Terms of Service — Chronos Snow Management

Effective Date: These Terms are effective as of the date Customer completes signup (or the date we publish an updated version, whichever is later). Service Area: Greater Plymouth & Wayzata, MN areas — ZIP codes 55447, 55446, 55442, 55441, 55305, 55391, 55356.

By signing up for service, whether online at chronos-snow.com or by phone/email, you ("Customer") agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms") with Chronos Snow LLC, doing business as Chronos Snow Management ("we," "us," "the Company").

1. Services Offered

• 1.1 Same Day — triggered at 2"+ of snowfall (see Section 2); driveway cleared the same day.
• 1.2 Next Day — triggered at 4"+ of snowfall; driveway cleared by the end of the following day.
• 1.3 Commercial & Large Driveway Service — custom-quoted service for commercial lots and driveways over 2,000 sq ft, priced individually and confirmed by separate written agreement. Where these Terms don't address something specific to a commercial account, the individual agreement controls.
• 1.4 Optional add-ons (where offered for a given tier): Salt/ice-melt application, Sidewalk shoveling.

2. Snowfall Measurement & Triggers

• 2.1 Snowfall totals used to determine whether a tier's trigger has been met are based on official data from the National Weather Service (NWS, api.weather.gov) for a single representative point covering the Plymouth, MN service area — not the Customer's own measurement, a different location, or any on-site device. Because the service area spans roughly a 10-mile radius, one reading is used for all ZIP codes listed above rather than separate per-ZIP measurements, which NWS does not provide at this scale.
• 2.2 The Same Day tier's 2" trigger is assessed as of 6:00 AM on the day of service; the Next Day tier's 4" trigger is assessed on the same schedule.
• 2.3 One visit per triggering day: If the trigger threshold is met, Customer is entitled to one visit covering that day's accumulated snowfall. Additional snow that falls later the same day after a completed visit will be addressed on its own next qualifying trigger, not as a same-day return visit, unless we determine otherwise at our discretion.

3. Service Definitions & Completion Standards

• 3.1 Plowing: A driveway is considered "plowed" once the average remaining snow depth across the driveway is less than 1 inch. We do not guarantee a bare-pavement or ice-free surface — see Section 16.
• 3.2 Shoveling (sidewalk add-on): A sidewalk is considered "shoveled" once the average remaining snow depth across the cleared walkway is less than 1 inch — the same completion standard as plowing, applied to the sidewalk surface.
• 3.3 Salting (salt/ice-melt add-on): Application of a salt or ice-melt product to the driveway and/or sidewalk surface, as applicable to the plan selected. Salting reduces ice formation but does not guarantee a bare, dry, or ice-free surface, particularly at low temperatures or during active precipitation — see Section 16.
• 3.4 Missed Deadlines:
• (a) Same Day or Next Day service: We aim to meet the stated windows, but no automatic credit, refund, or re-service is provided solely for completing service later in the day or on the following day, except as required by law or at our sole discretion as a goodwill gesture.
• (b) This Section 3.4 is Customer's sole and exclusive remedy for a missed deadline. It does not apply when service is delayed or skipped for reasons covered by Sections 12.1, 17, or any other provision of these Terms.

4. Service Season & Billing Windows

• 4.1 The service season runs November 1 through April 30 each year.
• 4.2 No charge will be applied before November 1 for Per-Trip or Monthly plans, regardless of when a Customer signs up. Annual plans are billed at signup instead — see 4.4.
• 4.3 All active contracts are automatically paused effective April 30 each year unless already canceled (see Section 10 on renewal).
• 4.4 Billing frequency is selected at signup — Per-Trip, Monthly, or Annual:
• Per-Trip: billed for each completed visit.
• Monthly: billed a flat rate on or near the 1st of each month, covering all qualifying visits that month.
• Annual: billed once at signup, for the full upcoming season, regardless of how far ahead of November 1 signup occurs.

5. No Guaranteed Visit Count

• 5.1 Service is triggered entirely by snowfall meeting the applicable threshold (Section 2) and is not scheduled on a fixed calendar. In a season or month with lower-than-average snowfall, Customer is not entitled to a minimum number of visits, a partial refund, or a credit on that basis alone.
• 5.2 Monthly and Annual billing reflects unlimited qualifying visits for the billing period, not a guaranteed number of visits.

