Terms and conditions of use

Translation provided for information only: only the French version is authoritative. Read the French version

In brief (non-binding summary)

The platform is reserved for businesses.
We are an intermediary: the contract is concluded directly between the customer and the supplier, and no payment passes through the platform.
Registration and posting requests are free.
Requests are ranked by publication date by default; no ranking is paid for.

1. Purpose and scope

These general terms and conditions of use (the “Terms”) govern access to and use of the Meaflow platform, available at https://meaflow.com (the “Platform”), published on a non-professional, non-profit basis by a private individual who, in accordance with Article 6, III, 2° of French Law No. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy (“LCEN”), has chosen not to make their identity public (the “Publisher”), who can be contacted at admin@meaflow.fr.

The Platform is an online service connecting, on the one hand, buyers who publish professional needs for manufacturing, works or services, including cleaning, maintenance, transport, logistics and business services (the “Requests”) and, on the other hand, suppliers (including machinists, workshops, design offices, building, cleaning and maintenance companies, carriers, service companies, freelancers) who respond with quotes.

Registering for or using the Platform constitutes full and unreserved acceptance of the Terms. They constitute the general terms and conditions applicable to business users within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 of 20 June 2019 (the “P2B Regulation”). If you do not accept the Terms, you must refrain from using the Platform.

2. Definitions

Request: A publication describing a need for manufacturing, works or services, which may include photos, drawings and documents.
Customer or Buyer: A User who publishes a Request.
Account: A secure personal area giving access to the Services after registration.
Content: Any information, text, image, drawing, document, message, review or data published or transmitted by a User on the Platform.
Drawings and Documents: Files attached to a Request or a Quote (drawings, 3D models, specifications, quotations…), accessible only to signed-in members.
Supplier: A User (machinist, workshop, design office, building, cleaning or maintenance company, carrier, freelancer…) who responds to a Request or presents their services.
Contracted Service: Manufacturing, works or services (including cleaning, maintenance, transport, logistics or business services) agreed between a Customer and a Supplier.
Quote: An offer submitted by a Supplier in response to a Request (price in euros excl. VAT, lead time, message, attachments).
Services: All the Platform’s features (posting requests, questions, quotes, messaging, profiles, saved items, notifications, reviews, reporting).
User: Any person with an Account, whether acting as a Customer, a Supplier or both.

3. Access to the Platform and registration

3.1 Registration reserved for businesses

The Platform is intended exclusively for businesses (companies, sole traders, craftspeople, freelancers) established in the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the United Kingdom and acting for the purposes of their business. It is not intended for consumers. By registering, the User declares that they are acting in a professional capacity and have the capacity and authority required to bind the entity they represent.

3.2 Account creation and security

The User provides accurate, complete and up-to-date information (identity, email address, company, SIRET number or company number where applicable, Account type) and undertakes to keep it updated. An Account is strictly personal. The User is responsible for the confidentiality of their login details and for any activity carried out from their Account; they shall notify the Publisher without delay of any unauthorised use. Registration is possible by email address and password or via a Google account.

3.3 Business verification and “Verified business” badge

The Publisher may check the existence and identity of a business from its SIRET number (in France) or its registration or intra-Community VAT number (elsewhere in Europe). The “Verified business” badge certifies only this check, as at the date on which it was carried out. It constitutes neither a certification, nor a recommendation, nor a guarantee as to the business’s skills, the quality of its services, its insurance or its solvency. Each User remains responsible for carrying out their own checks before entering into a contract.

4. Description of the Services

4.1 Free of charge

Registration and posting requests are free. Browsing Requests and sending Quotes are also free. As at the date of the last update of the Terms, the Publisher charges no subscription and no commission on contracts concluded between Users.

4.2 Features

The Platform allows Users in particular to publish and manage Requests (description, indicative budget, deadline, drawings and documents), to ask and receive public questions, to send, compare, accept or decline Quotes, to communicate through messaging, to view User profiles, to save saved items, to receive notifications, to leave reviews and to report content.

4.3 Changes to the Services

The Publisher may change, suspend or withdraw all or part of the Services. Any paid feature introduced in the future will be notified in advance under the conditions set out in the article “Changes to the Terms”, will not apply to contracts already concluded between Users and will have no effect on ranking (see “Ranking transparency”).

4.4 Availability

The Publisher endeavours to ensure access to the Platform 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but is bound only by an obligation of best efforts. Access may be interrupted for maintenance, updates or in the event of circumstances beyond its control. The User bears the costs of their equipment and Internet connection.

