Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Chawpass website, mobile applications, USSD service, cards, wallet, merchant locator, and any employer or merchant portal (together, the “Services”) operated by Chawpass Limited (“Chawpass”, “we”, “us”). By creating an account, activating a card, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

Chawpass provides food-restricted payment cards and a wallet that let employers, families and individuals fund allowances that can only be spent at eligible food merchants, and that let merchants accept those payments. Cards are issued and wallet funds are held in custody by our CBN-licensed sponsor bank; Chawpass operates the technology, merchant network, and customer experience layered on top.

To use the Services you must be at least 18 years old, or an authorised representative of a business, and able to form a binding contract under Nigerian law. You agree to provide accurate, current information during registration and identity verification (KYC), and to keep it up to date.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials, card PIN, and any one-time passwords, and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at hello@chawpass.com if you suspect unauthorised use of your account or card.

Chawpass cards and wallets are restricted-spend instruments: funds may only be used at merchants and merchant categories we designate as eligible for food purchases. We may decline transactions outside this scope. Wallet funds are held in custody by our sponsor bank and are not available for cash withdrawal except where we explicitly enable that feature.

Top-ups, transfers, and disbursements are processed on a best-efforts basis and may be delayed by factors outside our control, including bank processing times. Unused balances remain your property (or your employer's, where applicable) subject to any expiry terms disclosed at the time of funding.

Employers using Chawpass to fund staff allowances are responsible for the accuracy of employee lists and funding instructions submitted through the employer portal, and for their own compliance obligations (for example, payroll and tax treatment of allowances). A separate order form or business agreement may apply to enterprise employer accounts and will govern in the event of a conflict with these Terms.

Merchants that accept Chawpass must provide accurate business and settlement information, honour listed prices, and only submit transactions for goods and services eligible under these Terms. Chawpass may withhold settlement, suspend, or remove a merchant from the network for suspected fraud, repeated disputes, or breach of these Terms.

You agree not to:

• Use the Services for any unlawful purpose, including money laundering or terrorism financing;
• Circumvent spend restrictions or attempt to convert restricted balances to cash outside features we explicitly provide;
• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent transactions or registration information;
• Interfere with, reverse-engineer, or attempt to disrupt the Services; or
• Use the Services in a way that infringes the rights of Chawpass or any third party.

Some features of the Services — such as card issuance, top-ups, or specific employer plans — may carry fees, which we will disclose to you before you incur them. We may change our fees from time to time with reasonable notice.

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services if we reasonably suspect fraud, breach of these Terms, or a legal or regulatory requirement to do so, and may hold funds while an investigation is ongoing. You may close your account at any time by contacting support; any remaining balance will be handled in accordance with applicable law and our sponsor bank's procedures.

If you believe a transaction was made in error, was unauthorised, or a merchant failed to deliver goods or services paid for with Chawpass, contact us at hello@chawpass.com as soon as possible. We will investigate in good faith and, where appropriate, coordinate with our sponsor bank and the relevant merchant to resolve the dispute, which may include a refund to your wallet.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chawpass will not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Services. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Services is limited to the amount of the affected transaction or wallet balance involved, except where liability cannot be limited under applicable law.

You agree to indemnify and hold Chawpass harmless from any claims, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms or misuse of the Services.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Services will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria.

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms on this page with a revised “Last updated” date, and where changes are material, we will provide additional notice before they take effect. Continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Questions about these Terms can be sent to hello@chawpass.com or to Chawpass Limited, RC 9654485, Lagos, Nigeria.