Rider Terms of Service

Last updated: 28 June 2026

1. About these terms

1.1 These Rider Terms of Service (“Terms”) form a legally binding agreement between you (“Rider”, “you”) and Upstart Forge Limited, trading as FairTaxi (registered business name RBN 786959), a private company limited by shares incorporated in Ireland on 28 May 2026 (company number 817002), registered office at 22 Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Co Dublin, D13 P652, VAT number IE 4744030VH, holder of National Transport Authority (NTA) dispatch operator licence DH12674 (“FairTaxi”, “we”, “us”, “our”). Contact: complaints@fairtaxi.ie (general and complaints), privacy@fairtaxi.ie (privacy enquiries), support@fairtaxi.ie (support), +353 89 965 3357.

1.2 By creating an account or using the FairTaxi mobile application (the “App”), you confirm that you accept these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.

1.3 We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or in-app notice. Your continued use after the change takes effect constitutes acceptance.

2. FairTaxi is a platform, not a transport provider

2.1 FairTaxi provides a software platform that connects Riders with independent licensed taxi and hackney drivers (“Drivers”). FairTaxi is a technology intermediary and licensed dispatch operator only.

2.2 FairTaxi is not:

• a transport provider or carrier of passengers;
• an employer, agent, or partner of any Driver;
• a payment processor or financial institution.

2.3 The contract for the journey is made directly between you and the Driver. FairTaxi is not a party to that contract. The Driver is solely responsible for the performance of the ride, including compliance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and all applicable NTA regulations.

2.4 FairTaxi may display an estimated fare in the App before you book. This estimate is for convenience only and is not binding. The final fare is determined exclusively by the Driver’s licensed taximeter (or, for hackneys, the fare agreed between you and the Driver) and must comply with the maximum fares set by the National Transport Authority.

3. Who may use the App

3.1 You must be at least 18 years old and reside in Ireland. The App and the FairTaxi service are not directed at, or intended for, anyone under 18.

3.2 You must use a lawful payment instrument (card or other payment method) for any rides paid via the App.

4. Account creation and security

4.1 You create an account by verifying your phone number via a one-time passcode (OTP) sent by SMS. You must provide accurate information and keep it up to date.

4.2 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. If you suspect unauthorised use, you must notify us immediately.

4.3 We may suspend or terminate your account at any time if you breach these Terms, engage in prohibited conduct, or if we reasonably believe you pose a safety or fraud risk.

5. Booking a ride

5.1 When you request a ride through the App, nearby Drivers may accept the request. A booking is formed only when a Driver accepts. The App will show you the Driver’s name, vehicle registration, and estimated arrival time.

5.2 Cancellation by Rider (the “Cancellation Fee”)

• You may cancel a ride at any time before a Driver accepts it, at no charge.
• Cancellations within 2 minutes of a Driver accepting are free.
• If you cancel more than 2 minutes after a Driver accepts your request, a Cancellation Fee of €5.00 applies. This fee compensates the Driver for time and distance travelled.
• The Cancellation Fee is paid to the Driver, captured to the Driver’s Stripe Connect account for App card payments, or settled directly with the Driver for cash or Driver-terminal rides. FairTaxi receives no part of it.

5.3 No-show (the “No-Show Fee”)

If you fail to appear at the pickup point within the minimum wait window after the Driver arrives, the Driver may mark the ride as a passenger no-show and a No-Show Fee of €5.00 applies. This is the same €5.00 charge as the Cancellation Fee, seen from the driver side; it is not an additional or larger charge. Like the Cancellation Fee, it is paid to the Driver (captured via the Driver’s Stripe Connect account, or settled directly for cash or Driver-terminal rides) and FairTaxi receives no part of it. We may also suspend Riders who repeatedly fail to show.

