Terms of service

Payout Holdings, Inc. · U.S. users · Effective date: October 29, 2026

IMPORTANT: THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY, AN INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, A CLASS ACTION WAIVER AND A JURY TRIAL WAIVER, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW. READ IT CAREFULLY.

1. Parties, acceptance and scope

This User Agreement ("Agreement") is between Payout Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Payout," "we," "us"), and you, the person using the Payout mobile app, website or related services (the "Services").

You accept this Agreement by tapping Continue on the sign-in screen, or by paying into a room. The sign-in screen states: "By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy."

The Privacy Notice applies, and organizers also accept Stripe's terms for payouts (section 7). If you disagree, do not use the Services. If we make a material change, we will ask you to accept it again.

2. What Payout does

Payout is software that helps a group collect money for a shared purpose. Purposes include a trip, an event, shared living costs, a team, or a group fund or savings goal.

  • An organizer creates a room. A room has a name, each person's share, a due date, and an optional payment plan.
  • The organizer shares a link, QR code or room code with the group.
  • Contributors open the room and pay their share.

Payout is not a bank, escrow agent, trustee, investment adviser, broker-dealer or insurer. Payout does not hold contributors' money (see section 7). Payout does not guarantee that a trip, event, project or any other purpose will happen.

Room types. The app offers Travel & Trips, Events & Social, Shared Living, Group Funds & Savings, and Teams. A room of any type is only a way to collect money from people the organizer invites. A room does not offer securities, investment returns or charitable donations, and may not be used for them (section 12).

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18, able to form a binding contract, and a resident of the United States.

Organizers must also complete identity and bank verification with Stripe before a room can be published or take payments. Contributors do not need a Payout account to pay.

4. Rooms and organizer responsibilities

The organizer sets the room's purpose, each person's share, any per-person amounts, the number of seats, the due date and any payment plan.

The organizer is responsible for:

  • describing the room accurately
  • using the money for the stated purpose
  • dealing with the group about changes, cancellations and refunds

Contributors are responsible for deciding whether to trust the organizer and for paying only what they can afford. No contributor is liable for another person's unpaid share.

Payout does not verify what an organizer promises.

5. Fees

Each payment includes a service fee. The fee is shown in the app before you pay.

When creating a room, the organizer chooses who covers it:

  • the contributor pays it on top of their share, or
  • the organizer covers it.

The service fee includes card processing. There is no separate processing charge.

The current fee is always the one shown in the app. We may change it for future payments. A change never affects a payment you have already made.

We will not charge fees that were not shown to you before you paid.

The service fee is non-refundable. It pays for card processing and Payout's service, and those costs aren't returned to us when a payment is refunded. If your share is refunded (section 9), the service fee is not. The fee is refunded only if:

  • the charge was made in error or without your authorization;
  • Payout cancels or closes the room because of our own error; or
  • the law requires it.

Your rights with your card issuer, including disputes and chargebacks, are not affected.

6. Payments and payment plans

Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. On your card statement, payments appear under Payout's name.

By paying, you authorize Payout to charge the amount shown in the app, including the service fee, to the payment method you choose. Payout is the seller of record for these charges, and questions or disputes about a charge come to Payout first, not to Stripe.

Payment plans. You can always pay your full share at once instead of using a plan, including paying the rest of a plan early. If you use a payment plan:

  • your first payment is charged when you pay in;
  • Stripe saves your payment method, and we charge each later installment automatically on its due date for the amount shown in the plan;
  • if a charge fails, we retry up to two more times within about 7 hours, then ask you to update your payment method. When you update it, we charge the missed installment to the new payment method right away; your other installments stay on schedule.

Before your first payment, the app shows the full schedule (each date and amount, including the service fee) and asks you to authorize it.

We send you a reminder before each automatic charge.

A payment plan is a commitment to pay your full share. You can't stop a plan on your own. Getting out of a room follows the room's cancellation terms (section 9): if the room is still refundable, you can get a refund in the app (the room's page, then Manage payment plan), and your remaining installments stop right away. In a non-refundable room, your remaining installments are charged on schedule. This doesn't affect your rights with your card issuer.

