The legal framework of the payment services contract
The relationship between a consumer and a payment service provider is built on the consumer-rights chapter of the Georgian Law on Payment Systems and Payment Services: these norms define what information and conditions the provider must agree with the consumer, how a payment is authorized, within what deadlines a payment order is executed, who answers for non-performance, and how unauthorized operations and complaints are resolved. A contract's text cannot replace these norms — it reflects them and cannot concede less than they guarantee in the consumer's favor.
Information and agreement with the consumer
Under point 1 of Article 20 of the law, the provider must, under the National Bank's procedure, supply the consumer with information and/or conclude an agreement covering the terms of the service — including the terms of provision, tariffs, and the rights and duties of the consumer and the provider. The provider may not charge the consumer a commission for providing information, nor for corrective or preventive measures to avoid an unauthorized or incorrectly executed operation — except for the exceptions provided by law, which are redeemed as a pre-agreed and reasonable commission. Where the payer's and the payee's providers operate in Georgia, each party pays its own provider's commission. The National Bank may set the manner of providing information on every commission paid by the consumer. With legal persons meeting defined criteria, the provider and such consumers may agree by contract on a different regime — toward consumer natural persons this possibility does not exist.
Authorization of a payment operation
Under Article 22 of the law, a payment operation is considered authorized only where the payer's consent exists. Authorization is possible before or after execution where an agreement so provides; consent is given in the agreed form and may be given through the payee or a payment initiation service provider. The payer may withdraw consent at any time — but no later than the moment of execution established by law; any operation carried out after withdrawal is considered unauthorized. The consent procedure must be agreed between the payer and the provider — it is precisely this procedure that makes it possible to trace disputed operations.
Execution deadlines
Article 26 of the law regulates deadlines precisely. Where the payer and the payee are customers of the same provider, the amount must be reflected on the payee's account on the day the payment order is received. Where they have different providers, the payer's provider transfers the amount to the payee provider's account no later than the next banking day, and the payee's provider reflects the credited amount on the payee's account on the day of crediting — or, if that day is a non-working day for it, no later than the next working day. The value date on the amount cannot precede the debit of the payer's account. If the payee's provider cannot identify the payee, the amount is returned under the National Bank's procedure. On a cash deposit to an account or an exchange into electronic money, the provider credits the amount immediately, while cash collected for a legal person becomes available no later than the next working day. The payer may request a confirmed document of execution.