Platform Policy &
Compliance Framework

This Master Policy ("Policy") constitutes a legally binding agreement between XB2BX.COM Ltd ("Platform", "we", "us") and every individual, company, or entity ("User", "you") that registers on, accesses, or transacts through the Platform. It applies to all payment activities, including purchase orders, subscription fees, service charges, promotional transactions, and any monetary exchange facilitated by or through XB2BX.COM.

1.1 Key Definitions

• Buyer — any User initiating a purchase of goods or services on the Platform.
• Seller / Supplier — any registered business or individual offering goods or services for sale.
• Transaction — any confirmed financial exchange, payment instruction, or order processed via the Platform.
• Escrow Account — a ring-fenced holding account managed by XB2BX.COM or an authorised processor pending order fulfilment milestones.
• Payment Processor — any third-party financial institution or gateway engaged by XB2BX.COM to process payments.
• Chargeback — a transaction reversal initiated by a cardholder's issuing bank.
• Order Reference Number (ORN) — the unique identifier issued upon confirmed payment authorisation.
• GMV — Gross Merchandise Value; total value of all transactions processed through the Platform.
• Material Change — any amendment to this Policy that significantly affects User rights, fees, or obligations.

3.1 Authorisation & Confirmation

All payments require explicit Buyer authorisation. An order is confirmed only upon receipt of a successful payment authorisation code and issuance of an ORN. Email confirmation is dispatched within 15 minutes. Pending or failed transactions do not constitute confirmed orders and carry no contractual effect.

3.2 Supplier Settlement Schedule

• Standard B2B Orders: 3–7 business days after confirmed delivery or milestone acceptance.
• Enterprise Contract Orders: per negotiated payment milestones in the Purchase Agreement.
• Subscription / SaaS Fees: on the scheduled billing date, subject to successful collection.
• Disputed Orders: settlement withheld pending resolution per Chapter D of this Policy.
• Refunded Orders: net settlement adjusted; any already-disbursed amounts subject to clawback per Section 9.

3.3 Payment Failures

Where a payment fails after order placement, XB2BX.COM will attempt re-authorisation up to two times within 24 hours. If unsuccessful, the order is automatically cancelled and the Buyer notified. No goods will be dispatched and no contract formed where payment has not been successfully confirmed.

All prices are displayed in the Seller's nominated currency. Buyers may view indicative converted amounts for informational purposes only. The transaction settles in the Seller's nominated currency unless a dual-currency agreement exists in writing.

Where currency conversion is applied, XB2BX.COM uses the mid-market exchange rate at the time of transaction plus a conversion margin of up to 1.5%. Buyers should verify applicable rates with their bank or card issuer, as additional charges may apply at the issuing end.

All fees are exclusive of applicable VAT, GST, or withholding taxes. Tax obligations are borne by the relevant User in accordance with local law. Fee changes will be communicated with a minimum of 30 days' written notice.

XB2BX.COM operates a mandatory Escrow Protection Program for qualifying transactions. Buyer funds are held in a segregated escrow account and released only upon verified fulfilment of agreed conditions.

6.1 Escrow Release Conditions

• Buyer confirms receipt and acceptance of goods or services via the platform dashboard.
• Automatic release is triggered 7 business days after confirmed delivery if no dispute is raised.
• Milestone-based contracts: each milestone payment released upon written Buyer acceptance.
• Early release may be authorised by the Buyer at any time via the platform.
• Where a dispute is raised, funds remain frozen until the dispute is resolved per Chapter D.

6.2 Buyer Protection Guarantee

7.1 Buyer Cancellations

7.2 Seller-Initiated Cancellations

Sellers may cancel confirmed orders only in the following circumstances: (a) goods are confirmed out of stock and no substitute is available; (b) the Buyer's payment has not cleared within the authorised window; (c) an export licence or regulatory approval has been refused; (d) the order contains a material error (e.g., pricing error acknowledged by both parties).

Where a Seller cancels a confirmed order without a valid reason, the Seller will be subject to a cancellation penalty of up to 5% of the order value, automatic negative platform rating, and potential suspension of the Seller account. The Buyer receives a full refund including all processing fees.

7.3 Subscription Cancellations

• Subscription services may be cancelled at any time via the platform dashboard.
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle; no pro-rata refund is issued for the remaining period.
• Annual subscriptions cancelled within 14 days of initial purchase are entitled to a full refund, provided no premium features have been used.
• Downgrading from a higher plan tier is effective from the next billing cycle.

8.1 Standard Return Eligibility

Buyers may request a return of physical goods within the following windows, provided the goods meet the stated conditions. The return window begins from the date of confirmed delivery as recorded by the Platform's logistics system.

