Payments Terms

1. Definitions

As used in these Payments Terms:

• "Platform" means the RateCards software-as-a-service platform operated by RateCards Inc.
• "Seller" means a registered RateCards user who creates, publishes, or accepts rate cards and receives payment from another user through the Platform.
• "Buyer" means a registered RateCards user who accepts a rate card and remits payment to a Seller through the Platform.
• "Guest Buyer" means a person who completes a purchase through the Platform without a registered RateCards account. Guest Buyers are subject to these Payments Terms with respect to any Transaction they initiate and are bound by the Guest Buyer fee rate set out in Section 6.
• "Transaction" means any peer-to-peer payment between a Buyer or Guest Buyer and a Seller facilitated through the Platform.
• "Service Fee" means the fee charged by RateCards on each Transaction, as set out in Section 6.
• "Payment Processor" means the third-party payment services provider used by RateCards to process Transactions, currently Stripe, Inc.
• "Payout" means the disbursement of Transaction proceeds to a Seller, net of applicable Service Fees, chargebacks, and reserves.
• "Chargeback" means a reversal of a Transaction initiated by a Buyer's card issuer or bank.

2. RateCards' Role — Technology Platform Only

RateCards provides technology infrastructure that enables Buyers and Sellers to connect and transact. RateCards is not a party to any Transaction between users. RateCards does not:

• Guarantee the quality, delivery, or outcome of any services described in a rate card
• Act as an agent, escrow agent, trustee, or fiduciary for either party
• Guarantee payment by any Buyer or receipt of funds by any Seller
• Mediate or arbitrate commercial disputes between users, except as expressly provided in Section 8

Users transact with each other at their own risk, subject to these Payments Terms and any separate agreement between the Buyer and Seller.

RateCards operates as a software platform connecting Buyers and Sellers through Stripe Connect (Standard Platform model). Payment processing, fund custody, and money transmission functions are performed exclusively by Stripe, Inc., a licensed money transmitter. RateCards is not a money transmitter or payment processor in its own right.

3. Payment Facilitation & Processor Terms

All Transactions on the Platform are processed through Stripe Connect, operated by Stripe, Inc. and its affiliates ("Stripe"). RateCards operates under Stripe Connect's Standard Platform model, under which Stripe acts as the merchant of record for Transactions. In this model:

• Stripe holds applicable payment facilitator licenses and bears primary responsibility for payment processing compliance, including card network rules and applicable money transmission obligations assumed by Stripe as merchant of record
• RateCards acts as a software platform connecting Buyers and Sellers, not as a money transmitter or payment processor in its own right
• Sellers must create and maintain a Stripe Connect account, subject to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement and Stripe Services Agreement
• By connecting a Stripe account to RateCards, Sellers authorize RateCards to direct Stripe to initiate Payouts, collect Service Fees, and take actions permitted under these Payments Terms

By using the payments feature of the Platform, each user agrees to be bound by Stripe's then-current Connected Account Agreement and Stripe Services Agreement, in addition to these Payments Terms. In the event of a conflict between Stripe's terms and these Payments Terms with respect to payment processing mechanics, Stripe's terms shall control.

RateCards reserves the right to change its payment infrastructure provider upon 30 days' advance notice to Sellers with active Stripe Connect accounts. A change of payment provider does not constitute a material change to these Payments Terms requiring advance notice under RateCards' Refund & Cancellation Policy.

4. Seller Obligations

4.1 Stripe Connect Account & Verification

To receive Payouts, Sellers must create a Stripe Connect account and complete Stripe's identity verification process, which may include providing government-issued identification, business registration documents, and bank account details. Stripe conducts Know Your Customer (KYC) verification on behalf of RateCards in accordance with Stripe's Connected Account Agreement.

RateCards reserves the right to delay or withhold Payouts pending completion of Stripe's verification process. Sellers who fail to complete verification within 30 days of initiating their first Transaction may have their Payout access suspended until verification is complete.

4.2 Tax Obligations

Sellers are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling their tax obligations arising from Transactions, including income tax, self-employment tax, and any other applicable taxes. RateCards, through Stripe, will issue tax reporting forms to Sellers as required by applicable law, including IRS Form 1099-K to Sellers whose Transactions exceed applicable reporting thresholds. Sellers are responsible for maintaining accurate tax residency and taxpayer identification information in their Stripe Connect account.

