Pricing & Payments Policy

AQNOVA MARKETPLACE

Global Legal Footer Framework

Comprehensive Compliance & Platform Governance Reference

(MASTER)

Global Pricing Transparency, Payment Methods, Currency Conversion & Consumer Financial Protection Framework

Effective Date: April 7, 2026 | Version 1.0 | Arivon Holding Corporation

This Pricing & Payments Policy ("Payments Policy") sets out AqNova's complete framework governing how prices are displayed and calculated, how payments are accepted and processed, what security measures govern payment data, how currency conversion works, and how promotional pricing and installment payment products operate. This Policy applies to all Buyers and Vendors on the AqNova Marketplace globally.

This Policy supplements Section 4.0 (Orders, Payments & Consumer Rights) and the Platform Terms & Conditions (Section 2). Where this Policy conflicts with those documents on pricing and payment-specific matters, this Policy governs.

4.4.1 Price Display — Currency, Transparency & Regulatory Compliance

AqNova is committed to displaying prices in a manner that is accurate, transparent, and compliant with applicable consumer price transparency laws worldwide. Buyers should never encounter a price at the payment stage that differs materially from the price displayed on the product listing page, except for the addition of applicable taxes and shipping fees disclosed at checkout.

A. Currency Display

AqNova displays product prices in the Buyer's local currency by default, derived from the Buyer's detected country of residence (from IP geolocation at the time of browsing) or from the currency preference saved in the Buyer's account settings. The USD price is the reference base from which all local currency display prices are calculated using real-time exchange rates.

Primary currencies: AqNova displays prices in all major global currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, BRL, NGN, ZAR, KES, INR, JPY, KRW, CNY, SGD, AED, MXN, COP, CLP, ARS, and others.

Currency selector: Buyers may change their display currency at any time using the currency selector in the Platform header. Changing the display currency recalculates all displayed prices in real time.

Display vs. billing currency: the currency in which a price is displayed may differ from the currency in which the payment is ultimately captured (billing currency). The billing currency depends on the Vendor's pricing settings and the Buyer's payment method. This distinction is disclosed at checkout before the Buyer confirms payment.

B. Price Transparency Compliance — EU Omnibus Directive

For EU users, AqNova complies with the EU Omnibus Directive (2019/2161/EU), which introduced mandatory price history disclosure for price reductions. AqNova implements the following:

Prior price display: where a Vendor applies a price reduction or "sale" label to a product, the listing must display the lowest price at which the product was offered in the 30 calendar days preceding the price reduction. This "prior price" is shown alongside the current sale price.

Prohibition on artificial strike-through pricing: the use of inflated "was" prices that do not accurately reflect the prior regular selling price is prohibited on the Platform, consistent with EU Omnibus Directive implementation and UK CMA guidance.

Automated monitoring: AqNova's pricing integrity system monitors Vendor listings for pricing pattern anomalies that may indicate artificial inflation before a sale event.

C. Anti-Drip Pricing Compliance

AqNova does not permit drip pricing — the practice of adding mandatory fees progressively through the checkout process — in any jurisdiction. The total amount payable by the Buyer, including all taxes, shipping fees, and mandatory charges, is disclosed at or before the checkout page, before the Buyer confirms payment. AqNova's compliance with anti-drip pricing requirements is as follows:

EU Consumer Rights Directive Art. 22: no undisclosed mandatory charges added after the initial price display.

UK CMA/FCA Consumer Duty: full cost displayed before commitment.

FTC Act (US): total price disclosed before purchase commitment.

Australian Consumer Law s. 48A: single-price rule for advertised prices (all unavoidable costs included).

Brazil CDC Art. 6(III) and Art. 31: clear, precise, and full price disclosure required.

Optional fees (premium shipping, gift wrapping, expedited processing) are displayed separately and clearly labeled as optional — they are never pre-selected or added without the Buyer's explicit choice.

D. Price Consistency — No Discriminatory Pricing

AqNova does not permit Vendors to display different prices for the same product to different Buyers based on personal characteristics, demographic profile, browsing history, or account status, except for:

Currency conversion: prices expressed in different currencies will differ due to exchange rate calculations — this is not discriminatory pricing.

