Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing this website, submitting a Honey Bee Removal Request, contacting Ballenger Creek Bee Company, or using any related service, you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

Do not use the website or services if you do not agree to these terms.

2. About Ballenger Creek Bee Company

Ballenger Creek Bee Company is a small local beekeeping and honey business located in Frederick County, Maryland.

The business offers honey products and operates a Honey Bee Removal Request system intended to help connect members of the public with participating local beekeepers.

3. Honey Product Information

Honey availability, varieties, container sizes, appearance, color, texture, and flavor may change according to season, harvest, and available inventory.

Product descriptions and photographs are provided for general informational purposes. Natural differences between honey batches are expected.

Honey should not be given to children under twelve months of age.

4. Honey Bee Removal Request Service

The Honey Bee Removal Request service is intended to collect information about possible honey bee swarms, colonies, or related situations and distribute appropriate request details to participating beekeepers.

Submission of a request does not guarantee that a beekeeper will be available, that the insects are honey bees, that the location can be accessed safely, or that removal or collection will be completed.

Requests may be declined, released, reassigned, delayed, or closed depending on beekeeper availability, safety, accessibility, weather, insect identification, property conditions, or other circumstances.

5. Participating Beekeepers

Participating beekeepers are independent participants and are not employees, agents, partners, or representatives of Ballenger Creek Bee Company.

A participating beekeeper is responsible for independently evaluating the property, insects, access conditions, safety concerns, proposed work, fees, equipment, scheduling, and any agreement made with the property owner or occupant.

Ballenger Creek Bee Company does not guarantee the conduct, qualifications, availability, pricing, work, or results of an independent participating beekeeper.

6. Your Responsibilities

When submitting a request, you agree to provide information that is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge.

You are responsible for:

• Providing a valid name, telephone number, email address, and service location.
• Disclosing relevant information about the insects and their location.
• Providing safe and lawful access to the property when assistance is arranged.
• Informing the beekeeper about known hazards, structural issues, animals, chemicals, electrical conditions, access restrictions, or other safety concerns.
• Obtaining permission from the property owner when you are not the owner.
• Avoiding unnecessary disturbance, spraying, or handling of the insects before assistance arrives.

7. Emergencies and Dangerous Conditions

The Honey Bee Removal Request system is not an emergency service.

If anyone is experiencing a serious allergic reaction, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, or another medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Do not approach, touch, spray, strike, block, or otherwise disturb insects when doing so may create a risk of stinging or injury.

8. Photographs and Submitted Content

You may voluntarily submit photographs and written descriptions to assist with insect identification and request evaluation.

By submitting content, you confirm that you have the right to provide it and authorize Ballenger Creek Bee Company and participating beekeepers to use it for evaluating, coordinating, documenting, and responding to the request.

Do not upload unlawful, misleading, harmful, or unnecessarily sensitive content.

9. SMS Messaging Terms

When you voluntarily opt in to receive SMS messages, you agree that Ballenger Creek Bee Company may send informational and transactional text messages relating to your Honey Bee Removal Request.

Messages may include request confirmations, request status, beekeeper assignment information, service-related questions, scheduling or coordination information, and resolution notices.

Message frequency varies. Message frequency depends on the activity and status of your request.

Message and data rates may apply. Your wireless carrier may charge fees under your mobile plan.

Reply STOP to opt out. After opting out, you may receive one final confirmation message.

Reply HELP for help. You may also contact us at matt@ballengercreekbeecompany.com .

Consent to receive SMS messages is voluntary and is not a condition of purchasing honey products or submitting a Honey Bee Removal Request.

Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

10. SMS Consent and Mobile Information

SMS consent applies only to the specific messaging program described when consent is collected.

Mobile telephone numbers, SMS consent, and opt-in information will not be sold, rented, or shared with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

Limited information may be processed by communications and technology providers solely as necessary to operate and deliver the messaging service.

11. Email Communications

By providing an email address, you authorize Ballenger Creek Bee Company to send service-related communications concerning your inquiry or Honey Bee Removal Request.

These communications may include confirmations, status information, beekeeper assignment information, or request resolution information.

12. Fees and Arrangements

Unless expressly stated otherwise, submission of the online request form does not itself create a payment obligation.

Any proposed fee, reimbursement, repair responsibility, access condition, or other service arrangement should be discussed directly between the property owner or occupant and the participating beekeeper before work begins.

13. Prohibited Uses

You may not use the website or services to:

• Submit false, fraudulent, or misleading information.
• Harass, threaten, impersonate, or harm another person.
• Interfere with the website, messaging system, or service.
• Attempt unauthorized access to systems or information.
• Upload malicious software or unlawful content.
• Use contact information obtained through the service for unrelated advertising or marketing.

14. Service Availability

We may modify, suspend, restrict, or discontinue any part of the website or service at any time.

We do not guarantee uninterrupted availability or that the website, email system, SMS system, hosting provider, Google services, or other supporting technology will always operate without errors or delays.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties

The website and services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Ballenger Creek Bee Company makes no guarantee regarding insect identification, beekeeper availability, response time, successful collection or removal, property conditions, or service results.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ballenger Creek Bee Company will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of the website, messaging service, request system, or services provided by independent participating beekeepers.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

17. Privacy

Information collected through the website and Honey Bee Removal Request service is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms periodically to reflect changes to our services, technology, operational practices, or legal requirements.

The effective date at the top of this page identifies the most recent version.

19. Contact Information