Terms of Service

Welcome to PayPinz. By accessing or using our smart badge scanning payment services, websites, or software applications (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully.

1. Description of Service

PayPinz provides a software platform enabling hospitality professionals, gig workers, and charities ("Users") to receive direct donations and tips from customers via QR codes and NFC smart badges. PayPinz operates solely as a software facilitator. All payments are processed directly via Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe") to the User's connected Stripe Connect Express account. PayPinz never holds, manages, or processes funds at any time.

2. Stripe Connect Terms

Payment processing services for Users on PayPinz are provided by Stripe and are subject to the Stripe Connect Account Agreement, which includes the Stripe Terms of Service (collectively, the "Stripe Services Agreement"). By agreeing to these Terms, you agree to be bound by the Stripe Services Agreement, as the same may be modified by Stripe from time to time.

As a connected account user, you acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for:

• All Stripe payment-processing fees;
• Refunds and partial refunds initiated or requested on transactions;
• All chargebacks, disputes, and related Stripe dispute and transaction fees;
• Any negative balances arising on your connected Stripe account; and
• Reimbursing PayPinz fully if Stripe recovers any connected-account transaction loss or liability from the PayPinz platform.

3. Fees and Subscriptions

PayPinz does not take a cut or commission fee from direct tips or donations. 100% of the gross payment (minus standard Stripe card processing fees and refunds) is transferred directly to your Connected Stripe account. Setup fees, smart badge orders, and platform subscription fees are billed in accordance with the pricing plan selected during registration.

4. User Conduct and Compliance

Users are solely responsible for ensuring that all information provided to PayPinz and Stripe is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. You agree not to use the Service for any fraudulent, illegal, or unauthorized purposes.

5. US Tipping Compliance & FLSA Regulations

For Users and businesses operating in the United States: In accordance with the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and local state laws, employers, managers, and supervisors are strictly prohibited from keeping, retaining, or sharing in any portion of employee tips, including those distributed via any PayPinz team tip pool. Managers and employers act solely as trustees and facilitators of any team tip pool, and must distribute 100% of the pooled funds to participating clocked-in tipped employees. PayPinz operates solely as a software routing tool; compliance with all federal, state, and local wage and tipping regulations remains the sole responsibility of the User.

6. Taxes and Reporting Responsibilities

Users (including hospitality professionals, gig workers, and charities) are solely responsible for declaring, reporting, and paying all applicable local, state, federal, or national taxes (including income tax, self-employment tax, national insurance contributions, sales tax, or VAT) on any tips, gratuities, or donations received through the Service. PayPinz does not calculate, withhold, pay, or report taxes on behalf of any User. All payments are processed directly to the User's Connected Stripe Account, and the User holds sole liability for compliance with relevant tax authorities (such as HMRC in the UK or the IRS in the US). If required by applicable law, Stripe may issue tax documentation (such as Form 1099-K in the US) directly to the User.

7. Gift Aid Declarations

For donations where a donor opts into Gift Aid, the donor represents and warrants that they are a UK taxpayer and understand that if they pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all their donations in that tax year, it is their personal responsibility to pay any difference to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). PayPinz operates solely as a software facilitator to transmit Gift Aid declaration details (full name, home address, postcode) to the recipient charity organization. The recipient charity remains solely responsible for submitting all Gift Aid claims directly to HMRC. PayPinz holds no liability or responsibility for validating donor tax eligibility or executing Gift Aid tax claims.

8. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall PayPinz, its directors, employees, or partners, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages resulting from the use of, or inability to use, the Service or Stripe payment processing.