Refund Policy

1. Overview

Smartbee LLC ("we", "us", "our", "Company") operates LeaveTip, a digital tipping platform. LeaveTip operates like physical cash - once a tip is claimed, it cannot be refunded. However, if a tip is not claimed within 24 hours, we will automatically refund the tip amount (minus the convenience fee).

2. Automatic Refunds (Unclaimed Tips)

2.1 When You Get a Refund

You will receive an automatic refund if:

• Your claim code is NOT used within 24 hours of creation
• The tip remains in "unclaimed" status when it expires

2.2 What Gets Refunded

• ✓ Refunded: The full tip amount (e.g., if you paid $5.00 for a tip, you get $5.00 back)
• ✗ NOT Refunded: The convenience fee (varies by tip amount)

Convenience Fee (Non-Refundable):

• $1-3 tip: $0.50 fee
• $4-9 tip: $0.75 fee
• $10-19 tip: $1.00 fee
• $20+ tip: $1.50 fee

Example: You pay $5.75 total ($5.00 tip + $0.75 fee). If unclaimed, you receive a $5.00 refund. The $0.75 convenience fee covers payment processing costs and is non-refundable.

2.3 Refund Timeline

• When initiated: Automatically within 1 hour after the 24-hour expiration
• Processing time: Refunds are issued immediately to your payment method
• When you see it: Typically 5-10 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer

2.4 Refund Method

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used to create the tip:

• Credit/Debit Card → Refund to the same card
• Apple Pay → Refund to the linked card
• Google Pay → Refund to the linked card

3. No Refunds After Claim

Once a tip is claimed, it CANNOT be refunded. This is by design.

LeaveTip replicates the experience of leaving physical cash:

• If you hand cash to someone, you can't ask for it back
• If someone finds cash you left in a room, it's theirs
• We cannot verify who claimed the tip or reverse the transaction

3.1 Why No Post-Claim Refunds?

This policy exists to:

• Maintain the "cash-like" nature of the service
• Prevent disputes and fraud
• Ensure recipients receive tips promptly without risk of reversal
• Avoid operating as a money transmission service (regulatory compliance)

4. Disputes and Chargebacks

4.1 We Do Not Mediate Disputes

Smartbee LLC does NOT mediate disputes over claimed tips. Examples of disputes we cannot help with:

• "The wrong person claimed my tip"
• "I changed my mind after someone claimed it"
• "I didn't mean to create that tip"
• "The hotel staff didn't deserve it"

4.2 Chargebacks

If you file a chargeback with your bank or card issuer:

• Your account may be suspended or terminated
• You may be banned from using the Service
• We will contest fraudulent chargebacks

Valid chargeback reasons: Unauthorized use of your card, duplicate charges, or technical errors.

5. Payment Processing Fees

The convenience fee is non-refundable and varies based on your tip amount:

• $1-3 tip: $0.50 fee
• $4-9 tip: $0.75 fee
• $10-19 tip: $1.00 fee
• $20+ tip: $1.50 fee

This tiered fee structure covers:

• Stripe payment processing fees (~$0.30 + 2.9%)
• Service infrastructure costs
• Anti-fraud measures

The fee is charged whether the tip is claimed or not, as payment processing occurs immediately when you create the tip.

6. Exceptions

Refunds may be issued outside this policy ONLY if:

• There was a technical error on our part (e.g., tip was never created despite payment)
• Duplicate charges occurred due to a system bug
• Required by law or court order

To request an exception, contact support@leavetip.app with:

• Your transaction ID or claim code
• Description of the issue
• Any supporting documentation

Note: Exception requests are reviewed case-by-case and may take 3-5 business days to process.

7. Failed Payouts

If a recipient's payout fails (e.g., invalid bank account), the tip will be held for 30 days. After 30 days, the tip amount (not the fee) will be refunded to the original tipper.

8. Contact Us

For refund-related questions or issues, contact Smartbee LLC at:

• Email: support@leavetip.app
• Response Time: Within 2 business days

Smartbee LLC
Texas Limited Liability Company
Operating LeaveTip

9. Related Policies

This Refund Policy is part of our Terms of Service. By using LeaveTip, you agree to both.