4.3 Accurate Representations

Sellers represent and warrant that: (a) rate cards accurately describe the services to be provided; (b) Sellers have the legal right to offer and perform such services; (c) Sellers will perform services with reasonable care and skill; and (d) all information provided to RateCards is accurate and complete.

4.4 Prohibited Uses

Sellers may not use the Platform to receive payment for services prohibited under Section 10 of these Payments Terms or under RateCards' Acceptable Use Policy.

5. Buyer Obligations

Buyers and Guest Buyers represent and warrant that: (a) they are authorized to use the payment method provided; (b) Transactions are initiated for legitimate business purposes; (c) they will not initiate chargebacks or payment disputes in bad faith or as a substitute for legitimate dispute resolution under Section 8; and (d) all billing information provided is accurate.

By initiating a Transaction, a Buyer or Guest Buyer acknowledges they have reviewed the rate card and agrees to the commercial terms set by the Seller. RateCards does not review or approve the terms of individual rate cards and makes no representations about the services described therein.

Guest Buyers acknowledge that completing a Transaction without a registered RateCards account results in a Guest Buyer Service Fee of 5.5% as set out in Section 6.3, regardless of the Seller's subscription tier. Guest Buyers are advised that the Buyer-side Service Fee is set by the Buyer's own subscription tier: a registered Buyer on a paid Solo or Business plan pays that plan's reduced rate, while Guest Buyers and registered Buyers on the Starter plan pay 5.5%. The Seller's plan does not affect the fee charged to the Buyer.

6. Service Fees

6.1 Platform Service Fees

RateCards charges a Service Fee on each completed Transaction. The Service Fee has two independent components: a Seller-side fee, set by the Seller's active subscription plan, and a Buyer-side fee, set by the registered Buyer's own active subscription plan (or, for Guest Buyers, the flat rate in Section 6.3). Neither party's plan affects the other party's fee, as set forth below. All fees listed are all-inclusive — Stripe payment processing fees are absorbed within the rates shown and are not charged separately to Buyers or Sellers. A minimum service fee of $1.00 USD applies to any Transaction under $20.00, in lieu of the standard percentage rate.

6.2 Subscription Tier Fee Schedule

The following Service Fee rates apply to each party based on that party's own active subscription tier. The Seller's tier determines the fee deducted from the Seller's Payout; the registered Buyer's tier determines the fee added to the Buyer's total at checkout. The two are determined independently:

Fees are calculated as a percentage of the total Transaction amount. The Buyer fee is added to the Buyer's total at checkout and collected at the time of payment. The Seller fee is deducted from the Seller's Payout at the time of settlement. Both components are collected by Stripe on RateCards' behalf via the Stripe Connect application fee mechanism.

6.3 Guest Buyer Fee

Buyers who complete a purchase without a registered RateCards account ("Guest Buyers") are charged a flat Service Fee of 5.5% of the Transaction amount, regardless of the Seller's subscription tier. This fee is displayed as a line item at checkout prior to payment confirmation. Guest Buyers are not entitled to tier-based fee reductions. A registered Buyer holding a paid Solo or Business subscription pays that plan's reduced rate under Section 6.2; a registered Buyer on the Starter plan pays 5.5%, the same rate as a Guest Buyer.

6.4 Fee Disclosure

All applicable fees are presented to both Buyer and Seller prior to Transaction confirmation and are incorporated by reference into these Payments Terms at the time of agreement. Current Service Fee rates are also displayed in account settings. In all cases, the rates displayed at the time of the Transaction govern.

6.5 Fee Changes

RateCards reserves the right to modify its Service Fee rates upon 30 days' prior written notice to registered users via email and in-app notification. Fee changes will not apply retroactively to Transactions already completed or in progress at the time notice is given. Continued use of the Platform following the notice period constitutes acceptance of the revised fee schedule.

6.6 Non-Refundability of Fees

Service Fees are non-refundable once a Transaction is completed, except in the case of a verified billing error by RateCards or a Transaction reversed due to RateCards' error. Service Fees are not refunded in connection with Buyer-initiated Chargebacks, Seller refunds to Buyers, or disputed Transactions resolved in favor of either party.

6.7 Fee Recovery on Reversed Transactions

RateCards reserves the right to recoup Service Fees in connection with any Transaction that is reversed, refunded, or subject to a Chargeback, in accordance with Section 9 (Chargebacks).

