These are the terms and conditions ("Conditions of Use") upon which You may use Our Mobile Money Services (hereinafter, "the Services"). You must read them carefully before deciding to register for the Services. By registering for the Services, You guarantee that You have read and understood, and accept these Conditions of Use. Please note that these Conditions of Use become effective immediately upon Your registration for use of the Services. If You do not accept these Conditions of Use, You must not proceed to register for and/or use the Services.
WHAT WE MEAN
"Account" - means Your Mobile Money account, which is the record of Your E-Money maintained and administered by Us.
"Agent(s)" - means person(s) registered or authorized by VCL Financial Services to provide the Services. The details of Agents may be obtained from the Customer Call Centre and Vodacom Centres.
"Agreement"- means these Conditions of Use and/or the Registration Form.
“Cash” - means Lesotho Loti and South African Rand or any other lawful currencies in issue in Lesotho.
“Cellphone” - means the mobile device used by You to access the Services.
"Credit Balance" - means the amount of E-Money in Your account.
"Debit" - means the transfer of E-Money out of Your Account.
"Debit Transaction" - means any transaction which results in a Debit of E-Money from Your Account as verified by Our Mobile Money system.
"Designated Payee" - means any person (including Yourself, another user, or an agent) who is designated by You, to be the recipient of E-Money from Your account.
"E-Money" - means the electronic money issued by VCL Financial Services and represents a value equivalent to a user's cash entitlement held in trust by the Trustee Bank in the Trust Account.
"Identification (ID) " - means any document associated with the form of identification provided to Our satisfaction including Passport and National Identity Card etc.
"Mobile Money Services" - means the " VCL Financial Services Money Transfer Services" to be offered by VCL Financial Services, which will enable You to perform the transactions specified under Clause 6.1. below.
"MSISDN" - means Your Vodacom mobile number.
"Network" - means the Global System for Mobile telecommunication ("GSM") system operated by Vodacom and covering those areas within the Kingdom of Lesotho as stipulated from time to time by Us.
"PIN" - means Your Personal Identification Number is the secret code You choose to access Your Account and authorize transactions.
"Pre-paid Airtime" - means mobile phone calling credit on Vodacom's Network.
"SIM Card" - means the subscriber identity module which when used with Your cellphone enables You to access and use the Mobile Money Services.
"SMS" means a short message service consisting of a text message transmitted from a system and/or one cellphone to another.
"Subscriber" – means any person who is a holder of a Vodacom mobile number whether as a prepaid, hybrid, or contract customer.
"Transfer Instructions" means instructions given via system authorisation and confirmed via SMS for the transfer of E-Money from one user to another.
“Trustee” means VCL Financial Services.
"Trustee Bank" means a commercial bank(s) registered in Lesotho which hold(s) the aggregate of all sums equivalent to E-Money in M-Pesa Users' accounts.
“Trust Account" means the bank account maintained by the Trustee Bank into which all payments for E-Money are made and held by the Trustee on behalf of Users.
“User” means every person that uses the Mobile Money Services, whether registered or unregistered.
“USSD Menu” means the unstructured supplementary service data menu on Your cellphone that lists all the Services. This can be accessed by dialing *111# from Your Cellphone.
"You" or "Your" means the Customer and/or the end-user of M-Pesa services
ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Before applying to register for the services and have an account with Us, You should carefully read and understand these Terms and Conditions which will govern the use and operation of Your Account.
If you have a problem understanding these Terms and Conditions, or do not agree thereto, please contact any of the avenues listed under clause 10 below before registering for the Service.
You will be deemed to have read, understood, and accepted to be bound by these Terms and Conditions by using or continuing to use and operate the Services.
By registering for the Service, you agree to comply with and be bound by these terms and conditions for the time being and as may be varied, revised, amended, or substituted from time to time and such other conditions governing the operation of your Account and you affirm that these Terms and Conditions herein are without prejudice to any right that We may have with respect to the Account in law or otherwise.
These Terms and Conditions may be amended, revised, substituted, or varied by Us from time to time at Our sole discretion and the continued use of the Services constitutes Your agreement to be bound by the terms of any such amendment, revision, substitution, and variation.