6. Payment Method & Authorization

• 6.1 As part of the online signup process, Customer authorizes us to securely save a payment method through our payment processor (Stripe). No charge is made during that online signup step itself — only a card-validation hold, if any, per Stripe's standard process. The actual charge is made once we confirm and set up service, on the schedule described in Section 4.4 (immediately for Annual plans, otherwise per visit or monthly).
• 6.2 By completing signup, Customer authorizes us to charge the card on file for each billing event under the selected plan (per visit, monthly, or annual), consistent with Section 4.
• 6.3 If a charge is declined, we may suspend service until payment is resolved and will attempt to contact the Customer using the contact information on file.
• 6.4 Information use: Information Customer provides — name, address, phone, email, and payment details — is used only to schedule and bill for service, and is not sold or rented to third parties. Payment details are processed securely by Stripe; we never see or store full card numbers, and Stripe's own privacy policy governs its processing of that data on our behalf.

7. Price Changes

• 7.1 Pricing in effect at the time Customer signs up applies for the remainder of that service season (through April 30).
• 7.2 We may set new pricing for a future service season; the then-current rate card will apply starting that November 1, and will be confirmed with Customer as part of the renewal process described in Section 10.

8. Cancellation by Customer

• 8.1 Per-Trip Plans: Snow removal is not an on-demand, same-day-request service. To cancel a specific scheduled visit, Customer must notify us more than 24 hours before the qualifying snowfall event, as measured under Section 2.
• 8.2 Monthly Plans: Cancellation must be submitted before the first day of the calendar month in which Customer wishes to stop service. Cancellations submitted on or after the 1st take effect the following month; the current month's fee is non-refundable except as provided in Section 9.
• 8.3 Annual Plans: Annual plans are not cancelable by the Customer once purchased, except as required by law.
• 8.4 Cancellation requests must be submitted through our website's cancellation form (or by phone/email) and are subject to confirmation by us.

9. Termination by Chronos Snow Management

• 9.1 We reserve the right to terminate any Customer's service contract at any time, for any reason, at our sole discretion.
• 9.2 If we terminate a Monthly plan, Customer will be refunded the unused portion of that month's fee, prorated and rounded to the end of the calendar day on which service is terminated.
• 9.3 If we terminate an Annual plan, Customer will be refunded the unused portion of the season's fee, calculated the same way but across the full season.
• 9.4 Sole refund circumstance: Owner-initiated termination under this Section 9 is the only circumstance under which Customer is entitled to a refund, credit, or prorated adjustment. We may, at our sole discretion, issue a refund or credit in other circumstances we deem appropriate, but Customer is not entitled to and may not demand one. No refund is owed for Customer-initiated cancellation (Section 8), low snowfall (Section 5), or any other circumstance not listed here, except where required by law.
• 9.5 Refund timing: Refunds are typically processed within a few business days of being issued, but may take up to 40 days to appear on Customer's account or statement, depending on Customer's bank or card issuer's own processing times.

10. Season Renewal

• 10.1 Plans do not automatically renew for a new service season. Before each new season begins, we will contact Customer to confirm continued service and any updated pricing (Section 7). No charge will be made for a new season without Customer's renewed authorization.

11. Eligibility, Age & Authority to Contract

• 11.1 Customer must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into this agreement for the property being serviced (as the owner, tenant with authorization, or an authorized representative such as a property manager for commercial accounts).
• 11.2 By signing up, Customer represents that the information provided (name, address, contact information, and — for commercial accounts — authority to bind the property owner) is accurate and that they meet the eligibility requirements in 11.1.