8.2 Non-Returnable Items

• Custom-manufactured, personalised, or bespoke goods made to Buyer's specifications.
• Perishable goods, hazardous materials, and goods with expired shelf life.
• Unsealed software, licences, or digital goods once delivered or activated.
• Goods that have been used, modified, or damaged by the Buyer after delivery.
• Goods expressly marked "final sale" or "non-returnable" on the product listing, provided this designation complied with applicable consumer law.

8.3 Return Process

8.4 Return Shipping Costs

• Defective / Damaged / Not-as-Described: Seller bears full return shipping cost.
• Buyer Change of Mind (within 7 days): Buyer bears return shipping cost unless Seller's listing explicitly offered free returns.
• Seller Error (wrong item sent): Seller bears all return and re-dispatch costs.
• International Returns: Customs duties on returned goods are Buyer's responsibility unless the return is due to Seller error or defect.

9.1 Refund Categories

9.2 Refund Eligibility Conditions

9.3 Refund Processing Timelines

• Credit/Debit Cards: 5–10 business days to appear on statement (subject to issuing bank processing time).
• PayPal / Stripe / Digital Wallets: 1–3 business days.
• Bank Wire / SWIFT: 3–7 business days.
• Platform Credits: Instant upon approval.
• Cryptocurrency: 1–3 business days on-chain, subject to network conditions.

9.4 Non-Refundable Items & Deductions

The following are non-refundable in all circumstances: (a) platform subscription fees for current billing cycle; (b) currency conversion margins already applied; (c) wire transfer handling fees; (d) custom manufacturing costs where production has commenced; (e) digital goods once delivered and activated; (f) goods damaged through Buyer misuse or negligence post-delivery.

XB2BX.COM reserves the right to apply a restocking fee of up to 15% of the order value for change-of-mind returns where Sellers have explicitly stated such a fee in their product listing. Any such fee must be clearly disclosed prior to purchase.

Where a Buyer elects to receive a replacement rather than a refund, the following framework governs the replacement process. Replacement is subject to product availability. If the item is no longer available, a full refund is provided automatically.

10.1 Replacement Eligibility

• Goods arrived damaged or with visible defects confirmed by photographic evidence.
• Goods are non-conforming with the agreed product specification or sample.
• Wrong item delivered by the Seller.
• Goods develop a manufacturing defect within 30 days of delivery.
• Latent manufacturing defects identified within 90 days, subject to inspection report.

10.2 Replacement Process & Timelines

• Buyer must formally request replacement via the platform within the applicable return window.
• Seller must confirm acceptance and dispatch the replacement within 10 business days of receiving the returned defective goods.
• If the Seller fails to dispatch within the stated timeline, a full refund is automatically issued.
• Replacement goods carry the same warranty and return entitlements as the original order.
• Sellers who repeatedly fail to meet replacement obligations may have their account reviewed and listings delisted.

11.1 Grounds for Dispute

Any Buyer may formally open a dispute on any of the following grounds: (a) non-delivery; (b) significant not-as-described; (c) damaged or defective goods; (d) quality substantially below agreed specification; (e) Seller misrepresentation; (f) duplicate charge or billing error; (g) unauthorised transaction.

11.2 Resolution Stages

11.3 Evidence Standards

• All evidence must be submitted in unedited form; manipulated images or documents will result in immediate determination against the submitting party.
• Timestamped photographs and videos carry the highest evidentiary weight.
• Third-party inspection reports from qualified professionals are accepted and weighted accordingly.
• Platform chat and communication logs are automatically preserved and available to the Dispute Resolution Team.

A chargeback initiated by a Buyer with their card issuer or bank, while a platform dispute is simultaneously open or has been resolved, constitutes misuse of the financial system and a material breach of this Policy.

12.1 Chargeback Consequences

• Immediate suspension of the User account pending investigation.
• A chargeback administration fee of $35 per incident will be applied to the responsible party.
• Where a chargeback is upheld by the bank in a case already resolved in the Seller's favour on the Platform, the Buyer's account will be debited for the recovered amount plus fees.
• Repeated or abusive chargeback behaviour results in permanent account termination and referral to relevant financial crime units.
• Sellers: if a chargeback is upheld against you, the full chargeback amount plus any bank penalty is recovered from your escrowed or future earnings.

The Platform deploys the following fraud prevention infrastructure across all transactions in real time:

14.1 User Security Obligations

• All payment-enabled accounts must have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled. Accounts without 2FA may have payment functionality restricted.
• Users must use strong, unique passwords and must not reuse passwords from other platforms.
• Sharing account credentials with any third party is strictly prohibited and voids all fraud liability protections.
• Users must ensure all payment instruments used on the Platform are legitimately owned or authorised by them.
• Any suspected unauthorised access or suspicious account activity must be reported to security@xb2bx.com within 24 hours of discovery.
• Users are liable for any transactions initiated during any period of unauthorised access caused by the User's failure to maintain account security.