5. Role of the Platform: intermediary and host

5.1 Technical intermediary and host

The Publisher provides an online intermediation service and content hosting. As such, it acts as a technical intermediary and host within the meaning of Article 6 of Law No. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy (“LCEN”) and Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on digital services. It exercises no prior control over Content published by Users and is subject to no general monitoring obligation.

5.2 The Publisher is not a party to contracts

Any contract relating to a Contracted Service (quotation, order, price, lead times, specifications, delivery, warranties, ownership of parts, confidentiality, liability…) is concluded directly and exclusively between the Customer and the Supplier, under their sole responsibility. The Publisher is not an agent, commission agent, principal, subcontractor or guarantor of either party. Selecting a Quote on the Platform records the Customer’s choice but does not constitute a contract for the Contracted Service: it is for the parties to put their agreement in writing (accepted quotation, purchase order, general terms of sale…).

5.3 No payment via the Platform

The Platform does not collect, hold in escrow or transfer any sum. Invoicing, payment, VAT and, more generally, financial obligations are the exclusive responsibility of the Users concerned. Amounts displayed are expressed in euros excl. VAT (excl. VAT).

5.4 No warranty

The Publisher does not guarantee the accuracy, quality or lawfulness of Requests, Quotes, profiles and reviews, nor the reliability or solvency of Users, nor the conclusion of a contract or the proper performance of a Contracted Service.

5.5 Users’ legal obligations

Each User remains solely responsible for complying with their legal and regulatory obligations, in particular tax, social security, safety and subcontracting obligations (Law No. 75-1334 of 31 December 1975) and their due diligence obligations (Articles L. 8222-1 et seq. of the Code du travail (French Labour Code)).

6. Users’ obligations

6.1 Common obligations

provide honest, accurate and up-to-date information, and not impersonate any third party;
comply with applicable laws and regulations, the rights of third parties and these Terms;
behave fairly, courteously and professionally towards other Users;
keep their login details confidential and not share their Account;
not misuse information obtained on the Platform (contact details, drawings, quotes) for purposes other than evaluating or carrying out the project concerned.

6.2 Customers’ obligations

describe their need clearly, fairly and truthfully (quantities, lead times, budget, requirements);
hold the necessary rights over the drawings and documents they publish;
reply to Suppliers within a reasonable time and close or update their Request when it is no longer current;
select Quotes in good faith and honour the commitments made to the chosen Supplier.

6.3 Suppliers’ obligations

present their business, skills, equipment and references accurately;
hold the authorisations, qualifications and insurance necessary to carry on their business (in particular professional liability insurance);
submit genuine Quotes, stating a price in euros excl. VAT and a lead time that they are able to meet;
respect the confidentiality of the drawings and documents entrusted to them (see “Intellectual property, drawings and confidentiality”).

7. Prohibited content and conduct

It is strictly forbidden to publish, transmit or promote on the Platform:

any unlawful, defamatory, insulting, discriminatory, hateful, violent or pornographic content, or content infringing the privacy or image of a third party;
any request or offer relating to products or services whose manufacture, possession or trade is prohibited or subject to an authorisation that the User does not hold (in particular weapons, ammunition, explosives, illicit substances);
any request to reproduce or counterfeit a product, model, trademark or drawing protected without the authorisation of its holder;
false or misleading information, fictitious requests, fake reviews, attempted fraud or phishing, or suspicious payment requests;
advertising, unsolicited canvassing, spam and any use of the Platform for purposes unrelated to its object;
automated data collection (bots, scraping), mass extraction of profiles or Requests, and any breach of the security, integrity or availability of the Platform;
circumvention of access control mechanisms, in particular accessing drawings and documents without authorisation.

8. Intellectual property, drawings and confidentiality

8.1 Ownership of the Platform

The Platform, its structure, code, databases, trademarks, logos and graphic elements are protected by intellectual property law and remain the property of the Publisher or its licensors. Any unauthorised reproduction, extraction or reuse is prohibited.

8.2 Users’ Content

Each User retains ownership of their Content and warrants that they hold the necessary rights to publish it. They grant the Publisher, free of charge, on a non-exclusive basis and for the duration of its publication, the right to host it, to reproduce it technically (in particular as thumbnails) and to display it solely for the purpose of providing the Services.

8.3 Drawings and Documents

Drawings and documents remain the exclusive property of the Customer or their successors in title. They are accessible only to signed-in members of the Platform and have no public address. Access to a drawing grants no licence: the Supplier undertakes not to use it for any purpose other than preparing their Quote and, if chosen, carrying out the Contracted Service. In particular, they undertake not to copy, distribute or pass it on to a third party without the Customer’s consent, not to manufacture or have manufactured the part for themselves or a third party, and not to reverse engineer it. They shall cease all use of the documents at the Customer’s request if their Quote is not accepted.