12. Property Access, Hazards & Mailbox Placement

• 12.1 Customer is responsible for keeping the driveway and any marked service areas clear of vehicles, toys, and other obstructions before a scheduled or triggered visit. If access is blocked when we arrive, we may skip the visit (billed as attempted, for Per-Trip plans) or return later in our route order at our discretion — we do not guarantee a return trip the same day.
• 12.2 Customer is responsible for identifying and marking any hazards not visible under snow cover — including but not limited to sprinkler heads, invisible fencing, edging, landscaping features, and low-hanging branches — before the start of service each season. We are not liable for damage to unmarked or hidden hazards.
• 12.3 Mailboxes and posts: Customer is responsible for ensuring their mailbox and post are installed per USPS and local municipal standards (proper setback from the road/curb edge, secure mounting, sound structural condition). We are not liable for damage to a mailbox or post that is improperly placed, loosely mounted, structurally unsound, decorative/non-standard, or positioned within the normal plowing path.
• 12.4 We are not responsible for snow, ice, or windrows deposited at the end of a driveway by municipal or third-party plows on public streets, including after our service is complete.
• 12.5 Customer acknowledges that plowing and related equipment operate in low-visibility, snow-covered conditions along the edges of driveways, curbs, and property lines, and that incidental contact with objects near the cleared path can occur despite reasonable care.

13. Customer Representations & Indemnification

• 13.1 Customer agrees to indemnify and hold us harmless from claims, damages, or costs arising from (a) inaccurate information provided at signup, or (b) Customer's failure to identify or mark hazards as required under Section 12.2, to the extent the resulting damage or claim is caused by that inaccuracy or failure.

14. Subcontractors

• 14.1 We may use subcontractors or additional operators to perform services under these Terms. Any subcontractor is subject to the same standards and obligations described here.

15. Damage Claims & Limitation of Liability

• 15.1 Notice of claim: Any claim for property damage must be reported to us in writing (email or the contact form) within 48 hours of the visit in which it allegedly occurred, with a description of the damage and photos where possible. Claims reported after this window may be denied for lack of ability to verify. We may document visits with time-stamped photos or GPS records to help verify service and resolve claims.
• 15.2 Incidental effects of normal operations: We perform services in a professional and workmanlike manner but do not guarantee against minor incidental effects of normal plowing (e.g., light surface scuffing, salt residue, minor turf disturbance at driveway edges).
• 15.3 Vehicle/equipment contact with property: Any claim involving physical contact between our vehicle or equipment and Customer's or a third party's property (including but not limited to mailboxes, fences, parked vehicles, or structures) is handled through our commercial auto and general liability insurance claims process. Customer agrees to cooperate in good faith with that claims process, including providing photos, timeline, and access for inspection as reasonably requested.
• 15.4 Liability cap: For any claim not covered under our commercial auto or general liability insurance (Section 15.3), our total liability is limited to the greater of $500 or the amount Customer paid for services over the preceding 3 months, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

16. Disclaimer of Warranties

• 16.1 Except as expressly stated in these Terms, services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant that service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that every trace of snow or ice will be removed.

17. Force Majeure

• 17.1 We are not responsible for delays, missed visits, or failure to perform caused by events outside our reasonable control, including extreme weather, natural disaster, road closures, government restrictions, utility or fuel supply disruption, equipment failure, or vehicle accident. Affected obligations are suspended for the duration of the event, and we will resume service as soon as reasonably practicable.

18. Dispute Resolution & Venue

• 18.1 Customer agrees to first contact us to attempt to resolve any dispute informally before filing a claim. If informal resolution isn't possible, any action arising from these Terms will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and both parties consent to jurisdiction there.

19. General

• 19.1 Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.
• 19.2 Entire Agreement: These Terms (together with any individually negotiated commercial agreement under Section 1.3) constitute the entire agreement between Customer and us regarding the services, superseding any prior discussions or representations.
• 19.3 No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms is not a waiver of our right to enforce it later.
• 19.4 Assignment: We may assign these Terms in connection with a sale or transfer of the business. Customer may not assign their service agreement without our written consent.
• 19.5 Survival: Sections covering payment obligations already incurred, damage claims, indemnification, and limitation of liability survive cancellation or termination of service.
• 19.6 Changes to Terms: We may update these Terms from time to time; continued use of the service after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance.
• 19.7 Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.
• 19.8 Contact: Questions about these Terms can be directed to [email protected] or 763-203-3076.