HOW TO OPEN AND REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT
Any Vodacom subscriber who has an active SIM card may register for a Mobile Money account through the USSD menu or Visit any Vodacom center where full Identification details (Know Your Customer (KYC)) shall be requested for registration of the Customer completing a registration form and submitting it to an agent.
Minors above the age of 10 and other persons who do not have the contractual capacity in terms of the laws of Lesotho will not be allowed to register for a Mobile Money account unless they are assisted by a legal guardian. We reserve the right to verify the authenticity of the details provided in support of Your registration.
Registration for Standard level (Tier 2); Visit the USSD menu and follow the registration prompt, input the required details in the fields provided, and follow the SMS prompt requesting you to create a PIN.
Registration for (Tier 3); Visit Vodacom Centre or shop with your Identification Document, Proof of Residence and Proof of Income.
After You have been successfully registered and an account created for You, You will receive a confirmation SMS on Your cellphone. You can then activate Your account by following the instructions on Your USSD menu.
Once Your account has been activated, You will be required to create a PIN in terms of Clause 4.1.2 above, which will entitle You to use the Services with immediate effect. However, based on your risk profile, you may wait for no-longer than seventy-two (72) hours before your account has been activated.
You may not open more than one account with Us, where You have registered more than one account, You shall be advised by SMS to Visit the nearest Vodacom Centre and/or communicate through stipulated medium of communication, which account(s) should be closed by Us within 7 (seven) days and any in-action towards the request will result in Your other account(s) being closed by Us without Your approval by considering an account which is fully active and leaving it operational.
We reserve the right to request further information from you about your application for the Services at any time. Failure to provide such information within the time required by Us may result in Us declining to offer you the Services and/or suspending the Services if they were already extended to you.
TRANSACTION FEES
You hereby agree to pay all fees payable in connection with your Use of the Services, which you shall pay to Us, and We are entitled to deduct them from your Account.
You will pay fees when You perform transactions. Applicable fees can be obtained from authorized Agents, by calling the Customer Call Centre, visiting Your nearest Vodacom Centre, or from our website at www.vodacom.co.ls under the Mobile Money section which can be accessed from the home page.
Fees payable on each transaction will be deducted from Your Mobile Money Account at the conclusion of each transaction and Your new balance at conclusion of the transaction shall be notified to You by SMS.
Fees include applicable taxes.
VCLFS may revise applicable fees from time to time. We will notify You of such change through the communication mediums as prescribed by the law 30 calendar days before introducing the revised fees.
USING YOUR ACCOUNT
Transactions
You may use Your account to perform among others the following transactions:
Purchase E-Money by making a payment in cash (cash-in) directly to an Agent in exchange for an equivalent amount of E-Money to be credited into Your account.
Exchange E-Money for cash (cash-out) from an Agent by sending a transfer instruction to our Mobile Money platform pursuant to which the agent will pay the equivalent amount of cash to You.
Send/Receive E-Money to/from a registered user.
Buy prepaid airtime from Vodacom with E-Money.
Pay bills and third-party services.
We reserve the right to add or substitute other transactions and functionalities to the Services from time to time and We will notify You of such additions or substitutions from time to time through the communication mediums as prescribed by the law 30 calendar days before introduction of the same.
All Debit Transactions from Your account will be affected by transfer instructions authorized with Your PIN or such other method we may prescribe from time to time. You, therefore, acknowledge that, unless and until VCLFS receives notice from You that Your SIM card has been lost or stolen, VCLFS may rely on the use of the PIN as conclusive evidence that a Debit Transaction has been authorized by You, even if it is made without Your authority. VCLFS shall not require any written confirmation of any transaction instruction.
VCLFS may carry out identity and/or security checks when We receive Your transfer instructions, and We may refuse any transaction if we are not satisfied with the results of Our checks.
You will not be able to effect any transactions from Your account if You do not have sufficient E-Money to meet the value of the transaction plus fees applicable thereto.
