Zerozon platform terms of use and deposit rules

The Platform is the Zerozon website at www.zerozon.eu, the user account, the mobile app, API, QR scanning and registration features, maps, notifications, and deposit administration modules.

A User is a natural person using the Platform for personal, non-professional purposes. A Partner is a cafe, restaurant, point of sale, event organizer, collection point, or another business entity involved in issuing and or accepting reusable items.

A Reusable Item is a cup, food container, box, or other reusable unit marked with an individual QR code or other unique identifier and assigned a deposit in the Platform. A Deposit is the amount paid for that specific identified unit as a return-security payment.

By using the Platform, the contract for platform use and deposit administration is concluded between the user and Zerozonas, MB.

If the user buys a drink, food item, or other product at a partner location, that sales contract is concluded with the partner, not with Zerozon, unless clearly stated otherwise.

The partner is responsible for the quality, composition, allergen information, hygiene, physical condition, washing, cleaning, re-preparation for use, physical acceptance of the reusable item, and compliance with applicable laws in its operations.

Zerozon is not responsible for the quality of drinks or food sold by the partner, hygiene violations, allergic reactions, poisoning, the partner's refusal to serve, the partner's business hours, or other circumstances controlled by the partner.

Before the first deposit payment, the user must review these terms, the privacy policy, and, where applicable, the cookie policy. When the contract is concluded electronically, it must be clear that the confirmation creates a payment obligation.

The user is responsible for ensuring that account details, contact details, and the payment instrument used are lawful, accurate, and controlled by the user.

Zerozon may refuse account creation, limit features, or suspend access where there are indications of fraud, abuse, creation of multiple accounts, unauthorized automation, unlawful payments, or security incidents.

After scanning an individual QR code, the Platform must show at least the essential information: the type of identified unit, the deposit amount, the return deadline, available return locations or a link to them, and a clear action confirming the payment obligation.

By pressing a clearly labelled button such as 'Pay deposit', the user confirms agreement to pay the deposit and to these terms.

A deposit is considered paid only when the payment service provider and the Zerozon system successfully confirm the transaction. Scanning a QR code alone does not create a right to a refund if the payment was not successfully recorded.

Zerozon may apply risk-prevention measures, including additional authentication, temporary payment delay, or restrictions for certain devices, IP addresses, accounts, or cards where there are reasonable suspicions of dishonest activity.

The Platform may allow payment by payment card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other methods supported by Zerozon from time to time. Specific methods may vary depending on the device, browser, country, card, or partner flow.

Payments may be technically processed by licensed payment service providers, including Stripe and related infrastructure.

Zerozon is not a card issuer and does not control the decisions of card networks or banks regarding authorization, declines, 3D Secure, chargebacks, or refund timing.

The user becomes entitled to a deposit refund only when the identified reusable item is actually returned at a permitted location and the return is successfully registered in the system.

The deposit is refunded only for the specific unit linked to the corresponding payment. Presenting another unit, a damaged code, an unidentifiable unit, or a unit not found in the system does not by itself create an obligation to refund the deposit.

If the item is returned within 5 calendar days from the successful deposit payment timestamp and the return is registered in the system, Zerozon initiates refund of the corresponding deposit amount under the applicable payment-infrastructure rules.

The deposit refund is normally initiated to the same original payment instrument or its technical equivalent if permitted by the payment infrastructure, bank, or card rules.

The deposit is not refunded if the reusable item is not returned and registered in the system within 5 calendar days from successful payment.

The deposit may also be refused if a different unit is presented than the one for which the deposit was paid, if the QR code or other identifier has been destroyed so that the unit can no longer be objectively identified, or if the system already records an earlier return of the same unit.

Zerozon may temporarily suspend a refund while an investigation is carried out if there are reasonable indicators of fraud, duplicate scans, technical abuse, mass fictitious returns, or other risks.

Return locations, their categories, permitted unit types, and indicative opening hours are shown on the Platform. This information may change because of partner opening hours, events, technical issues, closure of a location, or other circumstances.

The user is responsible for making the return at a location that is actually operating and accepts the relevant item type.