Loyalty programs / verified member discounts: price reductions available to members of a disclosed loyalty or subscription program, where the program terms are publicly accessible and membership is available to all Buyers.

Volume pricing: different prices for different quantity tiers (per-unit price reduction for bulk orders), where the tiered pricing structure is disclosed on the listing.

Regional regulatory pricing differences: where local law requires prices to differ between jurisdictions (e.g., EU VAT-inclusive pricing vs. non-VAT pricing elsewhere), these differences reflect legal compliance, not discriminatory pricing.

Algorithmic dynamic pricing that adjusts product prices based on individual Buyer profiles, browsing history, or inferred willingness to pay is prohibited on the AqNova Platform. Prices are set by Vendors and displayed consistently to all Buyers viewing the same listing in the same jurisdiction.

4.4.2 Dynamic Currency Conversion — How It Works

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is the process by which AqNova converts product prices from the Vendor's pricing currency (which may be USD or the Vendor's local currency) into the Buyer's display currency and/or billing currency. This section discloses the mechanics, limitations, and applicable disclosures for DCC on the Platform.

A. Exchange Rate Sources

AqNova uses real-time mid-market exchange rate data from industry-standard financial data providers to calculate displayed prices in local currencies. Exchange rate data is refreshed at regular intervals (minimum: every 15 minutes). AqNova's displayed rates include a small markup above the mid-market rate to cover currency conversion service costs. This markup is disclosed in AqNova's fee schedule at [aqnova.co/fees].

B. Indicative Nature of Display Prices

Displayed prices in non-base currencies are indicative estimates only. The amount actually charged to the Buyer's payment instrument is determined by:

The exchange rate applied by AqNova's Payment Processor at the moment the payment is captured (which may differ from the rate displayed at the time of browsing or checkout).

The exchange rate applied by the Buyer's bank or card issuer if the Buyer's card is denominated in a different currency from the checkout currency (foreign transaction processing).

Any additional currency conversion fee applied by the Buyer's bank or card issuer (an "FX fee" or "international transaction fee") — this fee is charged by the Buyer's bank, not by AqNova, and is outside AqNova's control.

C. Checkout Currency Disclosure

On the checkout page, AqNova displays:

The product price in the Buyer's display currency.

The product price in the billing currency (if different from the display currency).

The applicable exchange rate used for the conversion.

An estimate of the total charge including taxes and shipping in both display and billing currencies.

A disclosure that the final amount debited may vary from the displayed estimate due to exchange rate fluctuations and any fees applied by the Buyer's payment provider.

This checkout currency disclosure meets the requirements of EU CRD Art. 6(1)(e) (price disclosure before contract), EU PSD2 information requirements, UK CCR Reg. 13, and equivalent national pre-contract information laws.

A. Vendor Responsibility for Pricing Accuracy

Vendors are solely responsible for the accuracy of the prices they set for their listings on the Platform. AqNova provides Vendors with tools to set, update, and manage their prices and does not independently set product prices. AqNova's pricing integrity monitoring system flags anomalies but does not guarantee that all Vendor pricing is error-free.

B. Obvious Pricing Errors

Where a product is listed at a price that is manifestly incorrect — for example, a luxury item listed at USD $0.01, a high-value electronic listed at 99% below its market value without any promotional explanation, or a price entered in the wrong currency denomination — AqNova may treat the transaction as void and cancel the order, even after Order Confirmation. AqNova will:

Notify the Buyer immediately by email with a full explanation.

Issue a full refund of any amount charged.

Offer the Buyer the opportunity to repurchase at the correct price if the product remains available.

Coordinate with the Vendor to correct the listing.

A pricing error is "obvious" for the purposes of this section where: (a) the price is substantially below (more than 75% below) the market value of the item; AND (b) there is no reasonable commercial explanation for the price (e.g., it is not part of a genuine promotional campaign); AND (c) a reasonable person would recognize the price as erroneous. AqNova does not invoke the pricing error exception to retroactively change prices that were set deliberately by Vendors as promotional offers.