It is Your responsibility to ensure the correctness of the details of the designated payee and the amounts which You intend to transfer before You effect a transaction. VCLFS shall not be liable for reimbursing You for E-Money sent to a wrong recipient by You nor will it be liable for the failure to reverse any wrongful transaction.
Airtime is not a substitute for E-Money. You may not use Your airtime to effect Mobile Money transactions.
We will confirm all Your successful transactions by sending You an SMS with Your new account balance.
Transaction Limits
You may not effect any transactions which, in aggregate, exceed the following prescribed limits:
Standard /Tier 2 User(Partial KYC)
Daily limit – M 20,000.00
Monthly – M 40,000.00
Yearly limit – M 240,000.00
Standard /Tier 3 User(Full KYC)
Daily limit – M 75,000.00
Monthly – M 150,000.00
Yearly limit – M 360,000.00
The above limits may change from time to time and VCLFS will notify You of such change through the communication mediums as prescribed by the law 30 calendar days before introducing the same.
Any transactions which exceed the prescribed transaction limits will not be processed.
Statements on Your account
You may obtain a balance on Your account using the "balance enquiry" function on Your USSD Menu at no cost to You.
Please note that printed statements will not be provided to You unless there are extraordinary circumstances that in Our opinion render it necessary to provide such or where a request has been made by law enforcement agencies.
Any request for a full statement shall be sent/given to You using such other electronic means and format as may be compatible with Your access.
Save for any manifest errors, a statement issued to You in respect of Your Account shall be conclusive evidence of the transactions carried out on your Account for the period covered in the statement.
SECURITY MEASURES
You are at all times responsible for the safekeeping and proper use of Your Cellphone and PIN in relation to the Mobile Money services. As a measure to ensure the security of Your account, You will be given only 3 attempts to enter the correct PIN. If You enter the wrong PIN on Your third attempt, Your account will be deactivated. To reactivate Your account, You will be required to call the Customer Call Centre and follow the verification process directed by the Customer Call Centre agent.
Only You may use Your Cellphone and PIN to access Your account and You will be responsible for all transactions made from Your account.
Do not disclose Your PIN to anyone, including but not limited to Your family members, employees of VCLFS (including Customer Call Centre and Vodacom Centre employees), employees of the Trustee Bank, agents, etc.
We shall take all possible measures to ensure that at a minimum your information or Account is protected from all related cyber threats, and where We may detect any threads, We shall not be liable for suspension of the Services to maintain security of the Services.
CONSUMER PROTECTION AND RECOURSE
All payments for E-Money are made and held by the Trustee on behalf of all users and such funds do not form part of the assets of either VCLFS or the Trustee Banks. In case VCLFS or the Trustee Banks go insolvent, the users’ funds shall remain secure and shall be disbursed to the users.
SUSPENSION AND DISCONNECTION OF THE SERVICES/CLOSURE OF ACCOUNT
We may restrict access to Your Account or terminate the provision of the Service and/or suspend Your account without informing You and without any liability whatsoever (although, We will, where possible, try to inform You that such action is or may be taken) if:
We are aware or have reason to believe that Your Cellphone, PIN, or SIM card is being used in an unauthorized, unlawful, improper, or fraudulent manner or for criminal activities (or has been so used previously).
You do not comply with any of the conditions relating to the use of the Services which have been communicated to You by Us, including these Conditions of Use.
You notify Us that Your Cellphone or SIM card has been lost or stolen or Your PIN has been disclosed to any other party.
You do anything (or allow anything to be done) with Your Cellphone which We think may damage or affect the operation or security of the Network or the Services.
Your Cellphone number is disconnected from the Vodacom network. A SIM card that has been inactive for a period of 365 days will be disconnected from the network.
We will close Your account where You have not provided a certified copy of Your ID document or a reliable certified ID document per clause 4.1.3 above within 7 days after being notified to provide the document.
We will close Your account on receiving a written request from You to do so (this shall only be executed upon You settling all Your outstanding loans) or upon receiving written notification about Your death.
We will not be responsible to You for any direct, indirect, consequential, or special damages arising from any act or omission by us or any third party for whom we are responsible, whether arising in contract or statute if we close or suspend Your account in terms of this clause 9.
