Billing & Subscriptions

Version 1.0 — Last Updated: 18-11-2025

This document describes ChainGuard's billing practices, payment methods, subscription management, and tax treatment. It explains how payments are processed, how VAT is handled, and what happens in cases of failed payments or disputes.

1. Billing Entity

All subscriptions and invoices are issued by Chain-Fi Limited, a company registered in England & Wales.

Legal Details:

  • Company Name: Chain-Fi Limited
  • Registration Number: 15507356
  • VAT Number: GB461989346
  • Registered Office: 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom

ChainGuard is a product suite developed by Chain-Fi Labs and operated under Chain-Fi Limited. For billing and invoicing purposes, all transactions are with Chain-Fi Limited.

2. Subscription Model

2.1 Subscription Types

ChainGuard offers subscription-based services including:

  • Seat-based subscriptions (per user/account)
  • API usage tiers (based on usage volume)
  • Environment access (development, staging, production)
  • Additional tier packages (add-ons that can be added to base subscriptions)

2.2 Subscription Terms

Annual Subscriptions:

  • Annual subscriptions are automatically renewed unless cancelled
  • Users receive a 30-day notice via email to the registered email address before renewal
  • Cancellation must be completed at least 24 hours before the renewal date to prevent automatic renewal

Monthly Add-Ons (Tiers):

  • Additional tier packages are billed monthly
  • Add-ons can be deselected at any time
  • To prevent renewal, add-ons must be deselected at least 24 hours before the renewal date
  • Add-ons automatically renew with the base subscription unless deselected

Enterprise Contracts:

  • Larger institutions may be governed by a separate Master Subscription Agreement (MSA)
  • Terms, pricing, and renewal conditions are specified in the individual contract

2.3 Free Accounts

Free accounts are always available and remain active even if:

  • A paid subscription has ended
  • A subscription is not renewed
  • Payment fails

Users with free accounts maintain access to core ChainGuard functionality. Funds in user vaults are always accessible regardless of subscription status.

3. Payment Methods & Processors

3.1 Card Payments (Stripe)

ChainGuard accepts card payments processed through Stripe, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor.

Key points:

  • ChainGuard does not store card details; all card data is handled by Stripe
  • Stripe automatically enforces multi-region VAT schedules as declared in our VAT & AML compliance documentation
  • Stripe handles payment security, fraud detection, and PCI-DSS compliance
  • For detailed VAT treatment, see our VAT & AML page

3.2 Crypto Payments

ChainGuard accepts cryptocurrency payments for subscriptions and services.

Payment execution:

  • Users receive a dashboard notice and email notification to execute payment
  • Payments can be made:
    • Gasless from vault (using ChainGuard's gasless transaction feature)
    • From wallet with gas (standard on-chain transaction)
  • Invoice amounts are denominated in fiat (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP) and converted to crypto at payment time
  • Tax/VAT is calculated on the fiat value, not the crypto amount

Important: ChainGuard does not take custody of user funds. Crypto payments are processed on-chain, and users maintain control of their assets throughout the payment process.

3.3 Bank Transfer / Invoice

For enterprise customers, ChainGuard may issue invoices for bank transfer payments. Terms are specified in individual contracts or MSAs.

4. VAT, Tax & Invoicing

4.1 VAT Treatment

ChainGuard issues tax invoices with VAT where applicable. VAT is automatically calculated and applied based on:

  • Customer location (determined at time of purchase)
  • VAT ID (for B2B customers with valid VAT numbers)
  • B2B vs B2C classification

Stripe Integration:

  • Stripe automatically enforces multi-region VAT schedules
  • VAT rates are applied according to the customer's jurisdiction
  • For detailed VAT rules by jurisdiction, see our VAT & AML page

4.2 Invoice Details

Invoice frequency:

  • Invoices are issued per billing period (monthly or annually, depending on subscription type)
  • Invoices are available in the user dashboard and sent via email

Invoice content:

  • Invoice number, date, and billing period
  • Service description and subscription details
  • VAT amount (where applicable)
  • Total amount due
  • Payment instructions

Invoice retention:

  • Invoices are retained for 7-10 years for tax and compliance purposes
  • Users can access historical invoices through their dashboard
  • For data retention policies, see our Data Protection & Privacy page

4.3 Crypto Payment Tax Treatment

For crypto payments:

  • Invoice amounts are denominated in fiat currency
  • Crypto conversion occurs at payment time using market rates
  • Tax/VAT is calculated on the fiat value, not the crypto amount
  • The invoice reflects the fiat amount and applicable tax

5. Credits & Credit Structure

5.1 Credit System

ChainGuard maintains a credit system for certain transactions and services.

