# TripPay — Terms & Conditions

**DRAFT — NOT YET LEGALLY REVIEWED.** This is a plain-English starting draft
written to disclose how TripPay handles money. It is **not legal advice** and
must be reviewed and finalized by a qualified attorney (ideally one familiar
with payments / money transmission) before you rely on it or present it to real
users handling real money.

_Last updated: [DATE] · Effective: [DATE]_

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## 1. What TripPay does

TripPay helps a group of people pool money toward a shared trip. One person (the
**Organizer**) creates a **trip fund** with an estimated cost. Other people
(**Contributors**) join and pay their share into the fund. Once the fund is
fully collected and **every contributor approves**, the pooled money is released
to the Organizer to book and pay for the trip.

TripPay is a tool for collecting and holding these contributions until the group
agrees to release them. TripPay is not a travel agency, does not book travel on
your behalf, and does not guarantee any trip, booking, price, or availability.

## 2. Estimates are estimates

The per-person amount TripPay shows is an **estimate**, generated from the
information you provide (dates, destination, group size, travel and lodging
choices) and, where available, live third-party pricing (for example, flight
fares). Estimates:

- are approximations, not quotes or guarantees;
- may differ — sometimes significantly — from what the trip actually costs;
- may change if you change your inputs or if underlying prices change.

You are responsible for reviewing the estimate before contributing.

## 3. How the amount is calculated, including the cushion

**Please read this section carefully — it explains that the collected amount
includes a built-in cushion.**

The per-person amount TripPay asks each Contributor to pay is calculated from
the trip inputs and then includes:

- **A cushion (currently approximately 10%)** added on top of the estimated
  trip costs. This cushion is **intentionally built into the per-person amount**
  and is spread across the cost categories rather than shown as a separate line.
  Its purpose is to reduce the chance that the pool falls short of the real trip
  cost. **You are agreeing to contribute this cushion as part of your share.**
- **A TripPay service fee (currently approximately 5%)**, shown as its own line,
  which is what TripPay charges for providing the service.

By contributing, you acknowledge and agree that the amount you pay includes the
cushion described above in addition to the estimated trip costs and the service
fee.

## 4. Surplus and refunds

Because of the cushion (and because real costs may come in under the estimate),
the pool may collect more than the trip ultimately costs. Any **surplus**
remaining after the trip is booked and paid for is intended to be returned to
Contributors. Refund timing, method, and the treatment of amounts that cannot
be practicably returned (for example, very small amounts) will be handled
according to TripPay's then-current refund process.

The **TripPay service fee is non-refundable** except where required by law.

## 5. Releasing the funds

Pooled funds are released to the Organizer only when **all Contributors who have
paid approve the release**. Once released:

- the Organizer receives the pooled funds to book and pay for the trip;
- **TripPay is not responsible for how the Organizer uses the funds**, whether
  the Organizer actually books the trip, or whether the trip occurs as planned;
- disputes about the use of released funds are between the Organizer and the
  Contributors.

You are choosing to entrust the Organizer with the pooled funds. Only
participate in funds organized by people you trust.

## 6. Cancellations

An Organizer may cancel a fund before release; paid Contributors are refunded
their contributions (less any non-refundable service fee, as applicable).
Once funds are released, cancellation and refunds are outside TripPay's control
and depend on the Organizer and any third-party travel providers' own policies
(many travel bookings are non-refundable).

## 7. Payments and third parties

Payments are processed by third-party payment providers (for example, Stripe).
Your use of those services is subject to their terms. Flight and other pricing
data may come from third-party providers and is subject to their accuracy and
availability. TripPay is not responsible for third-party errors, outages, or
pricing changes.

## 8. Your responsibilities

- Provide accurate information.
- Only join funds run by people you trust.
- Understand that estimates are not guarantees and that the amount includes the
  cushion and fee described above.
- Resolve trip and money disputes with your group; TripPay is not an arbiter.

## 9. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

TripPay is provided "as is." To the fullest extent permitted by law, TripPay
disclaims warranties and is not liable for trip outcomes, Organizer conduct,
third-party pricing or booking failures, or indirect or consequential damages.
_[This section in particular requires attorney drafting appropriate to your
jurisdiction and structure.]_

## 10. Changes

TripPay may update these Terms. Material changes will be communicated through
the app. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

## 11. Contact

[Your contact email / entity details — to be completed.]

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**Reminder:** the bracketed items and the overall document must be completed and
reviewed by counsel. In particular, holding and releasing pooled funds may
implicate money-transmission and consumer-protection laws that vary by
jurisdiction; how you structure and describe this matters legally.