8.4 “Confidentiality required” option

The Customer may state in their Request that a non-disclosure agreement is required. This statement is for information only: the Publisher is not a party to this agreement, does not draft it and does not keep it. It is for the Customer and the Supplier to conclude it before exchanging any sensitive information. We recommend publishing only non-confidential information in the public description of the Request.

8.5 Trade secrets

Non-public information exchanged between Users (drawings, Quotes, messages) is confidential. Each User undertakes not to disclose it or use it for any purpose other than the project concerned, without prejudice to the provisions on the protection of trade secrets (Articles L. 151-1 et seq. of the Code de commerce (French Commercial Code)).

9. Moderation and reporting

9.1 After-the-fact moderation

Content is not subject to prior review. However, the Publisher may at any time, on its own initiative or following a report, review Content and take appropriate measures: warning, removal or hiding of the Content, restriction of features, suspension or closure of the Account.

9.2 Reporting content

Anyone may report Content they consider unlawful or contrary to the Terms, using the “Report” button available on Requests, profiles and messages, or by writing to admin@meaflow.fr. To be handled effectively, the report states the Content concerned (link), the reasons why it is considered unlawful or inappropriate, and the identity and contact details of its author. Abusive or bad-faith reports may give rise to liability on the part of their author.

9.3 Statement of reasons for decisions

When the Publisher removes Content or restricts a User’s access, it informs them of the reasons for its decision, unless the law provides otherwise or there is a risk to the safety of individuals or of the Platform. The User may contest the decision by writing to admin@meaflow.fr.

9.4 Point of contact

The Publisher’s single point of contact for Users and authorities is admin@meaflow.fr. The Publisher cooperates with judicial and administrative authorities under the conditions provided for by law.

10. Review system

Who can leave a review? Only the Customer and the Supplier chosen on the same Request may review each other, once each, from the time the Supplier is selected.
Content. A review consists of a rating from 1 to 5 and a comment. It must reflect the author’s genuine experience. Complacent reviews, paid reviews or reviews obtained in exchange for consideration, self-reviews, and insulting remarks or remarks contrary to the Terms are prohibited.
Authenticity. Each review is linked to a real project carried out on the Platform. The Publisher does not alter the content of reviews; however, it may delete a review that is contrary to the law or the Terms.
Calculation of the rating. A profile’s average rating is the arithmetic mean of all ratings received, without weighting; the number of reviews is displayed next to the rating.
Neutrality. No review can be bought and no payment can influence the rating or the display of reviews. A review cannot be deleted at the request of its recipient solely because it is negative; the recipient may, however, report it if they consider it contrary to the Terms.

11. Ranking transparency (EU Regulation 2019/1150)

In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 of 20 June 2019 on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services, the Publisher describes below the main parameters determining the ranking of content on the Platform and their relative importance.

Content	Default order	Other sort options offered to the user
Requests (list and search)	Publication date, from most recent to oldest	Budget descending or ascending, nearest deadline, fewest quotes
Supplier directory	Average rating descending, then number of reviews, then registration date (most recent first)	Most reviews; recently registered
“Featured suppliers” (home page)	Average rating descending, then number of reviews, among the twelve most recently registered suppliers	—

11.1 Requests

The only parameter determining the default order of open Requests is their publication date (most recent first). This order gives each Request equivalent visibility at the time it is published. The User may at any time choose another sort order and refine results by keyword, category, region, budget or urgency; these filters narrow the set of results without ranking them. Quotes received are presented to the Customer, who remains free to compare them according to their own criteria (price, lead time, profile).

11.2 Suppliers

By default, the supplier directory highlights the profiles with the best average rating, in order to reflect customer satisfaction; in the event of a tie, the number of reviews and then the registration date decide between profiles. Profiles without reviews are ranked by registration date. The User may change this sort order and filter by expertise, region or keywords. The “Featured suppliers” selection on the home page applies the same principle to the twelve most recently registered suppliers.

11.3 No paid ranking

No payment or benefit, direct or indirect, can improve the position of a Request, a Quote or a profile. The “Verified business” badge has no effect on ranking. If paid options were offered in the future, the Publisher would inform Users beforehand and specify any effects they may have on ranking.

11.4 No differentiated treatment

The Publisher offers no goods or services competing with those of Users and favours neither its own content nor that of businesses affiliated with it.

