Terms of Service

Acceptance of terms

By creating an account or using PesaLock, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use our services. We may update these terms from time to time; continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Our services

PesaLock provides escrow, payment link, and payment routing services for individuals and businesses in Tanzania. We act as a neutral intermediary - we do not take ownership of goods or determine the outcome of transactions beyond the agreed terms.

Accounts

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You must provide accurate information and keep it up to date.

Escrow rules

When funds are placed in escrow, they are held by PesaLock until the agreed conditions are met. Funds are released to the seller only after the buyer confirms receipt. Disputes are mediated by PesaLock staff in accordance with our dispute resolution policy.

Identity & verification

Individuals may use PesaLock for everyday payments without verifying their identity. We will ask for your National Identification (NIDA) number the first time you send or receive an amount above our regulatory verification threshold, and you must be authorized - that is, your identity must be validated - before completing such a transaction. Once verified, you may continue to transact larger amounts without re-submitting your identity.

Business and developer accounts must complete full KYC verification (including business registration, TIN, and director identification) before they can receive payments. We may apply transaction limits, holds, or reserves based on your verification status, transaction history, and account behaviour, and we are required to monitor, hold, and report transactions in accordance with applicable anti-money-laundering law.

Ratings, reviews & trust

After a transaction, the buyer and the seller may each rate one another (on a scale of 1 to 5) and leave a review. We combine these reviews with your real transaction and dispute history to calculate trust scores and award badges to sellers. Trust scores and badges may affect your transaction limits, payout speed, fees, visibility, and eligibility to use certain features.

• Submit only honest, first-hand reviews relating to genuine transactions.
• Do not manipulate scores - for example through fake or coordinated transactions, paid or retaliatory reviews, or transactions made solely to inflate trust.
• Sellers may view limited reputation information about a buyer before accepting a transaction.

We may remove reviews, adjust or withhold scores, and suspend accounts that attempt to manipulate the system. Trust scores are indicative only; they do not guarantee any party's conduct, and you remain responsible for your own due diligence.

Information we collect

How we handle personal data is described in our Privacy Policy and Data Protection notice.

Fees

Our fee schedule is displayed before you confirm any transaction. Fees may vary by payment type and network. We reserve the right to update fees with reasonable notice.

Prohibited use

• Fraudulent transactions or impersonation
• Money laundering or financing of illegal activities
• Sale of prohibited goods or services
• Automated access without prior written permission

Limitation of liability

PesaLock is not liable for losses arising from payment network outages, third-party failures, or events beyond our reasonable control. Our total liability to you in any calendar year shall not exceed the fees you paid to us in that year.

Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or where required by law. You may close your account at any time provided no funds are held in escrow and no disputes are open.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Dar es Salaam.