C. Consumer Rights Protection — Manifest Error Doctrine

The manifest error doctrine is recognized in many jurisdictions as a defense for sellers in the context of clear typographical or computational pricing errors. However, the application of this doctrine in e-commerce contexts is jurisdiction-specific. AqNova applies this exception narrowly and in good faith. Where applicable law provides greater consumer protection against cancellations for pricing errors (for example, where an order has been confirmed and the consumer has reasonably relied on the price in a manner that caused detriment), AqNova assesses such situations case-by-case in consultation with its legal team, prioritizing the Buyer's interests where the pricing error was not obvious.

4.4.4 Taxes, Duties & Price Transparency at Checkout

The total amount displayed at checkout is the total payable amount by the Buyer, inclusive of all applicable taxes that AqNova collects and remits. AqNova operates as a marketplace facilitator or deemed supplier for applicable consumption taxes in the following jurisdictions:

4.4.5 No Surcharges on Payment Methods — Global Policy

AqNova does not charge Buyers a surcharge for using a specific payment method (e.g., a credit card surcharge, a PayPal fee, or a mobile money transaction fee). AqNova absorbs payment processing costs as part of its Platform Fee structure charged to Vendors.

AqNova's Vendor Agreement (Section 2.2) prohibits Vendors from imposing payment method surcharges on buyers for transactions conducted through the Platform. Any Vendor who attempts to direct Buyers to pay off-platform to avoid payment processing fees is in material breach of the Vendor Agreement and the Acceptable Use Policy (Section 2.3).

4.4.6 Accepted Payment Methods — Complete Global Reference

AqNova accepts the following payment methods, subject to availability by geographic region and applicable regulatory requirements. The availability of specific payment methods is determined by the Buyer's country of residence, the Vendor's country of establishment, and the transaction value. Not all methods are available for all transactions.

A. Card Payments

B. Digital Wallets

C. Real-Time / Instant Payment Systems

D. Mobile Money — Africa

Mobile money platforms are critical payment infrastructure in several of AqNova's African operating markets. AqNova integrates with the following mobile money systems:

E. Cryptocurrency (Where Supported)

AqNova may accept cryptocurrency payments in select jurisdictions where applicable law permits and where AqNova has integrated with a licensed cryptocurrency payment processor. The following disclosures apply to cryptocurrency payments:

Settlement in fiat currency: cryptocurrency payments are converted to fiat currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of transaction. AqNova accepts the converted fiat amount — it does not hold cryptocurrency as a payment instrument on its balance sheet.

Volatility disclosure: cryptocurrency values are highly volatile. The USD-equivalent value of a cryptocurrency payment may differ materially between the time the Buyer initiates payment and the time the transaction settles. AqNova's cryptocurrency processor applies the exchange rate at settlement — the Buyer bears the exchange rate risk.

Accepted cryptocurrencies (where supported): Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDC (stablecoin), and other cryptocurrencies as disclosed at checkout in applicable markets.

Regulatory restrictions: cryptocurrency payment acceptance is subject to applicable regulations in the Buyer's and Vendor's jurisdictions. AqNova does not accept cryptocurrency payments from jurisdictions where such transactions are prohibited by law.

Refunds: refunds for cryptocurrency-paid orders are processed in fiat currency at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of the original transaction — not at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of refund. This eliminates speculation risk on refunds but means the Buyer may receive a different USD-equivalent than if the refund were in cryptocurrency.

4.4.7 PCI-DSS Compliance & Payment Data Security

The security of payment card data is of paramount importance to AqNova. The following framework governs AqNova's payment data security practices:

A. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a confirmed data breach involving payment data, AqNova will: (a) immediately notify the affected Payment Processor and the relevant card networks; (b) notify affected Buyers at the earliest opportunity, consistent with applicable breach notification law (GDPR Art. 33–34; UK GDPR; PIPEDA breach notification; NDPA 2023; applicable state laws); (c) cooperate fully with payment networks' forensic investigations; and (d) take all reasonably available steps to contain the breach and prevent further unauthorized access.

A. Standard Authorization & Capture

For most payment methods on AqNova, payment is captured at the time of Order Confirmation (i.e., simultaneously with the formation of the purchase contract). This means the Buyer's payment instrument is charged at checkout. AqNova uses an "auth and capture" model — authorization is obtained from the card issuer and capture (debit) occurs immediately.

