Terms of Service

TipVolt lets creators ("Creators") create a public tip page and receive tips ("Tips") from fans and supporters ("Fans") via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card. Payments are processed by Stripe. TipVolt is a facilitator of these payments - we are not a party to the underlying relationship between a Creator and their Fans, and we don't guarantee the conduct, content, or output of any Creator.

You must be at least 18 years old to use TipVolt, whether as a Creator or a Fan. By using the Service, you represent that:

• you're 18 or older and able to form a binding contract;
• you're not barred from using the Service under the laws of Australia or any other applicable jurisdiction;
• if you're a Creator, all information you provide (handle, display name, bio, payout details) is accurate and kept up to date; and
• you'll comply with Stripe's terms and policies, since Creator payouts run through a Stripe Express account tied to your identity.

Creators must register an account with a valid email and password to receive Tips. You're responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and for all activity under your account. Tell us immediately at hello@tipvolt.xyz if you suspect unauthorized access. Fans are not required to create an account to send a Tip.

What a Fan pays: when a Fan sends a Tip, they pay the Tip amount selected, plus a 2% TipVolt platform fee, plus Stripe's standard card processing fee (currently 1.7% + A$0.30 for domestic cards, GST included — see stripe.com/au/pricing for current rates). The exact total is calculated and shown on-screen before payment is confirmed.

What a Creator receives: Creators receive 100% of the base Tip amount selected by the Fan. TipVolt does not take a cut out of the Creator's side of a Tip - our fee is charged to the Fan on top.

Payouts: Tips are paid out to a Creator's linked bank account via their Stripe Express account, typically within 2 business days of the Tip, subject to Stripe's standard payout schedule, verification requirements, and any holds Stripe applies for risk or compliance reasons. TipVolt does not control Stripe's payout timing and isn't liable for Stripe-side delays.

Stripe Connect: to receive payouts, Creators must create a Stripe Express account and agree to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement and Stripe's Terms of Service. Stripe, not TipVolt, verifies Creator identity and handles tax reporting obligations tied to payouts.

Tips are voluntary payments and are generally non-refundable once processed. We may, at our discretion, refund a Tip in cases of clear error (e.g. duplicate charge) or fraud. If a Fan disputes a charge with their bank or card issuer (a chargeback), TipVolt and/or the Creator may be liable for the disputed amount plus any chargeback fees charged by Stripe; TipVolt reserves the right to recover these amounts from a Creator's future payouts where the dispute relates to that Creator's page.

TipVolt exists for one purpose: letting Fans send a voluntary Tip to a Creator as a show of support. You agree not to use TipVolt, or allow TipVolt to be used, for any business or activity restricted under Stripe's Restricted Businesses policy, including without limitation:

• Adult content: pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material, or content that solicits sexual services or companionship for payment;
• Gambling: betting, lotteries, sweepstakes, raffles, or any game of chance played for money or something of value;
• Illegal goods or services: controlled substances, weapons or ammunition, counterfeit goods, or any other product or service that's illegal in the jurisdiction where it's offered or received; and
• Unauthorized peer-to-peer money transfers: using the Tip flow as a general-purpose payment, invoicing, or remittance channel between individuals - for example, splitting bills, paying for goods sold elsewhere, or moving funds between friends or family - rather than as a genuine Tip to a Creator in connection with their content or presence on TipVolt.

You further agree not to:

• defraud, mislead, harass, or impersonate any person;
• launder money or disguise the origin or ownership of funds;
• circumvent, disable, or interfere with the Service or its security features; or
• violate any applicable law or the rights of any third party.

We may suspend or terminate any account that violates this section, withhold or reverse related Tips, and report unlawful activity to relevant authorities or to Stripe. We reserve the right to request additional information from a Creator at any time to confirm their use of TipVolt complies with this section and with Stripe's policies.

Creators are solely responsible for the content on their tip page (display name, bio, and any media). You retain ownership of your content but grant TipVolt a non-exclusive license to host and display it as part of the Service. The TipVolt name, logo, and site design are our property and may not be used without permission.

TipVolt relies on third-party providers to operate - principally Stripe (payments and payouts), Supabase (accounts and data storage), and Vercel (hosting). Your use of TipVolt is also subject to those providers' own terms. We're not responsible for outages, errors, or policy changes on their end, though we'll do our best to keep the Service running around them.

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DON'T WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. Nothing in these Terms excludes guarantees that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, TipVolt and its operators won't be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or for loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Service. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Service is limited to the greater of AUD 100 or the total platform fees TipVolt collected from you in the 3 months before the claim arose.

You agree to indemnify and hold TipVolt harmless from any claims, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, your content, or your violation of these Terms or any law.

You may stop using TipVolt at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you've violated these Terms, pose a risk to TipVolt or other users, or if required by Stripe or applicable law. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (fees already owed, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification) will survive.

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we'll update the "Effective date" above and, where practical, notify Creators by email. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Questions about these Terms? Reach us at hello@tipvolt.xyz, or by mail at 4/367-369 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204, Australia.