14.2 Data Security Standards

XB2BX.COM is certified to PCI DSS Level 1. We do not store full card numbers, CVV codes, or sensitive authentication data. All payment data is tokenised and processed via certified gateway partners. Bank account details provided for wire transfers are encrypted at rest using AES-256. All data in transit uses TLS 1.3 minimum.

15.1 Seller-Specific Standards

• Sellers must ensure all product listings are accurate, complete, and not misleading as to specification, origin, quality, or price.
• Sellers must hold all required business registrations, licences, and permits relevant to the goods offered for sale.
• Sellers must not knowingly sell counterfeit, stolen, or infringing goods. Discovery of any such listing results in immediate removal, account suspension, and potential criminal referral.
• Sellers must fulfil confirmed orders promptly and within the stated dispatch timeline, or notify Buyers and the Platform immediately of any delay.
• Sellers must process valid refund and return requests in accordance with this Policy without undue delay or obstruction.

15.2 Buyer-Specific Standards

• Buyers must use payment instruments that are legitimately owned or authorised.
• Buyers must not submit false or exaggerated defect or dispute claims.
• Buyers must not abuse the Platform's Buyer Protection Guarantee or chargeback mechanisms.
• Buyers must inspect goods promptly upon delivery and raise any issues within the applicable timeframes.

16.1 Absolutely Prohibited

16.2 Restricted Categories

The following categories require prior approval, enhanced documentation, or are subject to specific terms. Sellers wishing to list in restricted categories must contact compliance@xb2bx.com prior to listing:

• Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare products — require applicable regulatory approval documentation.
• Food and beverage products — require relevant food safety certifications and labelling compliance.
• Chemicals, industrial gases, and hazardous materials — require MSDS sheets, UN transport classifications, and any applicable export licence.
• Dual-use technologies and controlled goods — subject to export control verification per applicable national law.
• Financial instruments, securities, or investment products — require applicable financial regulatory authorisation.
• Tobacco, vaping products, and alcohol — require age verification protocols and applicable excise compliance.

16.3 Enforcement

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in: (a) listing removal; (b) account suspension (temporary or permanent); (c) forfeiture of escrowed or outstanding settlement funds; (d) recovery of costs incurred by XB2BX.COM; (e) civil proceedings; and/or (f) criminal referral. The severity of enforcement action is determined by the nature, frequency, and impact of the violation.

This section is issued in compliance with Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. XB2BX.COM Ltd publishes an annual Modern Slavery Transparency Statement available at xb2bx.com/legal/modern-slavery. This Policy supplements that statement.

17.1 Our Commitments

• We prohibit the use of forced, compulsory, bonded, trafficked, or child labour anywhere in our operations or supply chain.
• We conduct due diligence on high-risk Suppliers through our KYB onboarding process, including beneficial ownership verification and supply chain questionnaires.
• We provide training to relevant Platform staff on identifying indicators of modern slavery in trade transactions.
• We operate a confidential reporting mechanism (ethics@xb2bx.com) for the reporting of suspected modern slavery.
• We cooperate fully with law enforcement and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in any investigation of modern slavery linked to Platform transactions.

17.2 Seller Obligations

• All Sellers warrant that goods offered for sale have not been produced, in whole or in part, through forced, trafficked, bonded, or child labour.
• Sellers of goods in high-risk industries (garment manufacturing, electronics, agriculture, construction, mining) must provide supply chain transparency documentation upon request.
• Sellers must maintain their own appropriate due diligence policies in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking within their supply chains.
• Any Seller found to have knowingly or recklessly traded in goods produced through exploitation will be permanently banned and reported to the National Referral Mechanism and relevant law enforcement.

17.3 Reporting Suspected Exploitation

Any User who suspects that goods listed or sold on the Platform have been produced through modern slavery or labour exploitation must report this immediately to ethics@xb2bx.com. Reports are treated with strict confidentiality. XB2BX.COM will investigate all credible reports and take appropriate action, including listing removal, account suspension, and law enforcement referral.

XB2BX.COM operates in strict compliance with the UK Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and all applicable anti-corruption legislation in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

18.1 Prohibited Conduct

• Offering, promising, giving, requesting, agreeing to receive, or receiving any financial or other advantage intended to improperly influence a business decision or public official.
• Facilitation payments — payments made to public officials to expedite routine actions — are strictly prohibited, regardless of local custom or market practice.
• Providing or accepting gifts, hospitality, or entertainment of excessive value in connection with Platform business where this could be perceived as an attempt to influence.
• Entering into arrangements with third parties (agents, intermediaries, distributors) where any part of any payment is known or suspected to be a bribe.