Zerozon will make reasonable efforts to keep the information shown in maps up to date, but it does not guarantee absolute real-time accuracy.

After successful return registration, Zerozon initiates the refund within a reasonable period, but the actual crediting time depends on the payment service provider, card network, issuing bank, and the user's payment method.

Technical refund initiation and the appearance of funds in the bank statement may not happen at the same time. In some cases, the bank statement may show a reversal, adjustment, or refund as a separate entry.

If the original payment instrument is no longer valid, is blocked, or is technically unavailable, Zerozon may request additional information and apply another lawfully permitted refund solution, if such a solution is available at all.

If the user initiates a chargeback or other payment dispute concerning a deposit payment that was properly due and processed, Zerozon may submit evidence related to the dispute to the bank, card network, and payment service provider to the extent permitted by law.

Where systematic abuse, fictitious disputes, or dishonest chargeback patterns are identified, Zerozon may limit the account, refuse future payments, suspend unprocessed refunds until the investigation is complete, and take other lawful defensive measures.

The Platform is provided 'as is' and 'as available', but Zerozon aims to ensure stable operation. Temporary outages, scheduled maintenance, internet connectivity issues, failures of third-party services, or mobile-device limitations may affect QR scanning, payments, maps, or return registration.

If a user claims that a return was made but the system did not record it, the user must within a reasonable time provide an explanation and, if available, supporting evidence such as the date, location, screenshot, payment statement, partner receipt, or other information.

Zerozon reviews each case individually, but it is not obliged to approve a request where actual return cannot be objectively confirmed.

Zerozon is not responsible for the acts or omissions of a partner if the partner fails to comply with its hygiene, washing, acceptance, information, opening-hours, or other operational duties.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Zerozon's liability to the user for direct losses arising from the Platform and deposit-administration service is limited to the amount of the specific deposit actually paid in the dispute, except where the law prohibits such a limitation.

Zerozon is not liable for indirect losses, loss of profit, reputational harm, loss of data, defects in partner products, health consequences caused by partner food or drinks, or other losses arising beyond Zerozon's reasonable control.

The user must use the Platform lawfully, must not bypass technical safeguards, falsify QR codes, use bots, use another person's card or payment instrument without a lawful basis, or attempt multiple refunds on the basis of the same unit.

The user must protect account login credentials and promptly notify Zerozon about suspected unauthorized access to or use of the account.

Personal data is processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy. Zerozon may process identity, contact, account, payment, device, usage, communication, risk-assessment, and dispute-handling data to the extent necessary for the Platform, security, legitimate interests, contract performance, and legal obligations.

Where data is transferred to payment service providers, partners, hosting, analytics, customer-support, or legal-service providers, this is done only on a lawful basis and only to the extent necessary for the relevant purpose.

User inquiries about the Platform, deposits, refunds, or accounts are accepted through the contact channels indicated on the Platform, including [email protected] and www.zerozon.eu.

If a question concerns drink or food quality, allergens, hygiene, a damaged item, or the quality of partner service, Zerozon may first direct the user to the relevant partner, while still helping route the complaint where reasonably possible.

The user also has the right to contact the competent consumer dispute-resolution institutions and the courts in accordance with applicable law.

Zerozon may change these terms where the service model, laws, payment infrastructure, security requirements, partner network, or another important circumstance changes.

A new version is published on the Platform, and material changes may also be communicated separately.

Changes must not retroactively worsen the user's rights in relation to a payment that has already taken place, except where required by law or necessary for security or fraud-prevention reasons.

These terms are governed by the law of the Republic of Lithuania. Mandatory consumer-protection rules apply regardless of individual wording where the law provides a more favorable standard to the user.

Disputes are resolved through negotiations and, if that fails, before the competent consumer dispute-resolution body or court under the applicable legal rules.

Zerozonas, MB, company code 307224979, address Sorbų g. 16A-2, LT-11330 Vilnius.

Contacts for questions about these terms: [email protected], www.zerozon.eu, tel. +370 674 54013.

Before each deposit payment, users are encouraged to re-check that the displayed unit type, deposit amount, and return deadline match their expectations.