5.4 When neither fee applies (exceptions)

No Cancellation Fee or No-Show Fee is payable where the cancellation or no-show is attributable to Driver fault, including where the Driver is late beyond a reasonable time, the Driver does not show, the Driver goes to the wrong pickup location, the vehicle is unsuitable or not accessible as required, or there is a genuine safety concern. Where a Cancellation Fee or No-Show Fee has been captured, FairTaxi may reverse it to you after review under the dispute process in Section 7 if the capture was not justified (for example, where the evidence does not place the Driver at the pickup point for the wait window, or the Driver’s location data was flagged as unreliable). Any such reversal is made on the platform and is without prejudice to your separate legal remedies.

6. Fares and payment

6.1 Fare determination. The final fare is set by the Driver’s taximeter (or, for hackney journeys, by prior agreement). Fares must comply with NTA regulations, including the maximum fare order. The App may show an estimate; it is never a guaranteed price.

6.2 Payment methods. You may pay for a ride in one of three ways:

• Cash - paid directly to the Driver in the vehicle.
• Driver’s own card terminal (e.g. SumUp) - presented in the vehicle.
• Saved card via the App - if you select “pay by saved card” in the App, FairTaxi facilitates the card charge as a technical intermediary. The charge is processed on the Driver’s Stripe Connect account; the Driver is the merchant of record. Funds settle directly to the Driver. FairTaxi does not hold, receive, or control the ride money at any point.

6.3 Authorisation. You authorise the Driver, acting as merchant of record via Stripe Connect, to charge the fare and any applicable Cancellation Fee or No-Show Fee to your selected payment method. FairTaxi does not charge fares on its own behalf.

6.4 No 14-day withdrawal right. Under the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 484 of 2013), regulation 6(2)(l), contracts for passenger transport services are exempt from the 14-day right of withdrawal that applies to most distance contracts. Accordingly, no cooling-off or 14-day withdrawal right applies to a booked ride. This does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer (see Section 14.6) or the cancellation rules in Section 5.

6.5 Receipts. For App card payments, Stripe will issue a receipt on behalf of the Driver. FairTaxi may also provide a summary in the App. For cash or Driver-terminal payments, the Driver must provide a receipt on request.

6.6 FairTaxi does not own, hold, or control the ride fare at any time. The fare goes directly to the Driver. FairTaxi is not responsible for payment disputes that arise from a ride fare, except to the limited extent described in Section 7.

7. Ride disputes and refunds

7.1 If you believe the fare was incorrect, or if there is a dispute about the journey (e.g. route, vehicle condition, Driver conduct), you may use the in-app dispute feature. You can mark a ride payment as “disputed” and attach up to 5 photos. FairTaxi staff may review the dispute as a neutral intermediary.

7.2 FairTaxi’s role in disputes. We provide a best-effort customer service facility. We are not an arbitrator or a court. We make no guarantee that any particular dispute will be resolved to your satisfaction. Any resolution we assist with is without prejudice to your legal rights.

7.3 Refund policy by payment method:

• Cash rides - FairTaxi cannot issue a refund. Any monetary remedy must be agreed directly between you and the Driver.
• Driver-terminal rides - FairTaxi cannot issue a refund; the refund must be processed by the Driver using their terminal.
• App card payment rides - The Driver is the merchant of record for card payments. If we determine a refund is appropriate, we may facilitate a refund on the Driver’s behalf through Stripe. The refunded funds come solely from the Driver’s Stripe Connect balance, not from FairTaxi. Our ability to facilitate a refund depends on the Driver’s available balance. If no balance is available, we cannot compel a refund, but we may suspend the Driver’s access to the platform.

7.4 Complaints. If you have a complaint, contact us first at complaints@fairtaxi.ie and we will try to resolve it. If your complaint as a consumer is not resolved, you may refer it to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) at www.ccpc.ie. You also have the right to escalate any complaint about the Driver’s conduct, overcharging, vehicle condition, or other regulated matters directly to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA consumer complaint form is available at: https://forms.nationaltransport.ie/en/consumer-complaint. We will clearly signpost these routes in the App. Filing a dispute with us does not affect your right to complain to the CCPC or the NTA.

