Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Beqelal Financial Technology S.C (hereinafter referred to as "Beqelal"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Beqelal website (available at https://beqelal.et), including all sub-pages, software, APIs, documentation, and integrated third-party services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must immediately cease use of the Service. Failure to comply may result in legal liability for damages incurred by you, Beqelal, or our partner financial institutions.

1. Eligibility and Age Restrictions

To use Beqelal, you must be at least 18 years of age and possess the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. By using our platform, you warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, trademarks, logos, and software associated with the Service are the exclusive property of Beqelal Financial Technologies S.C. or its licensors.

• License Grant: We grant you a revocable, non-exclusive, and non-transferable license to use our software solely for the purpose of utilizing our payment services.
• Restrictions: You may not decompile, reverse engineer, or attempt to extract the source code of our platform. Any unauthorized use of the "Beqelal" name or brand features is strictly prohibited.

3. Acceptable Use and Security

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes. You are prohibited from:

• Engaging in activities that facilitate money laundering, terrorist financing, or fraud.
• Introducing malware, viruses, or conducting "scraping" and automated data collection without prior written consent.
• Interfering with the security or integrity of the payment gateway.

4. Prohibited and Restricted Businesses

4.1. Mandatory Licensing & Compliance

To maintain the integrity of the Ethiopian financial ecosystem, Beqelal enforces a strict "No License, No Payment" policy.

• We only sign agreements with merchants who possess a valid and current business license issued by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MOTRI) or the respective Regional Trade Bureaus.
• Your business license must be renewed annually in accordance with Ethiopian law. Beqelal's AI-powered fraud and compliance engine continuously monitors the status of your legal registration.
• Failure to renew your license on time or the revocation of your license by a government organ will result in an automated suspension of your ability to accept payments. Access to the Beqelal Gateway will remain restricted until valid documentation is provided and verified.

4.2. Categorized Prohibited Activities

Beqelal shall not provide services to merchants or sub-merchants engaging in the following activities.

A. Illegal and Unethical Products/Services

• Internet/Mail-order pharmacies, "Pseudo-pharmaceuticals," or any substances designed to mimic illegal drugs.
• Marijuana dispensaries, drug paraphernalia, and E-cigarettes.
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives, or any high-risk weaponry.
• Adult entertainment, pornography, escort services, or "mail-order bride" services.
• Any goods or services that infringe on third-party copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets, including counterfeit or "knock-off" goods.

B. Financial Risk and Speculative Ventures

• Cryptocurrency trading, transacting virtual currency that can be monetized, or digital wallet companies not explicitly licensed by the NBE.
• Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), pyramid schemes, or "get rich quick" programs.
• "Negative option" practices, such as "free trial" periods that automatically convert into recurring charges without explicit, repeated consent.
• Any unlicensed gambling, psychic services, "occult" businesses, or fortune-telling.

C. Transactional & Procedural Violations

• Accepting cards as payment for dishonored checks, uncollectible items, or any scrip-dispensing terminal activities.
• Quasi-cash, stored value, or pawn shops (unless specifically licensed as a financial institution).
• Unlicensed Payment Facilitators or third-party payment aggregators.

4.3. Predatory and Unfair Practices

In alignment with the Consumer Protection Proclamation, Beqelal prohibits any activity deemed deceptive, unfair, or predatory. This includes:

• Charging excessive "surcharges" for card use not disclosed to the customer.
• Engaging in "Card Laundering" (processing transactions on behalf of another unlicensed business).
• Any activity that causes reputational damage to Beqelal, the National Bank of Ethiopia, or the international card brands.

Important Note: Beqelal reserves the right to update this list at any time to comply with new NBE Directives or changes in International Card Brand rules. Continued use of the service after such updates constitutes acceptance of these revised restrictions.

5. Limitation of Liability and Warranty

Beqelal provides its services on an "as is" and "as available" basis. While we strive for 99.9% uptime and rigorous security:

• We do not guarantee that the service will be entirely error-free or uninterrupted.
• Beqelal shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including loss of profits or data, arising from your use of the platform, to the maximum extent permitted by Ethiopian law.

6. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Beqelal, its directors, and employees from any claims, losses, or legal fees resulting from your breach of these Terms or your violation of any third-party rights (including intellectual property or privacy rights).

7. Data Privacy and Cookies

• We process personal data in accordance with Ethiopian data protection principles. We collect information such as your name, contact details, and transaction history to facilitate payments and comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
• We use cookies to enhance your user experience, remember login details, and analyze web traffic. You may disable cookies in your browser, though this may limit platform functionality.

8. Confidentiality

Beqelal maintains strict confidentiality regarding merchant and consumer transaction data. Information will only be disclosed to:

• The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) or the Financial Intelligence Service (FIS) or ordered by court when legally required.
• Acquiring banks and card schemes (VISA/Mastercard) to process transactions.

9. Termination of Relationship

Beqelal reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately and without notice if:

• You violate these Terms or Ethiopian law.
• You pose an unacceptable credit or fraud risk.
• An order is received from a regulatory body or law enforcement.

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the Laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall first be attempted to be resolved through amicable negotiation. If negotiation fails, the matter shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Ethiopian Courts.