B. Pre-Authorization (Pre-Auth) Holds

For certain payment methods and order types, AqNova may place a pre-authorization (pre-auth) hold on the Buyer's payment instrument before capture. A pre-authorization hold:

Does not constitute a charge — no money is debited from the account.

Reserves the authorized amount against the available credit/balance on the card.

May appear as a "pending" transaction on the Buyer's account statement.

Is released if the order is cancelled before capture; the funds become available again within 1–5 Business Days (depending on the card issuer's release timeline — AqNova releases its authorization immediately, but the card issuer controls when the hold is lifted).

Pre-auth holds are used for: high-value orders requiring additional fraud review; orders with variable total amounts (where the exact shipping cost is not fixed until dispatch); and payment methods that operate on a reservation model rather than immediate capture.

C. Payment Timing Disclosure

AqNova discloses at checkout whether payment will be captured immediately or held as a pre-authorization, and the expected timing of capture. This disclosure meets the requirements of EU CRD Art. 6(1)(e), UK CCR Reg. 13, and equivalent national pre-contract disclosure laws.

4.4.9 Bank Transfer for High-Value Orders

AqNova accepts bank transfer (wire transfer / SEPA transfer / local equivalent) as a payment method for orders above USD $2,500 (or equivalent in local currency). Bank transfer is subject to the following terms:

A. Eligibility & Process

Available for Buyer accounts that have been verified (identity verification completed) and that have a transaction history on the Platform.

To initiate a bank transfer order: add items to cart; select "Bank Transfer" at checkout; AqNova displays bank account details and a unique payment reference number that must be included with the transfer.

Order held pending payment: the order is reserved but not confirmed until AqNova receives the bank transfer. The reservation period is 5 Business Days — if payment is not received within this period, the reservation expires and the order may not be available at the same price.

Transfer verification: AqNova's finance team verifies receipt of the bank transfer against the unique payment reference. Verification typically takes 1–3 Business Days from receipt.

Order Confirmation: AqNova sends an Order Confirmation email once the transfer is verified and the payment is confirmed. The fulfillment timeline begins from the Order Confirmation date.

B. Bank Transfer Details

Beneficiary account details are displayed at checkout and sent in the Order Confirmation email. Bank details vary by currency and region.

Buyers are responsible for the accuracy of the transfer details they enter with their bank. AqNova is not responsible for transfers sent to incorrect accounts due to Buyer error.

Bank transfer fees charged by the Buyer's bank (sending fees, correspondent bank fees, SWIFT fees) are the Buyer's responsibility. AqNova does not charge a separate bank transfer handling fee.

For SEPA transfers (EU): AqNova provides an IBAN and BIC code. SEPA Credit Transfers settle within 1–2 Business Days in most EU Member States.

C. AML/KYC Compliance for High-Value Transfers

Bank transfer orders above USD $10,000 (or equivalent) may be subject to enhanced AML/KYC verification consistent with applicable money laundering regulations. This may include: confirmation of the source of funds; enhanced identity verification; and a brief delay in Order Confirmation while verification is completed. AqNova's AML procedures comply with the applicable BSA/FinCEN (US), EU 6AMLD, UK MLR 2017, PCMLTFA (Canada), PMLA (India), and equivalent national AML laws.

4.4.10 Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) & Installment Payments

AqNova offers Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and installment payment options through licensed third-party financial services providers in select markets. BNPL arrangements are credit products governed by applicable consumer credit law and are subject to the BNPL provider's own terms and conditions, which the Buyer must accept before using the BNPL payment option.

A. BNPL Providers

Klarna: available in US, UK, EU markets, and Australia. Klarna is regulated as a credit institution in Sweden and as an authorized payment institution / e-money institution in other markets.

Afterpay / Clearpay: available in US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and select EU markets. Regulated as a consumer credit provider in applicable jurisdictions.

Sezzle: available in US and Canada.

Scalapay: available in select EU markets.

Tabby / Tamara: available in UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Regional BNPL providers: AqNova may add regional BNPL partners for specific markets. Current BNPL provider list maintained at [aqnova.co/payments/bnpl].

B. Mandatory BNPL Disclosures

Before selecting a BNPL payment option, Buyers are presented with the following required disclosures:

BNPL is a credit product: "You are applying for credit with [BNPL Provider]. This is a credit agreement, not a deferred payment. Failure to make scheduled payments may affect your credit record and result in additional charges."

