Terms of Service

Effective date: July 11, 2026 · These terms are an agreement between you and Herman Stone INC ("Datipay", "we", "us")

1. The service

Datipay provides record-keeping, verification, reminder, and reporting services for savings groups (tontines, njangis, and similar associations), delivered primarily through WhatsApp. Datipay records contributions, fines, solidarity collections, and payouts according to the rules your group configures, issues receipts for recorded events, and produces reports for members and group officers.

2. What Datipay is not

• Datipay is not a bank, credit union, microfinance institution, or money services business.
• Datipay does not accept deposits and does not hold, custody, transmit, or transfer funds. All movements of money occur through third parties chosen by your group (for example MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, your credit union) or physically between group members, entirely outside Datipay.
• Datipay does not lend, does not guarantee any group member’s obligations, and is not a party to your group’s internal agreements.
• A Datipay receipt confirms that an event was recorded and verified against the evidence available to us; it is not a guarantee of the underlying payment by a third-party provider.

3. Eligibility and accounts

You must be at least 18 years old and a participant in a group that uses Datipay. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide, for maintaining control of your WhatsApp number, and for keeping your Datipay PIN confidential. Tell us immediately if you believe your number or PIN is compromised.

4. Messaging and consent

By starting a conversation with Datipay on WhatsApp, or by joining a Datipay-enabled group through your group’s officers, you consent to receive service messages from Datipay on WhatsApp: confirmations, receipts, reminders, late notices, reports, and account notifications. Message frequency depends on your group’s schedule. You can opt out of non-essential messages at any time by replying STOP and adjust preferences by replying SETTINGS. Certain messages required for the integrity of the group record (for example, notice that a fine has been assessed against you) are part of the service itself. Data and messaging rates from your telecom provider may apply.

5. Your group’s rules

Groups configure their own contribution amounts, schedules, payout orders, and fine rules through their elected officers. Datipay applies these rules mechanically and impartially. Disagreements about the rules themselves — or about decisions of your president, treasurer, or other officers — are matters for your group, not for Datipay. We provide the record; your group provides the governance.

6. Verification and errors

Datipay verifies recorded events against available evidence (payment confirmations, receipts, treasurer attestations). If you believe a record is wrong, report it through the service or the contact page; corrections are made by reversal entries so the record’s history is preserved. We will investigate reported errors promptly.

7. Fees

Pilot groups use Datipay free of charge. When paid plans are introduced, pricing will be published clearly and communicated to group officers in advance; continued use after notice constitutes acceptance. Datipay never deducts fees from group funds — because Datipay never holds group funds.

8. Acceptable use

• No use of Datipay for unlawful activity, including money laundering or fraud;
• No submitting falsified receipts or payment confirmations;
• No attempts to probe, disrupt, or reverse-engineer the service;
• No impersonation of another member or officer.

We may suspend or terminate access for violations, and where legally required we cooperate with lawful investigations.

9. Availability

We aim for continuous availability but do not guarantee it. WhatsApp, telecom networks, and payment providers are outside our control. The group record is preserved across outages; messages delayed by third-party disruptions are delivered when service resumes.

10. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

The service is provided "as is" and "as available." To the maximum extent permitted by law, Herman Stone INC disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for the acts or omissions of group members, group officers, telecom operators, mobile money providers, or financial institutions. Our total liability for any claim relating to the service is limited to the greater of the fees you paid us in the twelve months before the claim or one hundred US dollars (US$100). Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

11. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Before formal proceedings, contact us — most issues are resolved directly. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California, and you consent to their jurisdiction. Users in Cameroon retain any non-waivable protections of local law.

12. Changes

We may update these terms; material changes will be announced through the service before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact

Herman Stone INC — Datipay
611 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 900 #1012, Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States
[email protected] · (213) 292-9002