Terms of Service

These terms cover your use of MergeChat. By opening and using the site, you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use MergeChat.

What MergeChat is

MergeChat is a free web app for live voice rooms, message boards, and shared maps with the people around you — at home, on the go, or in a car. It also lets people report and view hazards like accidents, speed traps, and stranded vehicles. Voice and pop-ups lock while you're moving above 10 mph. No account or sign-up is required.

Your use of the app

You agree to use MergeChat only for its intended purpose — connecting with people near you and sharing genuinely useful local information. You agree not to:

• Submit false, malicious, or intentionally misleading hazard reports.
• Use voice rooms, room messages, or pins to harass, threaten, or abuse anyone.
• Upload a profile photo or use a display name or bio that is obscene, harassing, impersonating another person, or otherwise inappropriate.
• Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or abuse the service — including scripting automated traffic, spamming reports, or attempting to exceed rate limits.
• Use MergeChat in a way that takes your attention off driving. Set up your profile, review the map, and adjust settings only when safely stopped.

Content you submit

You keep ownership of anything you submit — your display name, bio, profile photo, and hazard reports. By submitting it, you give MergeChat permission to display it to other users as part of the normal operation of the app (for example, showing your map marker, messages, and hazard reports to people nearby).

We can remove any content, at any time, for any reason — including in response to a report from another user. See the Privacy Policy for how long different types of data are kept.

No account, no guaranteed continuity

Chatting on MergeChat doesn't use accounts, so your chat profile is tied to your browser's local identity. Clearing your browser data, switching devices, or using a different browser will start you fresh with a new, empty profile. We're not able to recover a previous profile if this happens. The one exception is the optional game account for prize hunts (below), which is tied to your email so your prizes aren't lost.

Reporting abuse

If you see a hazard report, message, or profile that looks fake, abusive, or inappropriate, use the "Report" option available on that item in the app. We review reports and remove content at our discretion.

No warranty

MergeChat is provided "as is," without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We don't guarantee the app will be available, error-free, accurate, or uninterrupted. Hazard reports, messages, and profile information come from other users and are not verified by us in any way.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, MergeChat and its operator are not liable for any damages — direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential — arising from your use of the app, including but not limited to any accident, injury, traffic citation, or loss resulting from reliance on information shown in the app or from any distraction caused by using it while driving.

Prize hunts — official rules

MergeChat prize hunts ("Hunts") let players find prizes placed on the map by MergeChat and participating businesses ("Sponsors"). By playing, you agree to these rules.

• No purchase necessary. Hunts are free to play. Buying anything does not improve your chances of finding or winning a prize.
• Who can play. You must be 13 or older and create a free game account with a valid email address. One account per person. Employees of a Sponsor may not play that Sponsor's hunt.
• On foot only. Prizes can only be caught while walking. The app blocks catching when it detects you moving faster than walking speed. Never play while driving or riding a bike or scooter. Prizes are not placed in streets, parking lanes, or drive-thru lanes; always obey traffic laws, stay on public paths, and never enter private property without permission.
• How to win. Each drop holds a set number of prizes, given out first come, first served to players who physically reach the spot — within the catch distance shown in the hunt (as close as 10 feet), as measured by your phone's GPS. Catching is unavailable when your phone's GPS signal is too weak to measure fairly. Limit one prize per person per drop and five prizes per person per day across all hunts.
• Prizes. Prizes are provided and fulfilled by the Sponsor named in the hunt, not by MergeChat. Each prize has an expiration date shown in My prizes, can be used once, has no cash value, can't be transferred or sold, and is subject to the Sponsor's terms and availability at participating locations.
• Fair play. Faking your location (GPS spoofing), using multiple accounts, automating the app, or any other cheating will get your prizes cancelled and your account blocked.
• Changes. MergeChat and Sponsors may pause, change, or end a hunt at any time, including if prizes run out or a hunt is misused. Prizes already won stay valid until they expire unless they were won by cheating.
• Your safety is your responsibility. Stay aware of your surroundings while you play — look up, watch for traffic, and don't go anywhere that feels unsafe. To the fullest extent permitted by law, MergeChat is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage resulting from playing.
• Void where prohibited.

Points & Prize Shop

• What points are. Points are a MergeChat reward you can trade for items in the Prize Shop. You earn them free by catching prizes in points hunts, and you may also buy them. Points are not money: they have no cash value, can't be cashed out, sold, or transferred to another account.
• Buying points. You must be 18 or older to buy points. Payments are handled by Stripe; MergeChat never sees your card number. Buying points never improves your chances in a hunt — hunts are won only by getting to the spot first.
• Refunds. Points you bought and haven't spent can be refunded within 14 days of purchase — email us from your account's address. Points that have been spent can't be refunded, except where an order is cancelled (below) or the law requires it.
• Redeeming. Prizes are limited to what's in stock, first come, first served, with a limit of 3 redemptions per account per week. Item photos are for illustration; colors and packaging can vary. Prizes can't be exchanged for cash.
• Shipping. We ship to U.S. addresses only. You must be 18 or older (or have a parent or guardian enter the address). Shipped prizes usually arrive in 1–3 weeks and may come directly from a third-party supplier. If we can't fulfil an order, we cancel it and return your points in full.
• Pickup and digital prizes. Pickup prizes are collected at the place shown, using your pickup code. Digital codes appear in My prizes.
• Problems with an order. If a prize arrives damaged or never arrives, email us within 30 days and we'll replace it or return your points.
• Changes. We can change what's in the shop, point costs, and point packs at any time. If MergeChat ever closes the Prize Shop for good, we'll give at least 30 days' notice so you can spend your points, and refund purchased points that are unspent.
• Cheating. Points earned by cheating (see Fair play above) can be removed and related orders cancelled.

Changes to the service or these terms

We may change, suspend, or discontinue any part of MergeChat at any time. We may update these terms as the app evolves; the "Last updated" date above will reflect the most recent change. Continuing to use MergeChat after a change means you accept the updated terms.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Contact

Questions about these terms: support@mergechat.fun