's page or Account → My Subscriptions. You don't need the Pro's approval, and you don't need to contact Support or ask for a refund first.
• After you cancel, you keep access through the end of the month you already paid for, then it ends. You won't be charged again. You can undo a cancellation before the month ends.
• Cancelling doesn't refund unused days (see section 6 for refunds).
• Each subscription is separate. Unfollowing, blocking, deleting the app or asking for a refund doesn't cancel a subscription.
• If cancelling doesn't work for any reason, contact Support. You keep your rights either way.

6. Refunds

• The Pro decides. Because your payment goes directly to the Pro, refunds are the Pro's decision. BaitKast doesn't decide them and can't guarantee one.
• How to ask: within 30 days of a payment, go to the Pro's page → Manage → Request a Refund. We send your request to the Pro. Pros are asked to answer within 7 days. If they don't, contact Support. Support can follow up with the Pro but can't force a refund. Asking doesn't cancel your subscription.
• What a refund does: a full refund of your current month's payment ends that subscription and your access. A partial refund keeps both through the paid month. Refunds usually reach your card in 5–10 business days. When a Pro refunds you, BaitKast returns its share of the fee. No fees are taken out of your refund.
• Your other rights: contact Support about billing errors, fraud or technical problems. Nothing in these Terms limits refund rights you have under the law or your right to dispute a charge with your bank.

7. When a Pro is suspended, leaves or blocks you

• Suspended Pro: if we suspend a Pro, their subscriptions stop right away and you won't be charged again. Because payments go to the Pro, we can't guarantee a refund. You can ask the Pro or contact Support. In fraud cases we may, but don't have to, refund subscribers from the Pro's balance.
• Pro leaves BaitKast: their subscriptions stop renewing, you're notified, and you keep access until the end of the month you paid for.
• Blocking: you can block anyone. Blocking hides their posts and profile from you and stops messages both ways. Blocking a Pro doesn't cancel your subscription to them, so cancel it separately. If a Pro blocks you while you're subscribed, your subscription stops renewing and you keep access through the month you paid for.

8. Messaging and Support

• Messaging with a Pro requires an active subscription to a tier with messaging turned on, and neither person having blocked the other. Message history usually stays readable after a subscription ends, but new messages need current access.
• Support is separate from Pro messaging and always available, in the app under Account → Support or at support@baitkast.com.

9. Your conduct and fishing safety

• Follow the Community Rules. In short: no slurs or hateful attacks, harassment, threats, sexual content, sharing private information, impersonation, scams, illegal activity, spam or stolen content.
• Don't copy, share or resell subscriber-only content. Don't try to get around access controls, scrape the service, or interfere with how it works.
• Report anything that breaks the rules. We review reports as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. We have zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users.
• Fishing safety: fishing reports and locations are not official navigation, weather or safety information. Check conditions, licenses, regulations and property access yourself. A location on BaitKast never gives permission to enter private property. No catch or safe trip is guaranteed.

10. Content and the game

• BaitKast owns the app, the website and its branding. Pros own their content. A subscription gives you personal, non-transferable access during your paid period. It doesn't give you any right to copy or redistribute it.
• BaitKaster is a free game for fun. It doesn't unlock subscriptions and has no cash prizes.
• If someone posts your work without permission, follow the Copyright Policy.

11. Deleting your account and your information

You can delete your account anytime in Account → Delete Account. Your subscriptions stop renewing right away, and we finish deleting your account within 30 days. Deleting doesn't by itself refund unused time. What we delete and what we keep (such as payment records required for taxes) is explained in the Privacy Policy.

12. Suspension and termination

We may warn you, remove content, limit features, or suspend or close your account if you break these Terms or the Community Rules, for fraud or security reasons, or if the law requires it. If we suspend or close your account, your subscriptions stop renewing and you won't be charged for access you can't use. You can always reach Support, cancel and use your privacy rights. If you think we got a decision wrong, reply to the Support ticket or email support@baitkast.com within 30 days.

You can stop using BaitKast anytime by cancelling your subscriptions and deleting your account.

13. Disclaimers

BAITKAST IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DON'T GUARANTEE THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY PRO'S CONTENT IS ACCURATE, SAFE OR VALUABLE. SOME STATES DON'T ALLOW THESE DISCLAIMERS, SO THEY MAY NOT ALL APPLY TO YOU.

14. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS: (A) WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS OR DATA; AND (B) OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATED TO BAITKAST IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF $100 OR THE FEES BAITKAST RECEIVED FROM YOUR PAYMENTS IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM. THESE LIMITS DON'T APPLY TO LIABILITY FOR OUR GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR FRAUD, OR WHERE THE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW THEM.

15. Your responsibility to us

If someone brings a claim against BaitKast because of content you posted, your violation of these Terms or your violation of the law, you agree to cover our reasonable losses and costs from that claim, to the extent the law allows. We'll tell you promptly about any such claim.

16. Resolving disputes — please read

Talk to us first. Most problems can be solved quickly. Before starting any formal claim, email support@baitkast.com with your name, a description of the problem and what you want. We'll do the same if we have a claim against you. Both sides agree to try to work it out for 60 days.

Small claims or individual arbitration. If it isn't resolved, either of us may bring the claim in small claims court, if it qualifies. Otherwise, you and BaitKast agree that any dispute about BaitKast or these Terms will be decided by binding individual arbitration, not in court. Arbitration is run by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules (adr.org). It can be held by video or phone, or in the county where you live. BaitKast pays any arbitration fees beyond the filing fee you'd pay to start a court case. The arbitrator can award the same individual relief a court could. The Federal Arbitration Act governs this section.

No class actions. Claims may only be brought individually, not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, group or representative action. You and BaitKast both give up the right to a jury trial.

Exceptions: either of us may go to court to stop infringement of intellectual property. A request for public injunctive relief, where the law allows one, is decided by a court after the individual arbitration is finished. If the class-action waiver is found unenforceable for a claim, that claim goes to court, not arbitration. Nothing here prevents you from reporting to a government agency.

Mass filings: if 25 or more similar claims are filed by the same or coordinated lawyers, they'll be handled in batches under the AAA's mass-arbitration rules, to keep the process fair and affordable for everyone.

You can opt out. Within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, email support@baitkast.com with the subject "Arbitration Opt-Out," your name and your account email, saying you don't want to arbitrate. Opting out doesn't affect anything else in these Terms. If you opt out, or if a claim isn't subject to arbitration, it goes to the state or federal courts in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

17. Governing law

Maryland law governs these Terms, except where the Federal Arbitration Act or federal law applies, and without taking away consumer protections of the state where you live that can't be waived.

18. Changes to these Terms

When we make a significant change, we'll notify you in the app and ask you to review and accept the new version. Significant changes take effect 14 days after we notify you, sooner only when a change is required by law or needed for safety or security. If you don't agree, you can cancel your subscriptions before the change takes effect and delete your account. Small fixes, like corrections and clarifications, take effect when posted. A change never raises a price you've already paid for. Earlier versions you agreed to stay readable in Account → Agreements.

19. General terms

These Terms, with the policies they link to, are the whole agreement between you and BaitKast about the service. If any part is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. Our not enforcing a part isn't a waiver. You may not transfer this agreement. We may transfer it if BaitKast is sold or reorganized. We're not responsible for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control. We may send notices in the app or by email.

20. Contact

THE HARD WAY COMPANY, LLC (BaitKast) · P.O. Box 128, Galesville, MD 20765 · support@baitkast.com