18.2 User Obligations

All Sellers operating on XB2BX.COM warrant that they maintain, implement, and enforce their own adequate procedures to prevent bribery as required by applicable law. Sellers must immediately disclose to XB2BX.COM any request for, or payment of, a bribe in connection with any transaction on the Platform at compliance@xb2bx.com. Failure to disclose constitutes a material breach of these terms.

XB2BX.COM processes personal and financial data in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and analogous legislation globally. Our full Privacy Policy is available at xb2bx.com/legal/privacy.

19.1 Payment Data We Collect

• Transaction metadata: amount, currency, timestamp, order ID, payment method type.
• Billing address and identity information for fraud prevention and KYC/KYB compliance.
• Bank account details (IBANs/account numbers) for wire transfers — encrypted at rest using AES-256.
• Device fingerprints and IP addresses for fraud scoring and security purposes.
• Communications and dispute submissions retained for evidence and compliance purposes.

19.2 Data Retention

Transaction data is retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of the transaction in compliance with tax, AML, and financial reporting obligations. After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised. Users requesting erasure of data that falls within mandatory retention periods will be informed accordingly.

19.3 User Rights

Submit data rights requests to privacy@xb2bx.com with proof of identity. Response within 30 calendar days (GDPR/UK GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA). California residents additionally have the right to opt out of any "sale" of personal information — XB2BX.COM does not sell personal data.

XB2BX.COM maintains strict compliance with all applicable international sanctions regimes, anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) requirements.

20.1 Prohibited Parties & Transactions

• Users appearing on OFAC (US), UN, EU, or UK Consolidated Sanctions Lists are prohibited from accessing or transacting on the Platform.
• Transactions with parties in comprehensively sanctioned countries are strictly prohibited.
• Shell companies, nominees, or structures designed to obscure beneficial ownership are prohibited from onboarding.
• Transactions involving prohibited goods (weapons, narcotics, CSAM) are automatically blocked and reported to authorities.

20.2 KYC / KYB Requirements

All Sellers and high-value Buyers are subject to mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) / Know Your Business (KYB) verification before payment capabilities are activated. This includes: government-issued identity verification; business registration documents; beneficial ownership declarations; and source of funds declarations for transactions above applicable thresholds. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) applies to accounts with monthly transaction volumes exceeding USD $50,000 and to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

20.3 Suspicious Activity Reporting

XB2BX.COM is required by law to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with relevant Financial Intelligence Units where we have reasonable grounds to suspect money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions evasion. We are prohibited by law from disclosing ("tipping off") any User that a SAR has been filed in connection with their account.

21.1 Tax Obligations

• XB2BX.COM collects and remits VAT/GST where required by law as a deemed marketplace supplier (EU VAT OSS, UK VAT, Australian GST, and equivalent regimes).
• Buyers are responsible for import duties, customs clearance fees, and local consumption taxes not collected at point of sale.
• Sellers are solely responsible for income tax, corporate tax, withholding tax, and any other tax obligations on their earnings from the Platform.
• Annual transaction summaries are available to all Users for tax filing purposes via the platform dashboard.

21.2 Export Controls

Certain goods traded on the Platform may be subject to export control regulations, including the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR), EU Dual-Use Regulation, UK Export Control Order, and equivalent national controls. Sellers of controlled items must maintain all required export licences and remain solely liable for all export compliance violations. XB2BX.COM reserves the right to block transactions involving controlled goods pending licence verification.

22.1 Platform Liability Limitations

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, XB2BX.COM's total aggregate liability arising from any payment transaction shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the transaction value in dispute; or (b) USD $5,000. XB2BX.COM is not liable for indirect, consequential, punitive, or incidental damages, including loss of profit, loss of business, or loss of data arising from Platform use. Nothing in this Policy limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation.

22.2 User Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless XB2BX.COM Ltd, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (i) breach of this Policy; (ii) fraudulent or unauthorised transactions; (iii) violation of applicable law; (iv) disputes with other Users; or (v) infringement of any third-party intellectual property or other rights.

XB2BX.COM reserves the right to update, modify, or replace this Policy at any time. Material changes are communicated as follows:

• Email notification to all registered Users at least 30 days prior to material amendments taking effect.
• Platform banner notification visible upon login for at least 14 days following updated policy publication.
• Version history is maintained and accessible at xb2bx.com/legal/policy-history.
• Minor amendments (typographical corrections, clarifications that do not affect User rights) may take effect immediately and are noted in the version changelog.
• Continued use of the Platform following the effective date of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

If you do not agree to any amendments, you must cease use of the Platform and contact support@xb2bx.com to arrange account closure and settlement of any outstanding amounts.

For any questions, complaints, reports, or concerns relating to this Policy, please contact the relevant team. Standard response: 2 business days. Urgent security matters: 24 hours.