Terms of Service for LifeEcho

Effective Date: 03/01/2025

LifeEcho is a memory preservation platform operated by LifeEcho LLC, a technology company that provides voice-based storytelling services. Users can record and store voice memories, which can be accessed and shared over time. Some users may be referred by community organizations like People Health, but all services and data are managed by LifeEcho LLC.

By using LifeEcho, you agree to the following terms. These Terms apply to all users unless otherwise specified.

1. Service Description

LifeEcho allows users to record and store voice memories through phone calls, which are processed and stored on our secure platform. The platform is powered and maintained by LifeEcho LLC.

LifeEcho is committed to making our services accessible. If you need assistance using the platform due to a disability, please reach out to us at support@lifeecho.org. If you require alternative access to your recordings, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. LifeEcho aims to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable accessibility regulations.

LifeEcho is not intended for medical, therapeutic, or emergency communication purposes. If you are in distress or need urgent help, contact appropriate emergency services.

Some organizations, such as People Health, may facilitate access to LifeEcho by managing user onboarding, communications, or billing using their own systems. See Section 18 for details about how such partnerships work.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use LifeEcho. By using the service, you affirm that you meet this age requirement.

3. Scope of Use

LifeEcho is available to all users. Some users may be referred through community organizations for sponsored access, such as seniors aged 65 or older or those experiencing hardship. Eligibility for such access is managed by the referring organization. While a partner may help facilitate use of the service, LifeEcho LLC remains the platform provider and custodian of your data. See Section 18 for more about partner involvement.

4. User Accounts

• You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure.
• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during signup.
• You may not use the service for unlawful or harmful purposes.

5. Voice Recordings and Content

• You retain ownership of your recordings.
• You grant LifeEcho permission to store, process, transcribe, and allow access to your recordings as described in our Privacy Policy.
• All recordings are securely stored and managed by LifeEcho LLC.
• You are responsible for the content you create and share using LifeEcho.
• You are responsible for ensuring that any individuals you record have given appropriate consent, in compliance with your local laws.

6. Subscription and Billing

• Some users are billed directly by LifeEcho LLC, while others may receive sponsored or facilitated access through community organizations (see Section 18). Regardless of billing path, LifeEcho LLC remains the provider of the service and responsible for storage and delivery.
• Payments are processed securely through trusted third-party providers such as Stripe. In some cases, payments may be handled by a partner organization using their own merchant account.
• If payment fails or is canceled, access to new recordings may be paused until resolved.
• You may purchase additional recording time beyond your monthly subscription limit. Pricing and package options are listed on our Pricing Page and may change from time to time.
• Purchased extra hours are added to your monthly balance and never expire.
• Each phone call is counted as a minimum of 5 minutes toward your recording time balance, regardless of actual call length. If a call exceeds 5 minutes, the total duration is rounded up to the nearest whole minute for billing purposes.
• If a call is disconnected due to a technical failure on our end, we may credit the time back to your balance upon request and verification.
• Monthly recording hours included in your subscription do not roll over month to month.

7. Data Retention and Ownership

Recordings from free plans are currently preserved for up to 10 years. This retention period is subject to change based on operational, legal, or policy updates. We will notify users if this policy is updated in a way that affects their data.

Paid plans typically include up to 25 years of long-term storage, though durations may vary depending on the plan or promotional offer. LifeEcho LLC manages all data and maintains secure, compliant storage environments in accordance with industry standards.

While we take great care to ensure durable storage, LifeEcho does not guarantee indefinite data retention and encourages users to periodically back up their recordings.

Users may request deletion or export of their recordings and data at any time by contacting support@lifeecho.org. Deletion requests will be honored within a reasonable time unless retention is required by law or operational necessity.

8. Branding and Attribution

LifeEcho is powered by LifeEcho LLC. Communications and materials may include acknowledgments of community partners where applicable.

9. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access if you violate these terms or misuse the platform. You may cancel your account at any time by contacting support@lifeecho.org. In the event of service termination, we will provide a reasonable transition period where possible.

If you cancel your account, your recordings will remain accessible for a minimum of 30 days unless you request immediate deletion. After that, they may be scheduled for permanent deletion.

10. Limitation of Liability

LifeEcho LLC is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service. Although strong security protocols are in place, we cannot guarantee absolute protection from unauthorized access or data breaches. Use of LifeEcho is at your own risk.

We are not liable for delays or failures in performance due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, labor disputes, war, internet service provider failures, or government actions.

11. Third-Party Services

LifeEcho uses third-party services such as Twilio, Stripe, OpenAI, and Google. Use of the platform may be subject to the terms of those providers. We are not responsible for their services, performance, or policies.

Transcription and content processing may be powered by third-party AI services, such as OpenAI. By using the service, you acknowledge and consent to this processing as outlined in our Privacy Policy.

12. Modifications to the Service

We may update, suspend, or discontinue parts of the LifeEcho service at any time. Where feasible, we will provide notice of major changes. However, we are not obligated to maintain any specific feature indefinitely.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. If significant changes occur, we will notify you via email or a message on our website. Continued use of the service constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

14. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, contact us at:

Email: support@lifeecho.org

15. Dispute Resolution

If you have a concern or dispute regarding LifeEcho, we encourage you to contact us first at support@lifeecho.org so we can try to resolve it informally.

If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, it will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any legal action must be brought in the state or federal courts located in Richmond, Virginia. In some cases, both parties may mutually agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), conducted in Richmond unless otherwise agreed.

16. Communications and Consent

By using LifeEcho, you consent to receive communications from us via email, phone calls, and text messages related to your use of the service. These may include service reminders, account updates, support follow-ups, or promotional messages.

You can opt out of promotional messages at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in those messages. However, you may still receive essential service-related messages even if you opt out of marketing communications.

Message, calling, and data rates may apply depending on your mobile or phone carrier and plan.

17. Feedback and Improvements

We welcome your feedback to help improve LifeEcho. By submitting feedback or suggestions, you grant us the right to use that input without obligation or compensation, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

18. Community Partners and Facilitated Access

Some users may access LifeEcho through community organizations or programs, such as People Health. These partners may assist with user onboarding, payment collection, and placing calls using their own system credentials (e.g., Twilio).

Regardless of a partner’s involvement, LifeEcho LLC is the exclusive provider of the platform and retains responsibility for all voice recording, storage, and data management. Partners do not have access to your stored recordings unless you choose to share them.

If you are using LifeEcho through a partner, your experience may include co-branded communication or support, but your data is stored, secured, and managed solely by LifeEcho LLC.