7. Where the money goes

Payout does not hold room money.

When a contributor pays, Stripe processes the charge and transfers the payment, minus Payout's service fee where one applies, to the organizer's own Stripe account. The organizer created that account during setup.

The organizer can withdraw the room's balance to their bank account at any time. Stripe's normal processing times apply.

Stripe, not Payout, moves the money, and Payout never holds room funds in its own accounts.

Organizers and Stripe. Payout uses Stripe to make payouts to organizers. The Stripe Recipient Agreement applies to your receipt of those payouts, and you accept it when you set up payouts. You authorize Payout to share your information and the transaction information for your payouts with Stripe. Stripe's Privacy Policy explains how Stripe uses it. Stripe does not provide support to organizers directly; contact Payout at support@payout-inc.com, and we will work with Stripe for you.

Room money is not a deposit with Payout. Payout does not provide FDIC or SIPC insurance on it, and neither Payout nor Stripe acts as an escrow agent. Until the organizer withdraws it, money in the organizer's Stripe balance can be used for refunds, reversals and chargebacks on that room (sections 9 and 10). Once it has been withdrawn to the organizer's bank, Payout cannot take it back.

8. Withdrawals

Only the organizer can withdraw a room's balance, and only to the bank account connected when the room was published. Withdrawals are in U.S. dollars.

If a withdrawal fails, the amount goes back to the room's balance.

Payout may delay or block a withdrawal for suspected fraud, legal process or a Stripe requirement.

9. Cancellations and refunds

Each room has fixed cancellation terms. The organizer must pick one when creating the room. The app shows it on the room before anyone pays, and by paying you accept it. It can't be changed once anyone has paid.

  • Refundable until the due date. You can get a refund until the end of the room's due date.
  • Refundable until a set date. The organizer picks a cutoff date on or before the due date. You can get a refund until the end of that date.
  • Non-refundable. Payments are final, unless the organizer cancels the room.

The app applies these rules automatically. Nobody has to approve a refund, and there is nothing to negotiate.

  • Refunds are automatic. While the room's terms allow it, tap Get a refund on the room and the refund is issued right away from the room's balance. After the cutoff, the button disappears and payments are final.
  • Refund amount: what you paid minus the service fee (section 5). It goes back to the card you paid with. Card refunds usually appear on your statement within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank.
  • After a refund you stay in the room's list as refunded, but you can't pay into that room again.
  • Payment plans: getting a refund also cancels your remaining installments. In a non-refundable room, installments keep being charged on schedule (section 6).
  • Room money is held until refunds end. In a refundable room, the organizer can't withdraw money until the refund cutoff has passed, so the money for refunds is always there. In a non-refundable room, the organizer can withdraw at any time.
  • If the organizer cancels the room, everyone is refunded automatically (what they paid minus the service fee) and all remaining installments stop. A room can be cancelled in the app only while none of its money has been withdrawn. After a withdrawal, contact support@payout-inc.com.
  • Rooms that miss their goal follow the room's terms. Payout doesn't refund automatically because a goal wasn't reached.
  • Chargeback rights with your card issuer, and consumer rights that can't be waived, still apply.

10. Chargebacks and losses

Card disputes and chargebacks are made against Payout as the seller of record. If a payment is refunded, reversed or charged back, Payout may take back the matching transfer from the organizer's Stripe balance, including any dispute fee Stripe charges, and may pause withdrawals while a dispute is open.

If the organizer's balance can't cover it, the organizer must repay Payout. We may use lawful collection methods after giving notice.

11. Unauthorized payments and errors

Report suspected unauthorized activity, wrong charges or a compromised account to support@payout-inc.com promptly.

We will investigate and give any notices, corrections and protections the law requires, including under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E where they apply. Nothing in this Agreement waives your rights under those laws.