7. Payouts & Settlement

7.1 Payout Timeline

Payouts to Sellers are processed by Stripe in accordance with the payout schedule set in the Seller's Stripe Connect account. By default, Stripe initiates payouts on a rolling 2-business-day basis following Transaction completion, subject to Stripe's standard settlement timelines and the Seller's country of residence. A Seller's first Payout is commonly subject to a longer hold — typically 7 to 14 days — while Stripe completes its account verification and risk review process; subsequent Payouts follow the standard rolling schedule. Sellers can view and manage their payout schedule directly in their Stripe dashboard.

RateCards has no control over Stripe's payout timing and is not liable for delays caused by Stripe's settlement processes, banking intermediaries, or the Seller's financial institution.

7.2 Payout Holds

RateCards reserves the right to instruct Stripe to place a hold on, delay, or withhold a Payout in the following circumstances:

• A Chargeback or payment dispute has been initiated or is reasonably anticipated in connection with the Transaction
• RateCards has reason to believe the Transaction may be fraudulent or in violation of these Payments Terms
• The Seller has not completed Stripe's required identity or bank account verification
• RateCards is required to do so by applicable law, regulation, or order of a competent authority
• Stripe independently places a hold pursuant to its own risk and compliance policies

RateCards will notify the Seller of any RateCards-directed Payout hold within 3 business days of the hold being placed, except where notification is prohibited by law. Holds placed independently by Stripe are governed by Stripe's Connected Account Agreement.

7.3 Reserves

Stripe may, at its discretion, establish a reserve on a Seller's Stripe Connect account based on Stripe's own risk assessment. RateCards does not independently maintain rolling reserves on Seller Payouts beyond what Stripe imposes. Any reserves established by Stripe are governed exclusively by Stripe's Connected Account Agreement.

8. Refunds & Disputes (Peer-to-Peer Transactions)

8.1 Seller-Initiated Refunds

Sellers may issue full or partial refunds to Buyers at their discretion through the Platform. Seller-initiated refunds will be applied to the original payment method. Service Fees on refunded amounts are non-refundable to the Seller, except as set out in Section 6.

8.2 Platform Role — No Adjudication

RateCards provides a voluntary communication channel through which Buyers and Sellers may attempt to resolve transaction disputes directly ("Dispute Communication Channel"). RateCards is not a party to any transaction between Buyers and Sellers and does not act as an arbitrator, mediator, adjudicator, or fiduciary in connection with any dispute.

8.3 No Guarantee of Outcome

RateCards does not guarantee any outcome in connection with a dispute communicated through the Platform. RateCards' facilitation of any dispute communication does not create any obligation, duty of care, fiduciary duty, or liability on the part of RateCards with respect to the outcome of that dispute.

8.4 User Responsibility

Buyers and Sellers are solely responsible for resolving disputes arising from their Transactions. RateCards may, at its sole and absolute discretion, provide general guidance or facilitate communication between parties, but is under no obligation to do so and may discontinue such facilitation at any time without notice or liability.

8.5 Escalation to Formal Dispute Resolution

Disputes that cannot be resolved between Buyers and Sellers directly are subject to the binding arbitration provisions of RateCards' Terms of Service. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit either party's right to initiate arbitration in accordance with the Terms of Service.

8.6 Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

Buyers who initiate a Chargeback or payment dispute through their card issuer or Stripe do so independently of RateCards' Platform processes. RateCards reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts where Chargebacks are found to be fraudulent or made in bad faith, in accordance with Section 13 (Suspension & Termination).

9. Chargebacks

Under the Stripe Connect Standard (Platform) model, Stripe manages Chargeback disputes directly with card networks on behalf of Sellers. If a Buyer initiates a Chargeback, the following applies:

• Stripe will notify RateCards and RateCards will notify the affected Seller promptly upon receiving notice of the Chargeback
• Stripe will deduct the Chargeback amount plus any applicable Chargeback fee (currently $15 USD per dispute, subject to change by Stripe) from the Seller's Stripe Connect account balance or pending Payout
• Sellers may submit evidence to contest the Chargeback through their Stripe dashboard within the timeframe provided by Stripe (typically 7–21 days depending on the card network)
• Stripe makes the final determination on Chargeback outcomes in accordance with card network rules; RateCards has no ability to override Stripe's or the card network's decision

Sellers bear full financial responsibility for Chargebacks arising from their Transactions. RateCards reserves the right to suspend or terminate a Seller's access to the payments feature if the Seller's Chargeback rate exceeds 1% of monthly Transaction volume, consistent with card network thresholds.

