1. Fees and Charges

1.1 Service Fees

MicroLink provides access to various financial services for MSMEs through its partner institutions. While access to the platform is free, certain services offered by partner financial institutions (such as loan applications, credit checks, or third-party verifications) may incur fees. For example, a credit risk analysis report may carry a £15 service fee, while an expedited loan application may have an administrative charge of £25. These fees will be clearly displayed prior to completion of each transaction.

1.2 Commission Charges

MicroLink earns commissions from partner financial institutions for every successful transaction initiated through the platform. These commissions do not affect the cost to the user and are disclosed in the interest of transparency. Users will not be charged directly by MicroLink unless explicitly stated.

1.3 Transparent Pricing

All charges, including processing or service fees applicable to specific financial services, will be disclosed transparently at the point of service. No hidden charges will be applied. Where multiple services are bundled, a breakdown of charges will be provided.

1.4 Currency and Taxes

All charges are denominated in GBP (£). Fees may be subject to VAT where applicable. Users are responsible for understanding any additional tax liabilities relevant to their business or jurisdiction.

2. Compliance and Regulatory Information

2.1 Regulatory Oversight

MicroLink operates in compliance with all relevant UK financial regulations. All partner financial institutions on the platform are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or other recognised financial oversight bodies. Periodic audits and due diligence are conducted on partner institutions.

2.2 Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

We comply with UK AML regulations and employ robust procedures to detect and prevent money laundering activities. This includes customer identity verification, ongoing transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious transactions to relevant authorities, including the National Crime Agency (NCA).

2.3 Know Your Customer (KYC)

As part of our onboarding process, we collect and verify necessary business and individual identification documents. This includes business registration certificates, director or owner ID verification, and proof of address. KYC checks are periodically reviewed to maintain compliance.

2.4 Government Licensing

MicroLink facilitates access to services that may require additional government licensing or approval. We assist MSMEs by guiding them to appropriate resources but do not process or guarantee any government-issued permits or licenses directly.

3. Data Protection Policy

3.1 Personal Data Collection

We collect personal and business data including full name, business name, email address, contact number, business registration number, tax identification number, financial account data, and transactional records. This data is collected during registration, service requests, and while interacting with the platform.

3.2 Data Usage

Collected data is used to:
– Verify user identity and business legitimacy
– Facilitate access to financial products and services
– Communicate service updates and changes
– Meet legal and regulatory obligations

We do not sell user data. Data is shared only with service partners upon explicit user consent.

3.3 Data Storage and Retention

User data is stored securely on encrypted UK-based cloud infrastructure, compliant with ISO 27001 standards. Personal data is retained for up to 7 years after account closure, or as required by applicable law, to ensure compliance with financial and legal obligations.

3.4 User Rights

Users have the right to:
– Access their stored personal information
– Request corrections to inaccurate data
– Request deletion of personal data under certain conditions
– Object to data processing

Requests should be submitted to our Data Protection Officer at dpo@microlinkplatform.co.uk.

3.5 Third-Party Sharing

User data is shared with partner financial institutions only when:
– A user has applied for or shown intent to access a service
– Data is essential for eligibility assessments or compliance checks

All third-party partners are contractually bound to handle data under strict data protection agreements.

4. Terms of Use

4.1 User Eligibility

Users must be authorized representatives of MSMEs registered in the UK and at least 18 years of age. Individuals using the platform on behalf of an organisation must confirm they have appropriate permissions.

4.2 Platform Use

The platform must be used strictly for lawful purposes aligned with its financial service objectives. Any form of data tampering, misuse of services, or provision of false information will lead to account termination and may be reported to authorities.

4.3 Account Responsibility

Users must:
– Keep login credentials secure
– Report any unauthorized access immediately
– Use multi-factor authentication where enabled

MicroLink is not liable for unauthorized activity resulting from user negligence.

4.4 Intellectual Property

All platform content—including UI designs, text, system workflows, and branding—remains the intellectual property of MicroLink. Reuse, redistribution, or duplication is prohibited without written authorization.

4.5 Service Availability

While we strive for 99.9% uptime, service interruptions may occur due to maintenance, upgrades, or third-party hosting issues. Users will be notified in advance of any scheduled maintenance longer than 1 hour via email or dashboard notifications.

5. Security Policy

5.1 Data Security

We use TLS 1.3 for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest. The platform is protected by secure coding practices, routine vulnerability scanning, and firewalls.

5.2 System Monitoring

We implement continuous logging and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for unusual behavior. Alerts are triggered in real time for review by our security team.

5.3 Incident Response

In the event of a security breach, our Incident Response Plan includes:
– Immediate investigation and isolation of affected systems
– User notification within 72 hours
– Regulatory reporting as required
– Remediation and follow-up audits

5.4 User Responsibilities

Users must:
– Use strong, unique passwords
– Avoid using public devices for access
– Log out after sessions

Any suspected breach should be reported immediately via security@microlinkplatform.co.uk.

For any questions regarding these terms or your rights as a user, please contact:

Email: support@microlinkplatform.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 1234 5678