Frequently asked questions
Answers about Bot Harbour dataset formats, samples, licensing, payments, downloads, data quality, custom datasets, technical support, and data services.
What is Bot Harbour?
Bot Harbour is a marketplace for verified, production-ready datasets, and a team that builds custom data infrastructure. You can browse and download existing datasets instantly, or commission a custom scraper, automation, web app, or AI agent tailored to your needs.
Do I need an account to browse datasets?
You can browse and preview datasets without an account. To download or purchase, you'll need to create a free account. Registration takes under a minute and requires only an email.
How do I find the right dataset?
Use the Store to filter by country, category, and price. Every dataset shows a record count, a short description, and, where available, a downloadable sample so you can inspect the schema and data quality before purchasing.
What formats are datasets available in?
CSV is the default format for all datasets. Excel is available on request for most datasets. If you need a specific schema, column mapping, or format, mention it when you purchase or contact us.
Where does the data come from?
Our datasets come from three sources: verified public records and open-government data, licensed third-party partnerships, and our own proprietary scraping pipelines. Every dataset page documents its origin and collection method so you know exactly what you're getting.
How is data quality validated?
Every dataset goes through schema validation, duplicate record removal, null-value analysis, and manual spot-checks before publishing. We also run automated freshness checks on a defined cadence and remove listings that fall below our quality threshold.
How often are datasets updated?
Update frequency varies by dataset and is shown on each product page. Ranges from daily (for real-time sources like pricing data) to monthly (for slower-moving data like business directories). If you need a specific refresh cadence, we can build a custom pipeline for you.
What if I find an error in a dataset?
Report it via the contact form or email us with the dataset name and a description of the issue. We investigate within one business day and issue a corrected file or partial refund depending on the severity and scope of the error.
How is delivery handled after purchase?
Delivery is instant. After a successful payment you'll receive a secure download link immediately. No waiting period, no approval queue. The link is also available in your account under My Orders at any time.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) and PayPal. For larger orders or recurring subscriptions, bank transfer and invoice payment are available. Contact us to arrange.
Do you offer refunds?
If a dataset materially misrepresents what was advertised, wrong record count, missing fields, incorrect source, contact us within 7 days of purchase for a full refund. We review every request fairly and quickly.
How many times can I download a purchased dataset?
Unlimited downloads are included with every purchase. Your download link stays active in your account and never expires. If you lose access, contact support and we'll restore it.
What license comes with a dataset purchase?
Datasets are licensed for the purchaser's internal business use. You may use, analyse, and integrate the data into your products, but you may not resell the raw dataset to third parties. Custom licensing for redistribution is available. Contact us.
Can you build a custom dataset I can't find in the catalog?
Yes. Use the Request a Dataset form to describe what you need: the target sources, required fields, volume, and update cadence. We'll send a scope and quote within one business day. Most custom datasets are delivered within 1–2 weeks.
What does a web scraping engagement look like?
After a discovery call to map requirements, we build and QA the scraper, provide a sample output for review, and deploy it with scheduling, monitoring, and Slack/email alerting. You receive data on schedule without managing any infrastructure.
How long does a custom web development project take?
Timelines depend on scope. A landing page or simple internal tool can be delivered in 1–2 weeks. A full dashboard or marketplace typically takes 4–8 weeks. We work in two-week sprints with demos at each checkpoint, so you always see progress.
Do you offer ongoing maintenance after project delivery?
Yes. We offer monthly retainer agreements that cover maintenance, monitoring, updates, and new feature development. Retainers are scoped per project. Contact us after delivery to discuss options.
How do I get support?
Use the contact form on our Contact page, or email us directly. We typically reply within one business day. For urgent issues related to a broken download or a critical pipeline failure, mention 'urgent' in the subject line and we'll prioritise.
Do you offer a service level agreement (SLA)?
SLAs are available for enterprise clients and ongoing scraping or automation engagements. Standard response time is one business day. Premium SLAs with four-hour response and 99.9% uptime guarantees are available on request.
Can I request a feature or new data category?
Absolutely. We actively build the catalog based on demand. Submit a request through the contact form and if multiple users request the same dataset or category, it moves to the top of our build queue.