Buyers who initiate Chargebacks in bad faith — including where services were delivered as described in the rate card — may have their Platform access suspended or terminated and may be liable to the Seller for the disputed amount plus associated fees.

10. Prohibited Transactions

The following transactions are prohibited on the Platform:

• Transactions involving illegal goods, services, or activities under applicable US federal or state law
• Transactions constituting money laundering, fraud, or circumvention of sanctions
• Transactions involving persons or entities on applicable sanctions lists (including the OFAC SDN list)
• Transactions between related parties designed to artificially inflate Platform transaction volumes
• Any transaction involving a business type listed on Stripe's Restricted Businesses list
• Any transaction prohibited under RateCards' Acceptable Use Policy

RateCards and Stripe each independently screen Transactions and user accounts against OFAC and other applicable sanctions lists. Users found to be on a sanctions list will have their payment access immediately terminated and any pending Payouts frozen pending legal guidance.

11. AML, KYC & Regulatory Compliance

Under the Stripe Connect Standard (Platform) model, Stripe assumes primary responsibility for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance for connected Seller accounts, pursuant to Stripe's own BSA/AML program and applicable FinCEN obligations. RateCards maintains platform-level AML obligations as follows:

• OFAC screening: RateCards screens users against applicable OFAC sanctions lists as part of account onboarding and ongoing monitoring
• Suspicious activity: RateCards monitors platform-level transaction patterns for indicators of fraud, structuring, or money laundering and reports to Stripe and, where required, directly to applicable authorities
• Cooperation: RateCards cooperates fully with Stripe's compliance requests and with lawful requests from FinCEN and other regulatory authorities

By using the payments feature, users consent to identity verification by Stripe, acknowledge that RateCards and Stripe may be required to report suspicious activity to applicable authorities without notice, and agree not to structure Transactions to evade reporting thresholds.

12. Liability & Indemnification

12.1 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, RateCards' total liability arising out of or related to any peer-to-peer Transaction shall not exceed the Service Fees actually received by RateCards in connection with that specific Transaction. RateCards shall not be liable for: (a) any failure by a Seller to deliver services; (b) any Buyer's failure to pay; (c) losses arising from Chargebacks; (d) Stripe's payment processing decisions, holds, or errors; (e) currency fluctuations; or (f) any indirect, consequential, punitive, or incidental damages arising from a Transaction.

12.2 Indemnification

Each user agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless RateCards Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) their use of the payments feature; (b) any Transaction they initiate or participate in; (c) their violation of these Payments Terms; or (d) any dispute between users.

13. Suspension & Termination of Payment Access

RateCards reserves the right to suspend or permanently terminate a user's access to the payments feature, with or without notice, in the following circumstances:

• Violation of these Payments Terms or RateCards' Acceptable Use Policy
• Excessive Chargeback rate as described in Section 9
• Failure to complete required identity verification
• Reasonable suspicion of fraud, money laundering, or prohibited transaction activity
• Receipt of a legal order or regulatory direction requiring suspension

Upon termination of payment access for cause, RateCards hereby reserves a contractual lien over any funds owed to a Seller's account, which lien is granted by Seller as a condition of platform access and is disclosed at the time of account creation. Any pending Payouts will be held for a period of 60 days following termination to allow for resolution of outstanding Chargebacks, disputes, and platform policy violations. Following this period, remaining funds in the Seller's Stripe Connect account will be disbursed in accordance with Stripe's Connected Account Agreement and applicable law. RateCards has no ability to release funds held directly by Stripe pursuant to Stripe's own risk or compliance holds.

14. Governing Law

These Payments Terms are incorporated into and governed by RateCards' Terms of Service, including its governing law, venue, and dispute resolution provisions. These Payments Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and are subject to the dispute resolution provisions of RateCards' Terms of Service, including binding arbitration. In the event of any conflict between these Payments Terms and the Terms of Service, these Payments Terms shall control with respect to peer-to-peer transactions.

Nothing in these Payments Terms limits any statutory rights users may have under applicable consumer protection, payments, or financial services law in their jurisdiction.

15. Contact

For questions about peer-to-peer payments, disputes, or these Payments Terms:

RateCards Inc.
support@ratecards.app