Total cost disclosure: the total amount payable over the installment period is disclosed, including any interest or fees applicable to the chosen plan. Zero-interest plans are labeled as such; fee-based plans display the total cost of credit.

Installment schedule: the number, amount, and due dates of each installment payment are displayed before confirmation.

Credit check disclosure: where the BNPL provider conducts a credit check (soft or hard inquiry), this is disclosed to the Buyer before they proceed.

BNPL provider T&Cs: a link to the BNPL provider's full terms and conditions and privacy policy is provided before checkout. The Buyer must actively accept these terms.

C. Regulatory Compliance for BNPL

4.4.11 Mobile Money — Africa Regional Payments

Mobile money is the primary digital payment infrastructure in many of AqNova's African operating markets. AqNova integrates with Africa's leading mobile money networks, enabling Buyers in these markets to transact using their mobile money wallets without requiring a bank account or payment card. This section provides the specific terms applicable to mobile money payments on the Platform.

A. Mobile Money — How It Works on AqNova

At checkout: select the applicable mobile money provider (M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, etc.) from the payment method menu.

Payment prompt: AqNova's payment system sends a payment prompt (STK push) to the Buyer's registered mobile phone number, requesting the Buyer to enter their mobile money PIN to authorize the transaction.

Authorization: the Buyer enters their PIN on their mobile handset to authorize the payment. No card details, bank account numbers, or other financial credentials are entered on AqNova's Platform.

Confirmation: AqNova receives confirmation from the mobile money provider's API within 30–120 seconds of authorization. An Order Confirmation email is sent upon successful payment confirmation.

Failed payment: if the mobile money prompt is not responded to within 120 seconds, or if the Buyer's mobile money wallet has insufficient balance, the transaction fails. The Buyer is notified and may retry or select an alternative payment method.

B. Mobile Money Regulatory Compliance

Nigeria (CBN / FINTRAC): AqNova's Nigerian mobile money integrations comply with CBN regulations, including PSB (Payment Service Bank) licensing requirements. MTN Nigeria's MoMo PSB is CBN-licensed. AqNova verifies that all integrated mobile money providers hold applicable CBN authorizations.

Kenya (CBK): M-Pesa is operated under Safaricom's license from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). AqNova's M-Pesa integration operates under Safaricom's API framework and applicable CBK payment system regulations.

Ghana (Bank of Ghana): GhIPSS and MTN Ghana MoMo are regulated by the Bank of Ghana. AqNova complies with Bank of Ghana payment system oversight requirements.

General Africa compliance: AqNova's mobile money payment integrations comply with applicable central bank and financial regulator requirements in each market, including KYC/AML verification requirements for mobile money transactions above applicable thresholds.

C. Mobile Money Refunds

Refunds for mobile money-paid orders are processed back to the Buyer's mobile money wallet. Timeline: 1–5 Business Days from refund approval, depending on the mobile money network. Where the mobile money account associated with the order has been closed or suspended, AqNova will coordinate with the mobile money provider and the Buyer to arrange an alternative refund method. The Buyer will be notified within 2 Business Days if a standard refund cannot be processed.

A. Discount Code Terms

AqNova and individual Vendors may issue discount codes (also called promo codes, voucher codes, or coupon codes) that provide Buyers with price reductions on eligible purchases. The following terms apply to all discount codes:

Disclosure at point of application: when a discount code is entered at checkout, the applicable discount amount, any minimum order requirement, the expiry date, and any product category or Vendor exclusions are displayed before the Buyer confirms their order.

Single use vs. multi-use: discount codes are either single-use (valid once per account) or multi-use (valid multiple times up to the stated expiry or redemption limit), as specified when the code is issued.

Stacking restrictions: discount codes generally cannot be combined with other discount codes or promotional offers unless the applicable terms explicitly state otherwise.

Expiry dates: all discount codes carry an expiry date, which is displayed at checkout. AqNova is not responsible for codes that expire before a Buyer attempts to use them.

Exclusions: certain product categories, Vendors, or product lines may be excluded from discount code applicability. Exclusions are disclosed when the code is applied.

No cash value: discount codes have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash, credit, or gift cards.