7.5 Any refunds issued are without admission of liability by FairTaxi.

8. Safety

8.1 FairTaxi provides an in-app Emergency Button. Tapping this button sends an alert to our safety team, who will attempt to contact you and the Driver. The Emergency Button does not call the emergency services (999 or 112). In any situation involving immediate danger, a threat to life, or a crime in progress, you must dial 999 or 112 directly yourself.

8.2 You may share your live trip with a trusted contact via the in-app “Share Trip” feature. You are responsible for choosing whom to share it with.

8.3 You must not use the App to engage in, facilitate, or plan any illegal activity. Any misuse may result in immediate termination and referral to An Garda Síochána.

9. Acceptable use and prohibited conduct

9.1 You must comply with our Acceptable Use / Community Guidelines, which form part of these Terms. A copy is available in the App and on our website.

9.2 In particular, you must not:

• threaten, harass, or discriminate against any Driver;
• upload false or misleading dispute photos, or any illegal or abusive content;
• use a stolen or unauthorised payment method;
• interfere with the App’s operation or attempt to reverse-engineer it.

9.3 We may suspend or terminate your account for any breach of this section, without refund of any fees you may have paid (if any).

10. Privacy and data

10.1 We process your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy, which is available in the App and on our website. The Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why, how long we keep it, and your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.

10.2 In summary, under GDPR you have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and port your data, as well as the right to object to processing and to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.

11. Limitation of liability

In summary: FairTaxi is a technology intermediary, not the carrier. We are not liable for the Driver’s conduct, the vehicle, or the fare; our total liability is capped as set out below; and nothing here limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud.

11.1 This section sets out the entire financial liability of FairTaxi (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its employees, agents, and subcontractors) to you under or in connection with these Terms.

11.2 No liability for Drivers or rides. FairTaxi is a technology platform. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from:

• the conduct or performance of a Driver;
• the condition or insurance of any vehicle;
• the accuracy of any fare displayed or charged;
• any act or omission of a Driver, including overcharging, refusal to carry, or breach of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013;
• any payment dispute or inability to obtain a refund from a Driver.

11.3 Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by our negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
• any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

11.4 Subject to clause 11.3, FairTaxi’s total aggregate liability to you arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall not exceed €100 (one hundred euro). FairTaxi charges Riders no fee for use of the platform; the fare and any Cancellation Fee or No-Show Fee are paid to the Driver, not to FairTaxi.

11.5 FairTaxi shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or special losses, including loss of profit, revenue, business opportunity, or data, however caused.

11.6 You acknowledge that the limitations in this section are fair and reasonable, reflecting the fact that FairTaxi charges Riders no fee for using the platform and acts only as an intermediary.

12. Indemnity

12.1 You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FairTaxi and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

• your breach of these Terms;
• your misuse of the App;
• your violation of any applicable law, including the Taxi Regulation Act 2013; or
• any injury, death, or property damage caused by your conduct during a ride.

13. Termination

13.1 You may stop using the App at any time. To close your account, contact us via the App or at support@fairtaxi.ie. We will process the closure in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

13.2 We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without notice, if:

• you breach a material provision of these Terms and, where remediable, fail to remedy it within 7 days of notice;
• we reasonably believe your conduct poses a safety, fraud, or legal risk; or
• we are required to do so by law or by a competent authority.

14. General

14.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Acceptable Use / Community Guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and FairTaxi regarding the use of the App.

14.2 Severance. If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

14.3 No waiver. Our failure to enforce any right is not a waiver.

14.4 Governing law and jurisdiction. These Terms are governed by Irish law. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

14.5 Contact. For questions, contact us at support@fairtaxi.ie.

14.6 Your statutory rights. Nothing in these Terms affects your non-excludable statutory rights as a consumer under Irish or EU law. Where any provision of these Terms conflicts with such rights, those rights prevail.