12. Prohibited uses

You may not use Payout for:

  • fraud, money laundering or evading sanctions
  • illegal gambling
  • selling securities or unregistered investments
  • deceptive fundraising
  • illegal goods or services
  • harassment, impersonation or infringement
  • anything Stripe prohibits, or restricts without approval, in its Restricted Businesses list, such as investment services, crowdfunding, or charity fundraising (unless Payout has Stripe's approval for that use)
  • any other unlawful purpose

We may report violations where the law permits or requires.

13. Holds, limits and suspension

We may limit, pause or close accounts or rooms to investigate fraud, protect users, comply with law or enforce this Agreement. Where lawful, we will tell you and give you a way to contact us.

14. Third parties

Stripe processes payments and verifies organizers. Apple and Google provide sign-in. Google provides location search when you create a room.

Those providers act under their own terms. Payout is not a party to the deal between an organizer, the contributors and any vendor such as a cabin host or a tournament.

15. Your account and electronic communications

Keep your sign-in secure. You can sign out of all devices in the app.

You agree to receive this Agreement, receipts, payment-plan reminders and account notices electronically, by email or in the app. You can download or print them, and you can ask for a copy at support@payout-inc.com.

Because Payout only works electronically, if you withdraw this consent you will need to stop using the Services.

16. Privacy

Our Privacy Notice explains what we collect and why.

17. Intellectual property and your content

Payout owns the app, the brand and its content. You get a limited, revocable, non-transferable licence to use the Services lawfully.

You keep ownership of what you add, such as room names, descriptions and cover photos. You give Payout a licence to host and display that content to run the Services.

18. Disclaimer

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." WE DO NOT GUARANTEE UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE, ANY ROOM'S SUCCESS, OR ANY USER'S OR VENDOR'S PERFORMANCE. THIS DOES NOT LIMIT WARRANTIES THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED.

19. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PAYOUT HOLDINGS, INC. AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

FOR CLAIMS THAT CAN LAWFULLY BE LIMITED, TOTAL LIABILITY IS CAPPED AT THE GREATER OF (A) THE FEES YOU PAID PAYOUT IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) $100.

THE CAP DOES NOT APPLY TO FRAUD, WILFUL MISCONDUCT, STATUTORY ERROR-RESOLUTION RIGHTS, OR ANY LIABILITY THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW TO BE LIMITED.

20. Indemnity

To the extent the law allows, you will indemnify Payout Holdings, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees and agents against third-party claims caused by:

  • your fraud or unlawful acts
  • your breach of this Agreement
  • a room you organize

This does not cover losses caused by Payout's own fault.

21. Disputes, arbitration and class waiver

Before filing a claim, send a written notice to Payout Holdings, Inc., Attn: Legal, 3800 Nash St SE, Washington, DC 20020, or to support@payout-inc.com. Allow 30 days to resolve it informally.

Except for small-claims matters and claims that can't legally be arbitrated, disputes will be resolved by binding individual arbitration with the American Arbitration Association under its consumer rules. The Federal Arbitration Act applies.

YOU AND PAYOUT WAIVE CLASS AND REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS TO THE EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS.

You can opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first accepting this Agreement. Email support@payout-inc.com with your account email, your full name and "Arbitration Opt-Out."

22. Governing law and venue

Delaware law governs this Agreement, except where federal law or mandatory consumer law applies.

Disputes that can't be arbitrated will be heard in the state or federal courts in Washington, DC, where Payout is based, and you and Payout consent to those courts' jurisdiction.

23. Changes and termination

We may update this Agreement with notice, and we will ask you to accept material changes again.

You can delete your account in the app. Pending payments, payment plans and our record-keeping duties continue after deletion.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive.

24. General

  • If any part of this Agreement is unenforceable, the rest still applies.
  • Not enforcing a term is not a waiver.
  • You may not transfer this Agreement. We may transfer it in a merger or sale.
  • This Agreement, the Privacy Notice and the fees shown in the app are the entire agreement between us.

25. Contact

Payout Holdings, Inc.
3800 Nash St SE, Washington, DC 20020
support@payout-inc.com · (202) 706-2903 · https://payout-inc.com