Fraud prevention: discount codes obtained through unauthorized means (hacking, scraping, sharing in violation of terms, etc.) are void. AqNova may deactivate codes and recover the discount from orders where fraudulent code use is confirmed.

B. Sale Events — Pricing Integrity

AqNova may host platform-wide sale events (e.g., seasonal sales, sustainability awareness campaigns) during which Vendors may offer discounted pricing. The following integrity standards apply to all sale events:

EU Omnibus Directive compliance: for EU users, sale prices must be accompanied by the lowest prior price in the 30 days before the sale. AqNova's Platform systems automatically capture and display this prior price for EU listings.

No pre-inflation: Vendors may not artificially raise prices in the period before a sale event specifically to create a larger apparent discount during the sale. AqNova's pricing integrity monitoring detects and flags unusual pre-sale price increases.

Honest "Limited Time" claims: Vendors may not use "Limited Time Offer" or "Flash Sale" labels for promotions that run indefinitely or are renewed immediately after expiry.

Stock accuracy: promotions that claim "limited stock" must be based on genuine inventory constraints, not artificial scarcity.

C. Cashback, Affiliate & Referral Programs

AqNova may operate cashback, affiliate, or referral programs that provide financial incentives to Buyers or Partners for qualifying purchases or referrals. The terms of any such program, including the cashback percentage, qualifying purchases, payment timeline, and any restrictions, are governed by the specific program's terms of participation, published separately at [aqnova.co/programs]. AqNova's cashback and referral programs do not constitute financial advice or investment products and are not regulated financial products.

A. Payment Decline Handling

If a payment authorization is declined, the Buyer is notified at checkout with a generic message (e.g., "Your payment could not be authorized. Please try a different payment method or contact your bank."). AqNova does not display the specific reason for a decline — this information is provided by the card issuer/payment provider and its disclosure could assist payment fraud.

Common reasons for payment declines include:

Insufficient funds or credit limit exceeded.

Card issuer fraud detection trigger (the card issuer, not AqNova, has flagged the transaction).

Incorrect card details entered at checkout.

3DS2 authentication failure (for EU/UK transactions).

Card not enabled for online or international transactions.

Transaction amount exceeds the Buyer's card limit for international/e-commerce transactions.

Buyers who experience repeated declines are advised to contact their card issuer directly to resolve any restrictions on their card. AqNova's payment support team (support@aqnova.co) can confirm whether the decline signal came from AqNova's platform or from the card issuer.

B. Fraud Screening — AqNova's Automated System

Every transaction on AqNova is evaluated by AqNova's multi-layered fraud detection system before authorization. The fraud screening process is described in Section 4.9.3 of Section 4.0 (Orders, Payments & Consumer Rights). Key screening elements include:

Velocity checks: detection of unusual transaction frequency (multiple orders in a short period, particularly with different delivery addresses).

Device fingerprinting: technical device characteristics are analyzed to identify suspicious or known-fraudulent devices.

Behavioral signals: in-session behavior analysis for patterns consistent with automated or malicious activity.

Address Verification Service (AVS): for card transactions, the billing address provided by the Buyer is verified against the address on file with the card issuer.

Card Verification Value (CVV/CVC) verification: AqNova requires CVV/CVC entry at checkout to verify the card is physically present with the Buyer.

Network-based fraud intelligence: transaction signals are cross-referenced with AqNova's fraud intelligence network to identify patterns consistent with known fraud schemes.

Geolocation consistency: the Buyer's IP geolocation, billing address, and delivery address are evaluated for geographic consistency.

C. Manual Review

Transactions that score above defined fraud risk thresholds are escalated for manual review by AqNova's Trust & Safety team before authorization. Manual review typically adds 15–30 minutes to the order confirmation process. Buyers undergoing manual review are notified that their order is under verification and asked to provide any additional confirmation required. If manual review determines the transaction is high-risk, AqNova may: (a) request additional Buyer identity verification; or (b) decline the transaction and notify the Buyer with a generic decline message.

4.4.14 Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

A chargeback is a reversal of a payment transaction initiated by a Buyer through their card issuer or payment provider. Chargebacks are a consumer protection mechanism provided by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) and regulated payment providers. The following framework governs chargebacks on the AqNova Platform:

A. When Chargebacks Are Appropriate

AqNova supports Buyers' rights to initiate chargebacks with their payment providers in the following genuine circumstances (consistent with card network chargeback reason codes):

Unauthorized transaction: a payment was processed that the Buyer did not authorize (card fraud, identity theft, account compromise).

