Terms & Conditions

1. Program Overview

The Free Market Skills ("FMS") Barter Coin Program ("Program") is a loyalty and incentive system operated by Free Market Skills LLC. Participation in the Program is voluntary and available exclusively to registered members in good standing on the FMS platform.

Barter Coins are a proprietary virtual currency issued by FMS. They are not legal tender, not a financial instrument, and are not redeemable for cash except as expressly provided in these Terms. Barter Coins have no value outside of the FMS platform.

By earning, holding, or spending Barter Coins you agree to these Terms in full. FMS reserves the right to modify or discontinue the Program at any time with reasonable notice.

2. Coin Values

For purposes of cash-out calculations, Barter Coins carry the following face values. These values are used solely to determine cash-out eligibility and payouts; they do not represent a guarantee of market value or exchange rate.

FMS may adjust coin face values at its discretion. Any adjustment will apply to coins earned after the effective date of the change only. Existing coin balances retain their value at the rate in effect at the time they were earned.

3. Earning Actions

Members may earn Barter Coins through the following authorized actions:

• Profile View (Search Directory): 1 Bronze per unique member profile viewed per calendar day. Limit: 1 coin per member-target pair per day.
• Recognition Received: 1 Gold coin when a fellow member sends you a recognition award through the Recognition Store.
• Recognition Sent: 1 Gold coin when you purchase and send a recognition award ($4.99 fee applies).
• Referral (New Member): 1 Platinum coin per referred member who completes registration using your referral link or code. Platinum is credited to your Referral Bank.
• Membership Join Bonus: A one-time coin bonus upon joining at a paid membership level (see Membership page for amounts per level).
• Member Coin Exchange: Coins received from another member via the Coin Exchanger (no limit per day, subject to sender's balance).

FMS may add additional earning actions at any time. Coins earned through fraudulent, artificial, or automated means are subject to forfeiture without notice.

4. Redemption Rules

Barter Coins may be redeemed by requesting a cash payout through the Cash-Out system, subject to the thresholds and rules below. Coins may also be sent to other members via the Coin Exchanger.

• Coins are non-transferable to any account outside of the FMS platform.
• Coins have no expiry while your membership is active.
• Upon account closure or membership cancellation, unredeemed coins are forfeit after 90 days.
• Rewards Bank and Referral Bank coins are tracked separately. Cash-out requests must specify which bank to draw from.
• Only Platinum coins are eligible for direct cash payout. Bronze, Silver, and Gold coins contribute to your USD value display but cannot be cashed out directly.

5. Cash-Out Process

Members may submit a cash-out request once a minimum Platinum threshold is reached. The following tiers are available:

• 500 Platinum = $50.00 payout
• 1,000 Platinum = $250.00 payout
• 10,000 Platinum = $1,000.00 payout

Upon submission, the required Platinum coins are debited immediately from the selected bank. Payouts are processed within 5–7 business days via check or electronic transfer. FMS reserves the right to request identity verification before processing any payout. Only one pending cash-out request is permitted at a time.

FMS may withhold payouts pending fraud review. Any payout found to result from fraudulent activity will be reversed and the account suspended.

6. Fraud Prevention

FMS actively monitors all coin-earning activity for patterns indicative of fraud, including but not limited to:

• Creating multiple accounts to generate referral coins
• Using automated scripts, bots, or browser extensions to simulate profile views
• Coordinated ring transactions between members to inflate balances
• Submitting false or misrepresented identity documents
• Exploiting platform bugs to earn coins in excess of stated limits

Any member found to have engaged in fraudulent activity will have their coin balance zeroed, their cash-out requests cancelled, and their account permanently banned. FMS reserves the right to pursue legal action for fraud causing financial harm.

7. Proof of Identity Requirements

FMS may require identity verification before approving any cash-out request exceeding $50.00. Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, national ID card)
• A selfie held next to the submitted ID
• Proof of address dated within 90 days (utility bill, bank statement)

For payouts over $600 in a calendar year, FMS may be required to issue a 1099-NEC or equivalent tax form in compliance with U.S. tax law. Members are solely responsible for reporting and paying taxes on coin payouts in their jurisdiction.

Identity documents are processed solely for verification purposes and are not stored beyond the verification period, in accordance with FMS's Privacy Policy.

8. Program Termination Clause

FMS reserves the right to modify, suspend, or permanently terminate the Barter Coin Program at any time, for any reason, including but not limited to regulatory changes, financial constraints, or platform restructuring.

In the event of Program termination:

• FMS will provide at least 30 days' written notice to all members with a positive coin balance.
• Members will have the 30-day notice period to submit cash-out requests for eligible Platinum balances.
• Non-Platinum coins (Bronze, Silver, Gold) are not eligible for cash conversion upon termination.
• After the termination date, all remaining coin balances are forfeit with no further obligation on the part of FMS.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [State], without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the FMS Terms of Service. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between FMS and the member regarding the Barter Coin Program and supersede all prior representations.

Questions? Contact us at freemarketskills.com/contact or email support@freemarketskills.com.