GETTING ASSISTANCE
You may call the Customer Call Centre on 114 or visit Vodacom Centres or Agents or visit Our website if You want to amongst others do any of the following:
receive information about Agents.
query Your account.
query any transactions performed through Your account.
have a problem with the Service.
lodge a complaint; and/or
Get further information regarding the Services and our complaints procedure.
Mobile Money Services in Lesotho are regulated by the Central Bank of Lesotho. If You are not satisfied with the outcome of a complaint, You are welcome to approach the Central Bank with a request to intervene.
The contact details of the Central Bank are:
Telephone number: 2223 2000
Website: www.centralbank.org.ls
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
It is Your responsibility to ensure that the information You provide to VCLFS about Yourself is accurate. To this end, You undertake to VCLFS that any information You have provided to us is true and correct and that You will provide any additional information that we may require from time to time, failing which We will suspend Your account.
You will be responsible for payment of all applicable fees for any transaction effected using Your Cellphone and SIM card whether these were made by You or someone else with or without Your authority or knowledge.
You must not use the Services to commit any offense (s).
In the event of damage to, loss, or theft of the SIM, You are obliged to inform us immediately of such damage, loss, or theft. We will then disable such damaged, lost, or stolen SIM Card to prevent possible use of the Services until the SIM card has been replaced. A replacement fee will be applicable. To report a damaged, lost, or stolen SIM card You can call the Customer Call Centre on the number 114 or visit the nearest Vodacom Centre.
You will be responsible for all fees and transactions effected up to the time of receipt by Vodacom of Your report of the damage to, loss, or theft of Your SIM card.
You must comply with any instructions that VCLFS may issue from time to time about the use of the Mobile Money Services.
REFUNDS
We will refund Your transaction amount and fee or Your credit balance if:
You close Your account while You still have E-Money in it. A refund resulting from closing an account will be treated as a cash-out transaction and will attract fees applicable to cash-out transactions. Refunds resulting from closing an account will be paid in cash and can be made by any registered agent following receipt of a request from You to close the account.
You have been wrongly charged by VCLFS or where it is established that Your account was debited without proper transfer instructions authorized through Your PIN.
To cancel a transaction or query your account (for unauthorized transactions and erroneous charges) and request a refund of the transaction amount and fee or unauthorized transaction amount or erroneous charge as the case may be, You need to contact the Customer Call Centre. We will process such a request and will credit the refund to Your account.
In the event that Your account is closed as a result of Your death, the credit balance in Your account shall be paid over to a beneficiary stated in a beneficiary nomination letter or administrator nominated in the letters of administration issued by the Master of the High Court and/or any duly authorized Authority.
We will endeavor to effect refunds as soon as possible but, in any event, not later than 5 days from the date on which a claim for refund was made by You.
VCLFS does not have any obligation to cancel any transfer instructions and refund You in the event of any dispute with any designated payee. You are responsible for resolving any disputes arising with the designated payee without involving Us.
If You have E-money left in Your account that has not been accessed for more than 2 years, such account shall be considered as dormant and we will publicize Your name on the media of wide circulation. You shall then be required to claim the same within a period of one year from the date of publication failure thereof shall be transferred to the relevant authorities in Lesotho in line with the governing Laws.
CHANGES
We reserve the right to change these conditions of use from time to time. We shall give You 30 calendar days' notice of any proposed changes through the communication mediums as prescribed by the law, and You shall be deemed to have been notified of any such variations regardless that the same may not have come to your attention. After 30 days, the changes will be deemed to be fully effective. If You do not agree with the changes, You must terminate the Services, otherwise, You shall be deemed to have accepted the changes.
EVENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL
We may not be able to provide the services or perform our obligations as a result of events that are beyond our reasonable control including failure, malfunction, or delay in banking channels and networks, Your Cellphone, or SIM card. VCLFS will not be responsible for any loss arising as a result of the occurrence of such events
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
You hereby expressly consent and authorize that We may disclose and/or collect personal information or data relating to Your Account, details of Your use of the services or documents about You:
to and/from national and international law enforcement or any competent regulatory or governmental agencies to assist in the prevention, detection, or prosecution of criminal activities or fraud, and for the general enforcement of the law and order.
to Our legal advisors, financial advisors, auditors, or a court of law in connection with any legal or other proceedings.
to Our parent company and its affiliates or suppliers who will further process Your personal information and sell products and services to You within the confines of the governing privacy laws.
for reasonable commercial purposes connected to Your use of the Service including Our legitimate interests such as marketing and analyzing data (research) for purposes of tailoring the Services to Your needs.
to a Credit Bureau subject to the respective laws.
You agree that all Your information, including personal information and Your transactions will be recorded and centered for record-keeping purposes for 10 years from the date on which Your Account is closed.
You consent that all communication and transactions may be monitored or recorded by Us in accordance with the laws of Lesotho, for use in business practices, prevention of unauthorized use of Vodacom telecommunications systems, the Mobile Money System, and in respect of the detection and prevention of crime.
LIABILITY AND EXCLUSIONS
In the event that Your telecommunications number is changed or reassigned to meet regulatory requirements or for any other reason, Our liability will be limited to retaining Your account and where possible, transferring Your account to a new MSISDN, failing which You will be paid out the credit balance in Your account in cash.
We make no representations and give no warranties of whatsoever nature to and in favor of You, whether express or implied in respect of the Services.
All Agents are no more than independent third parties authorized by VCLFS or an approved Mobile Money Super-Agent to provide the Services and no partnership exists between VCLFS and the Agents. We accordingly bear no responsibility or liability for any default or negligence on the part of the Agents in providing the Services.
We will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Service is secure and cannot be accessed by unauthorized third parties. We shall not be liable for any loss which You suffer unless it is directly caused by Us being grossly negligent. Our liability for such acts will be limited to the amount of the loss that an ordinary person in Your position would have suffered. For the avoidance of doubt, any such liability shall exclude liability for indirect, punitive, special, and/or consequential losses and/or damages.
NOTICES
We are entitled to send information to You via SMS to the contact mobile number which you have used to register for the Services.
Where We have utilized an SMS to notify you of any Services related issue, You will be deemed to have received it within such time that You will be expected to have noticed it.
You should send any legal notice to us at our chosen address: VCL Financial Services, P.O. Box 7387, Vodacom Park | No 585 Mabile Road Maseru 100
GENERAL
You will pay all our expenses for recovering any amounts You owe us including legal fees, collection fees, and tracing fees.
You must notify us immediately of any change of Your personal details that You registered with as soon as You have made such changes to Your personal details.
All copyright trademarks and other intellectual property rights used as part of the Services or contained in our documents are owned by VCLFS or its licensors. You agree that You acquire no rights thereto.
This Agreement may not be assigned to any other person.
No failure or delay by either of us in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercises thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.
The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
If any provision of these Conditions of Use shall be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the other provisions and all provisions not so affected by such invalidity or unenforceability shall remain in full force and effect.
Although VCLFS will try to ensure through its Service Level Agreements with Vodacom and in line with the Lesotho Communications Authority Quality of Service rules You can make full use of the Network to access Mobile Money Services within Vodacom coverage areas, We do not guarantee that the Mobile Money Services will be available at all times. VCLFS will not be responsible or liable for any loss whatsoever or howsoever arising as a consequence of any non-availability of the Mobile Money Services.
You will be responsible for all roaming charges should you access the Services while you roam.
We may vary or amend at any time these Terms and Conditions and the Transaction Fees. Any such Variations or amendments shall be published through communication mediums as prescribed by the law and any such variations and amendments shall take effect immediately upon publication provided the 30 days’ notice timelines for publication of the variations and Terms and Conditions will have been adhered to by Us.
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT AND GOVERNING LAW
This agreement is governed by the laws of Lesotho.
Any dispute arising out of the provision of the Services shall be resolved amicably by You and Us subject to the Complaints and Queries Procedure.
Any disputes arising out of this agreement, and which cannot be settled amicably by You and Us will be submitted to litigation in any court of competent jurisdiction.