Effective Date: September 30, 2025
Contact: contact@startsmartly.co

These Payment Terms explain how payments are processed on startsmartly.co (“the Platform”). By making a purchase or receiving payouts as a seller, you agree to these terms.

1. Accepted Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

• VISA
• Mastercard
• Other methods as may be introduced from time to time.

All payments are processed through secure, PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment providers.

2. Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) & 3-D Secure (3DS)

• In compliance with PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2), online payments may require Strong Customer Authentication (SCA).
• This is typically done through 3-D Secure (3DS), where customers confirm their identity using:
  • A password or PIN (something you know),
  • A phone or card verification (something you have),
  • Or biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition (something you are).
• Transactions may be declined if authentication is not successfully completed.

3. Security

• All card details are encrypted and processed by third-party providers; we do not store full card details on our servers.
• Our providers comply with PCI-DSS standards and use secure encryption technologies.
• You are responsible for ensuring your device and login credentials remain secure.

4. Charges & Currency

• All payments are charged in the currency displayed at checkout.
• Conversion fees may apply if your bank or card issuer operates in a different currency.
• The final price, including taxes (where applicable), will be displayed before confirmation.

5. Refunds

• Refund eligibility depends on the seller’s refund policy, and in cases of defective, undelivered, or misrepresented products.
• Refunds, when approved, will be processed back to the original payment method.
• Processing times may vary depending on the payment provider or bank.

6. Seller Payouts

• Payouts to sellers are made according to our payout schedule, net of applicable fees and commissions.
• Sellers must provide accurate banking details and comply with identity verification (KYC) checks.

7. Disputes & Chargebacks

• If a payment is disputed, we may place a temporary hold on funds until the dispute is resolved.
• Sellers are responsible for providing proof of delivery and compliance in the event of a chargeback.

8. Updates

We may update these Payment Terms to reflect new regulations, payment methods, or providers. Updates will be posted on this page with a new Effective Date.

9. Contact

For payment inquiries, please contact:
📧 contact@startsmartly.co