Non-delivery (INR): goods were not delivered, and AqNova's Buyer Protection process has failed to resolve the issue within a reasonable timeframe.

Significantly not as described (SNAD): the goods received were materially different from what was described, and the Platform's dispute process has not resulted in a satisfactory remedy.

Credit not processed: a refund was agreed and confirmed but not processed within the applicable timeline.

Duplicate charge: the Buyer was charged twice for the same transaction.

AqNova's policy is that Buyers should use AqNova's Buyer Protection Program (BPP) as the first recourse for resolution before initiating a chargeback, as the BPP is typically faster and more targeted for marketplace disputes. AqNova will not penalize Buyers for exercising their legitimate chargeback rights after the BPP has failed to resolve a legitimate dispute.

B. Chargeback Abuse

Chargeback abuse — also known as "friendly fraud" or "first-party misuse" — involves initiating a chargeback for transactions where goods were received as described, or where an active BPP resolution is in progress for the same transaction. Chargeback abuse harms Vendors, increases Platform costs, and violates AqNova's terms of service. Consequences for confirmed chargeback abuse include: account warning; account suspension; permanent account termination; and referral for fraud investigation.

C. AqNova's Chargeback Response

When AqNova receives a chargeback notification from a payment processor or card network, AqNova:

Reviews the chargeback claim against Platform records (order data, delivery tracking, Buyer communications, BPP claim history).

Where the chargeback is valid (genuine unauthorized transaction or non-delivery): accepts the chargeback and processes the refund cooperatively.

Where the chargeback appears abusive or inaccurate: AqNova submits a detailed chargeback rebuttal to the payment network within the applicable response deadline (typically 20–45 days depending on card network). The rebuttal includes order confirmation data, delivery tracking evidence, BPP claim history, and Buyer communications.

AqNova does not impose an automatic fee on Vendors for chargebacks where the chargeback is attributable to genuine Platform failure or AqNova error.

4.4.15 Vendor Payouts & Settlement

AqNova remits Vendor payouts for completed and confirmed orders on a scheduled basis after deducting Platform Fees, applicable taxes withheld, and any outstanding charges or reserves. The Vendor payout framework is governed by the Vendor Agreement (Section 2.2.3). This section provides a summary of key payout terms relevant to the payment and pricing context.

A. Payout Schedule

Standard payout: weekly (every 7 calendar days from the date of Order Confirmation, for orders where the Buyer Protection claim period has passed without a dispute).

Founding Vendor Program participants may receive adjusted payout schedules as specified in their FVP terms.

High-value orders (above USD $5,000): may be subject to a 14-day payout hold for additional fraud and return risk review.

New Vendor accounts (first 90 days): subject to a 14-day rolling payout reserve — 20% of each week's payout is held in reserve for 14 days as a consumer protection measure, to fund potential refunds or Buyer Protection claims.

B. Payout Reserve

AqNova maintains a payout reserve — a portion of each Vendor's accumulated payouts — to fund Buyer Protection claims, chargeback responses, and AML/compliance holds. The reserve amount varies by Vendor category, performance history, and risk profile. Details of the reserve rate applicable to each Vendor's account are disclosed in the Vendor Dashboard. Reserves are released to the Vendor upon: resolution of any pending claims without a Vendor-funded payout; account closure in good standing; or upon verification that the reserve event has passed.

C. Platform Fees Deduction

AqNova deducts the applicable Platform Fee (commission) from each Vendor payout. Commission rates are published in the Commission & Fee Schedule at [aqnova.co/vendors/fees] and are also visible in the Vendor Dashboard. AqNova provides Vendors with a detailed settlement statement for each payout, itemizing: gross sales revenue; commission deducted; taxes withheld (TCS for India; applicable VAT where AqNova is deemed supplier); refunds and adjustments; net payout amount.

4.4.16 Contact Information — Pricing & Payments

AqNova Marketplace | Global Legal Footer Framework | Section 4.4: Pricing & Payments Policy

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