Legal

Terms of Service

Last updated: April 2026

These Terms of Service (“Payment Terms”) govern payments made to and through Community Stack using Stripe, including services provided via Stripe Connect.

These terms apply across all Community Stack platforms, including Community Engine, Community Switchboard, and associated ecosystems, events, and services.

By making or receiving payments through Community Stack, you agree to these Payment Terms.

Who we are Payment infrastructure Platform model Stripe Connect Refunds Disputes Liability

1. Who we are

Community Stack (“we”, “our”, “us”) operates a portfolio of community infrastructure platforms, including:

Community Engine
Community Switchboard

Community Stack is a trading name of Sumner Development Operations Group LTD.

Contact

Finance enquiries: finance@communitystack.io

2. Payment infrastructure

Community Stack uses:

Stripe for payment processing
Stripe Connect to enable payments between users and third-party organisations

By using our payment services, you also agree to:

We do not store full payment card details.

3. Platform model

Community Stack operates as a platform provider and infrastructure operator.

Payments may be:

Direct payments to Community Stack (e.g., events, subscriptions, sponsorships)
Payments to third-party organisations via Community Switchboard using Stripe Connect

Where Stripe Connect is used:

Community Stack facilitates the transaction
The third-party organisation is typically the merchant of record
Funds may flow through Stripe before being paid out to the organisation

4. Community Switchboard and Stripe Connect

Community Switchboard enables organisations (including charities, community groups, and service providers) to receive payments.

a) Connected accounts

Organisations using Community Switchboard may be onboarded as connected accounts via Stripe Connect. By using Switchboard as an organisation, you agree that:

You will provide accurate and complete onboarding information
You authorise Community Stack and Stripe to verify your identity (KYC/KYB requirements)
You comply with all applicable laws, including tax and regulatory obligations

b) Payouts

Funds received may be held, processed, and paid out via Stripe
Payout timing is determined by Stripe and may be subject to delays
Community Stack does not control payout schedules once funds are processed

c) Fees

Community Stack may apply:

Platform fees
Transaction fees
Subscription or service fees

These will be clearly communicated where applicable.

5. Payments and donations

Payments through Community Stack may include:

Event tickets
Memberships and subscriptions
Sponsorships
Platform services
Community Switchboard transactions, including:
- Donations to organisations
- Payments for services or activities
- Organisation subscriptions

Donations

Donations are voluntary and typically non-refundable
Community Stack is not the recipient of donations unless explicitly stated
Organisations are responsible for compliance with charity laws and schemes (e.g., Gift Aid)

6. Responsibility for third-party organisations

Where payments are made to organisations via Community Switchboard:

The organisation is solely responsible for:

Delivering services or activities
Use of funds
Compliance with applicable laws

Community Stack does not:

Guarantee delivery or quality
Act as trustee, agent, or operator of those organisations
Accept responsibility for disputes between users and organisations

7. Refunds and cancellations

a) Community Stack services

Event tickets are non-refundable unless required by law
Cancelled events will be refunded or transferred
Subscriptions can be cancelled but are not partially refundable

b) Community Switchboard transactions

Refunds are governed by the organisation receiving the payment
Community Stack does not guarantee refunds for third-party transactions
We may assist in facilitating communication but are not responsible for outcomes

c) Donations

Donations are non-refundable except where required by law.

8. Chargebacks and disputes

You agree to contact us first before initiating a chargeback.

For Switchboard transactions:

You may need to resolve disputes directly with the organisation
Stripe may handle disputes in accordance with its policies

We reserve the right to:

Suspend accounts
Restrict platform access
Recover costs for unjustified chargebacks

9. Fraud, compliance, and account controls

We may:

Suspend or terminate accounts
Delay or block transactions
Remove organisations from Community Switchboard

Where required, we will cooperate with:

Stripe
Regulatory authorities
Law enforcement

10. Failed payments

If a payment fails:

Access to services may be restricted
Subscriptions may be paused or cancelled
You remain responsible for completing payment

11. Taxes and regulatory obligations

Users and organisations are responsible for their own tax obligations
Organisations using Stripe Connect are responsible for:
- VAT handling (where applicable)
- Reporting income
- Compliance with charity or business regulations

Community Stack does not provide tax advice.

12. Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

Community Stack is not liable for:

Actions or failures of third-party organisations
Payment processor errors or delays
Indirect or consequential losses

Our liability is limited to the amount paid directly to Community Stack.

Nothing in these terms excludes liability where prohibited under UK law.

13. International payments

Currency conversion may apply
Fees may be charged by your bank or payment provider
Community Stack is not responsible for exchange rate differences

14. Changes to these terms

We may update these Payment Terms periodically. Updated versions will be published with a revised date.

15. Contact

Finance: finance@communitystack.io

General: hello@communitystack.io

How payments fit into the ecosystem

Community Stack operates payments as part of a broader ecosystem infrastructure model. With Community Switchboard and Stripe Connect, we enable:

Direct participation in communities
Funding flows into local and third-sector organisations
Scalable, accessible digital infrastructure

While maintaining clear boundaries between platform infrastructure and organisation responsibility. We are committed to ensuring payments are secure, transparent, and aligned with long-term ecosystem trust.