Payment Terms

These Payment Terms supplement InstantNode's Terms and Conditions and apply to all orders of hosting, server, infrastructure and other digital services, unless otherwise agreed in an individual case.

1. Prices and Taxes

The prices shown in the order process at the time of the order apply. All prices are end prices and include German value-added tax at the statutory rate of 19%; the net amount and the value-added tax are shown separately on the invoice. Value-added tax is accounted for when the panel balance is topped up, so subsequent internal charges against balance that has already been taxed do not attract value-added tax again. External balance top-ups or top-up invoices, and subsequent internal charges against the already topped-up panel balance, are made in accordance with the rate information displayed in the panel in each case.

2. Due Date

Unless otherwise stated in the order process, charges for balance top-ups and other prepaid products are due immediately upon conclusion of the contract. The provision or continuation of a service requires that either the selected top-up amount has been paid in full or that sufficient panel balance is available for the specific service.

3. Accepted Means of Payment

InstantNode accepts only the means of payment offered in the order process and in the customer account. There is no entitlement to the provision of a particular means of payment. InstantNode is entitled to exclude individual payment methods in individual cases for objective reasons.

4. Panel Balance

Balance can be topped up in euros using the offered means of payment and is credited to the customer account once payment has been received in full. The balance serves exclusively to pay for InstantNode services; it is not e-money, not a means of payment towards third parties, non-transferable and does not bear interest. Topped-up balance does not expire and remains available for bookings without time limit.

Balance and any remaining balance are not paid out in money. The balance is prepaid credit for services rendered by InstantNode itself within a limited network; the exclusion of a cash payout is what keeps it outside the scope of e-money and payment services regulation (ZAG), and it also helps prevent money laundering and fraud. The statutory right of withdrawal of consumers regarding a balance top-up and other mandatory statutory claims remain unaffected. Promotional, bonus or free credit is excluded from any payout or refund and may be revoked in cases of abuse.

Topped-up balance is not forfeited. Before an account deletion requested by the customer we point out any remaining balance; on request the account can be kept open without active services so that the balance remains usable. If the customer nevertheless insists on deletion, the claim to the credit continues to exist within the statutory limitation period and can be reactivated by contacting us. If InstantNode terminates for good cause attributable to the customer, InstantNode may set off claims for damages and reimbursement of expenses against the remaining balance; the balance itself is not forfeited.

5. Default

If the customer is in default with payments due, the statutory default provisions apply. InstantNode is entitled, following a prior reminder and a reasonable period being set, to temporarily suspend services if outstanding claims are not settled and no mandatory statutory rights stand in the way. For prepaid services, InstantNode may refuse the provision of new services or the renewal of ongoing services from balance as long as there is no sufficient balance or settlement of payment. The right to assert further statutory claims remains unaffected.

6. Returned Direct Debits, Chargebacks and Third-Party Costs

If InstantNode incurs costs due to returned direct debits, unjustified payment reversals or comparable chargebacks for which the customer is responsible, InstantNode may demand reimbursement of the third-party costs actually incurred and necessary. The customer remains entitled to prove that no damage or substantially lower damage has occurred.

7. Set-off and Right of Retention

The customer may only set off against counterclaims that are legally established, undisputed or ready for decision. The customer may only assert a right of retention insofar as it is based on claims arising from the same contractual relationship. Consumers' rights in respect of defects remain unaffected.

8. Invoices and Provision

Invoices may be provided electronically in the customer account or transmitted by email. This applies in particular to balance top-ups as well as other billing-relevant credits or charges, insofar as invoicing is provided for in the panel. The customer is obliged to keep the stored email address up to date and to back up the provided invoicing documents themselves, insofar as no statutory retention obligations of InstantNode stand in the way.

9. Refunds

Refunds under the statutory right of withdrawal are always made using the same means of payment used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise with the customer.

Outside the statutory right of withdrawal, panel balance is not paid out (section 4). Refunds for incorrect bookings, goodwill cases or remaining pro-rata periods are granted as a credit to the panel balance in accordance with the rules on the Right of Withdrawal page. Services already consumed are non-refundable, subject to mandatory statutory rights.