11.5 Commercial freedom and data access

The Publisher imposes no exclusivity or price parity clause: Users remain free to offer their services through other channels and to contract outside the Platform. Each User has access, from their Account, to the data they have provided or generated (profile, Requests, Quotes, messages, reviews received, saved items). The conditions under which this data may be disclosed to third parties are described in the privacy policy.

12. Liability

The Publisher is bound only by an obligation of best efforts. It is not liable for Content published by Users, for contracts concluded between them, for non-performance or poor performance of Contracted Services, for delays, defects, non-conformities or damage resulting therefrom, or for the use a User makes of the information and documents to which they have access. It does, however, implement reasonable measures to secure the Platform.

To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher is not liable for indirect damage (loss of turnover, customers or opportunities, damage to reputation, etc.). Its liability, where incurred, is limited to direct and foreseeable damage. Nothing in the Terms excludes or limits the Publisher’s liability in the event of wilful misconduct or gross negligence, or any liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law.

The Publisher is not liable for interruptions, malfunctions or data loss due to force majeure, the act of a third party or a failure of networks or hosting providers. Each User indemnifies the Publisher against any third-party claim arising from their Content or from their breaches of the Terms.

13. Suspension, termination and statement of reasons

13.1 Closure of the Account by the User

The User may request deletion of their Account at any time by writing to admin@meaflow.fr from the email address associated with the Account. Their ongoing Requests and Quotes are then withdrawn; contracts already concluded with other Users are not affected. Data is processed in accordance with the privacy policy; published reviews may be retained, where applicable in anonymised form, in order to preserve the integrity of the review system.

13.2 Suspension or restriction by the Publisher

In the event of a breach of the Terms, fraud, infringement of third-party rights, risk to the security of the Platform or an order from an authority, the Publisher may, in a proportionate manner, warn the User, remove Content, restrict certain features, or suspend or close their Account. The Publisher communicates to the business User concerned, on a durable medium, the reasons for its decision at the latest when it takes effect, unless prohibited by law.

13.3 Permanent termination and notice

When the Publisher decides to permanently end a business User’s access, it gives thirty (30) days’ notice, together with a statement of reasons. This notice is not required in the event of a legal obligation, serious or repeated breach of the Terms, fraud, manifestly unlawful content or imminent risk to the security of the Platform. The User may contest the decision with the Publisher under the conditions of the article “Complaints and mediation” and obtain a review within a reasonable time.

14. Personal data

The Publisher processes Users’ personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) and Law No. 78-17 of 6 January 1978, as amended. The purposes, legal bases, retention periods, recipients and data subjects’ rights are detailed in the privacy policy.

For third-party personal data that they enter or exchange on the Platform (for example the name of a contact), each User acts as data controller and undertakes to comply with the applicable regulations. They shall not use other Users’ data for prospecting or canvassing purposes without complying with those regulations.

15. Complaints and mediation

Complaint. Any User may submit a complaint to the Publisher at admin@meaflow.fr (subject: “Complaint”), in particular regarding a suspension, restriction or removal of Content. The Publisher acknowledges receipt, examines it carefully and informs the User of the outcome of its analysis within a reasonable time.

Mediation. In the event of a persistent dispute with the Publisher, the business User may have recourse to a mediator of their choice specialising in commercial disputes, for example the Médiateur des entreprises (Business Mediator, a free public service). The Publisher undertakes to participate in good faith in any mediation, without prejudice to the right to bring proceedings before the competent courts.

Disputes between Users. As the Publisher is not a party to contracts for Contracted Services, it is not intended to arbitrate disputes between Customers and Suppliers, which are governed by their contract. It may, however, facilitate contact between the parties.

16. Changes to the Terms

The Publisher may amend the Terms, in particular to take account of changes to the Services or to regulations. Users are informed of any amendment by email and/or by a notice visible on the Platform, at least fifteen (15) days before it takes effect. This period may be shortened where the amendment is required by law or necessary to address an unforeseen and imminent risk.

During the notice period, a business User who rejects the new Terms may terminate their Account without penalty. Otherwise, continued use of the Platform after the amendments take effect constitutes acceptance. The version in force is the one published on this page; it may be viewed and printed at any time.

17. Governing law and jurisdiction

The Terms are drafted in French and governed by French law. Failing amicable or mediated resolution, any dispute relating to their formation, interpretation or performance falls within the jurisdiction of the competent French courts, subject to mandatory rules of jurisdiction.

18. Contact

For any question about the Terms: admin@meaflow.fr or via the contact form.