Terms of Service

1. About UpiChat

UpiChat is a digital goods marketplace operated by Pegadis, a registered sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) based in the Netherlands (KVK: 99517671, SBI: 4791 — Retail sale via internet of other goods). Our registered address is Keizer Maximiliaanlaan, The Hague, Netherlands.

UpiChat enables users to purchase and send mobile airtime and data top-ups to recipients in over 150 countries. UpiChat does not sell physical goods, SIM cards, or mobile devices. All products delivered through UpiChat are digital goods fulfilled instantly upon successful payment.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use UpiChat. By creating an account or completing a transaction, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under the laws of your jurisdiction.

3. Account Registration

You may create an account using your email address and password, phone number with OTP verification, or biometric authentication (WebAuthn/passkeys). You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials. You must not share your account with others or create multiple accounts. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

4. How UpiChat Works

When you place an order on UpiChat, you select a country, enter a recipient's phone number, and choose an airtime or data product. UpiChat automatically identifies the recipient's mobile operator based on their phone number prefix and processes the order through our fulfillment partners.

Payment is authorized at the time of order but is only captured (charged) after the top-up has been successfully delivered to the recipient's phone number. If delivery fails for any reason, the payment authorization is released and you are not charged.

5. Pricing and Fees

All prices are displayed in the currency you select at checkout. Prices include any applicable service fees and currency conversion costs. The final price shown before you confirm payment is the total amount you will be charged. Prices may vary based on the destination country, mobile operator, and product type. UpiChat reserves the right to adjust pricing at any time without prior notice.

6. Payment Methods

UpiChat accepts payment via credit and debit cards, iDEAL, Bancontact, Apple Pay, Google Pay (processed by Stripe), PayPal, Klarna, Wero, SEPA bank transfer (processed by Adyen), and Telebirr and CBE Birr for Ethiopian domestic users (processed by Chapa). All payment processing is handled by licensed, PCI-DSS-compliant third-party payment processors. UpiChat does not store your full card details.

7. Delivery

Top-ups are delivered instantly in most cases. Delivery times may occasionally be affected by mobile operator processing delays, network congestion, or temporary service interruptions at the recipient's mobile operator. UpiChat is not responsible for delays caused by the recipient's mobile operator or network provider. Delivery is confirmed when the mobile operator acknowledges receipt of the top-up.

8. Refund Policy

Because UpiChat sells digital goods that are delivered instantly, successfully completed transactions are non-refundable. This is consistent with Article 6:230p of the Dutch Civil Code, which provides that the right of withdrawal does not apply to digital content delivered with the consumer's prior express consent.

If a delivery fails, you are not charged — the payment authorization is automatically released. If you believe you were charged for a failed delivery, please contact us at support@upichat.com within 14 days of the transaction. We will investigate and issue a refund if warranted.

Refunds, when issued, will be returned to the original payment method within 5–10 business days, depending on your payment provider.

9. Upi Me Request Links

UpiChat allows recipients to generate shareable payment links ("Upi Me" links) that enable others to send top-ups on their behalf. By creating an Upi Me link, you consent to having your phone number and country visible to anyone who accesses the link. UpiChat is not responsible for how you distribute your Upi Me link.

10. Partner Program

UpiChat offers a partner program for entrepreneurs who wish to resell digital top-ups through the platform. Partners are independent operators, not employees or agents of Pegadis. Partners are responsible for their own tax obligations. Partner commissions and terms are governed by the separate Partner Agreement provided upon enrollment.

11. Prohibited Uses

You may not use UpiChat for any unlawful purpose, including:

• Money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or any activity that violates applicable Dutch, European, or international law.
• Sending top-ups to numbers you do not have authorization to top up.
• Attempting to circumvent UpiChat's fraud prevention systems, reverse-engineer the platform, or exploit vulnerabilities.
• Using automated tools (bots, scripts) to place orders without prior written authorization.

12. Fraud Prevention

UpiChat operates transaction controls as part of its fraud prevention and risk management practices. Transaction limits are enforced automatically. We reserve the right to refuse, delay, or cancel any transaction that we reasonably suspect may be associated with fraud, money laundering, or other illegal activity. As a Dutch-registered retailer, we co-operate with law enforcement and competent Dutch authorities when required by applicable law.

13. Intellectual Property

All content on UpiChat — including the name "UpiChat," the "U pay. I chat." tagline, logos, design, code, and text — is the property of Pegadis and is protected by Dutch and international intellectual property law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any UpiChat content without prior written permission.

14. Limitation of Liability

UpiChat is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Pegadis shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of UpiChat. Our total liability for any claim arising from a transaction shall not exceed the amount you paid for that specific transaction. This limitation does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer under Dutch or European law.

15. Service Availability

UpiChat strives for continuous availability but does not guarantee uninterrupted service. We may temporarily suspend the service for maintenance, security updates, or circumstances beyond our control. We will attempt to provide reasonable notice of planned maintenance when possible.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email to registered users or via a notice on the website. Continued use of UpiChat after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

17. Governing Law and Disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands. Any disputes arising from or relating to these terms or your use of UpiChat shall be submitted to the competent court in The Hague, Netherlands.

For consumers residing in the European Union, this does not affect your right to invoke the mandatory consumer protection provisions of your country of residence. You may also submit complaints via the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform at ec.europa.eu/odr.

18. Contact