This Policy says what Merchant may not do with the Service. Ridge may update it under Section 17.1 of the Merchant Agreement; changes required by Stripe or the card networks may take effect immediately.
1. Prohibited businesses
Merchant may not use the Service if its business, or any sale it processes, falls in a category below. Ridge also applies Stripe's Restricted Businesses list (stripe.com/restricted-businesses), which is incorporated here; if that list and this section differ, the more restrictive applies.
- Illegal goods or services, or goods and services that are illegal where sold
- Cannabis, THC products, and businesses that sell them, regardless of state law; CBD products without lab certification and prior written approval from Ridge
- Adult content and services
- Gambling, lotteries, sweepstakes with entry fees, fantasy sports with entry fees, and skill games for prizes
- Firearms, ammunition, firearm parts and accessories, and weapons regulated by federal or state law
- Tobacco, vaping products and nicotine products sold online or by mail
- Pharmaceuticals, prescription-only products, and unapproved drugs or supplements
- Cryptocurrency, virtual currency exchange, and investment or securities offerings
- Money services: check cashing, money orders, wire transfers, currency exchange, prepaid card loading, and any business that moves money for others
- Lending, debt collection, credit repair, debt settlement, and bail bonds
- Multi-level marketing, pyramid and matrix programs, and get-rich-quick schemes
- Travel clubs, timeshares, and extended warranty sales
- Telemarketing and inbound or outbound call-center sales
- Psychic, fortune-telling and similar services sold as advice
- Counterfeit, replica or unauthorized goods, and goods that infringe intellectual property
- Businesses on the MATCH list or terminated by another processor for cause
- Any business Ridge reasonably determines creates legal, regulatory, fraud or reputational risk
2. Prohibited transactions
- Processing a sale for any person or business other than Merchant ("factoring" or "aggregation")
- Charging a card without the Customer's authorization, or keeping card details to charge later without consent
- Giving cash, cash-equivalents or store credit for a card charge, except as a lawful refund
- Splitting one sale into several transactions, or entering a sale as a different type than it is
- Processing a transaction the Customer has already disputed, or re-charging a disputed amount
- Processing Merchant's own card to obtain funds or a cash advance
- Collecting a deposit for goods or services that Merchant cannot or does not intend to deliver
- Charging more than the posted Card Price, or adding any charge for using a card
3. Prohibited conduct
- Providing false or misleading information to Ridge, Stripe, a card network or a Customer
- Attempting to access another merchant's account or data, or any part of the Service not intended for Merchant
- Scraping, reverse engineering, load testing, or interfering with the Service or its security
- Uploading malware, or content that is unlawful, defamatory, infringing or harassing
- Sending marketing texts or emails without the consent required by the Customer Data & Marketing Addendum, or ignoring opt-outs
- Using the Service to collect or store card numbers, Social Security numbers or other sensitive data outside the fields designed for them
- Sharing a login or PIN between people, or creating accounts for people who are not Merchant's Staff
- Using the Service from outside the United States without Ridge's written approval
4. Enforcement
4.1 Ridge may investigate suspected violations, including by reviewing transactions and requesting documents, and Merchant will cooperate.
4.2 For a violation, Ridge may warn, require a remediation plan, hold payouts, require a reserve, limit volume, disable features, suspend or terminate the Service or payment processing, or report to Stripe, the card networks or law enforcement, as the situation warrants. Where practical and safe to do so, Ridge will give notice and 10 days to cure before termination.
4.3 Merchant is responsible for losses, fines and assessments from Stripe or the card networks caused by its violation.
4.4 Report a violation or a security concern to security@ridgeapp.app.