Credit characteristics:

  • Credits never expire - unused credits remain available indefinitely
  • Old credits remain after renewal - credits are not lost when subscriptions renew
  • Credits are tied to the user account, not the subscription

5.2 Credit Visibility

Users can:

  • View credit balance in the dashboard
  • See credit structure for each transaction
  • Look up credit history in the credit section
  • Track credit usage and remaining balance

5.3 Credit Application

Credits are applied automatically to eligible transactions. The credit structure is shown for each transaction, allowing users to understand how credits are used.

6. Account Suspension & Data Retention

6.1 Failed or Overdue Payments

Grace period:

  • Users receive notifications for failed or overdue payments
  • A grace period is provided to resolve payment issues

Restrictions during payment issues:

  • Access to certain features may be restricted (e.g., no new vaults, limited API calls)
  • Core functionality and vault access remain available
  • Users can always access their vaults and withdraw funds

Eventual suspension:

  • If payment issues persist, account access to hosted services (UI/API) may be suspended
  • Important: Suspension does not affect user control over assets
  • Vault funds remain accessible through the fallback feature (see below)

6.2 Vault Access & Fallback Feature

Users always maintain access to their funds:

  • Even if subscription ends or payment fails, users can always withdraw funds from their vaults
  • The fallback feature is always accessible, requiring only:
    • Access via the user's primary wallet
    • Standard gas payment (not gasless)
  • This ensures users maintain self-custody and control over their assets at all times

6.3 Data Retention (Billing-Related)

Billing records:

  • Billing records, invoices, and payment history are retained for 7-10 years for tax law compliance
  • This includes:
    • Invoice records
    • Payment transactions
    • Subscription history
    • Credit transactions

Legal basis:

  • Retention is required for tax compliance and regulatory obligations
  • For detailed data retention policies, see our Data Protection & Privacy page

7. Refunds, Chargebacks & Disputes

7.1 Refund Policy

Refunds are available for:

  • Billing errors or incorrect charges
  • Service unavailability due to ChainGuard's fault
  • Cases where services were not delivered as specified

Refunds are not available for:

  • Used subscription periods
  • Services that were available and functional
  • User-initiated cancellations after service use

Refund process:

  • Refund requests should be submitted via email to billing@chain-fi.io
  • Refunds are processed within 30 business days
  • Refunds are issued to the original payment method

7.2 Chargebacks

Chargeback handling:

  • Chargebacks may trigger an account review due to fraud risk
  • ChainGuard will investigate chargeback claims and may request additional information
  • Repeated chargebacks may result in account restrictions or suspension

Important: Chargebacks do not affect user access to vault funds. Users maintain control over their assets regardless of chargeback status.

7.3 Crypto Payment Refunds

If refunds are issued for crypto payments:

  • Refunds are calculated based on the fiat value on the original invoice date
  • The refund amount in crypto is determined by current market rates at refund time
  • Refunds are processed on-chain to the original payment address

8. Security & Payment Protection

8.1 Payment Processor Security

  • Stripe: PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant, handles all card data securely
  • Crypto payments: Processed on-chain with cryptographic verification
  • ChainGuard does not store sensitive payment information

8.2 Fraud Prevention

  • Payment processors implement fraud detection and prevention measures
  • Suspicious transactions may be flagged for review
  • Users may be contacted for additional verification

For detailed security information, see our Security Framework documentation.

9. Related Documentation

Contact

For billing inquiries, payment issues, or refund requests:

Next: Review VAT & AML compliance or explore other compliance topics.

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