Cancellation: free up to 2 hours before departure · €1.00 between 2 hours and 15 minutes before · no longer possible in the last 15 minutes (section 6).
No-show: €2.00 if you don't show up, charged 15 minutes after the departure time (section 6.2).
Repeated late cancellations and no-shows lead to temporary suspension of your Account (section 7). You can contest any charge by writing to info@sciame.cloud.
1. Purpose and definitions
These General Terms of Use (the "Terms") govern access to and use of the sciame.cloud website and the Sciame mobile app (together, the "Platform").
The Platform is operated by Luca Paratore, a natural person and founder of the Sciame project, with operating address c/o Incubatore d'Impresa POINT — Polo per l'Innovazione Tecnologica, via Pasubio 5 (corner of via Einstein), 24044 Dalmine (BG), Italy.
Definitions
- User: a natural person who accesses the website or registers an Account in the app.
- Account: the User's personal registration on the Sciame app.
- App: the Sciame mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play.
- Sciamere(s): the other registered Users you share a ride with.
- Creator: the User who publishes a shared ride, makes the arrangement with the taxi driver, and physically pays the metered fare.
- Passenger: the User who joins a ride already published by a Creator.
- Service fee: the amount owed to Sciame for use of the Platform, governed by section 5.
- Full Commercial Launch: the future activation of all matching and payment features (virtual Sciame Card via Apple Pay / Google Pay, Polline Rewards, Verified Profile).
2. Nature of the service
Sciame provides two distinct services:
- The sciame.cloud website: presents the project, describes the business model, and collects expressions of interest (newsletter, taxi driver form, events form).
- The Sciame app: allows Users to register, activate matching with other Sciameres heading to the same destination, pay for the ride through the integrated payment provider (see section 5), and — where applicable — make in-app purchases.
Sciame is a fintech matching and payment-splitting service, not a transport service. Sciame is not, and will not be, a party to the transport contract between the User and the taxi driver, in full compliance with Italian Law 21/92. The taxi driver collects 100% of the metered fare.
3. Registration and Account
To use the Sciame app you must be 18 years of age or older. By registering you represent and warrant that you are.
You agree to provide truthful information, keep your password safe, not create more than one Account, and inform us of any unauthorized use of your Account.
4. Using the app
The Sciame app is free to download. Once you have registered your Account you can:
- create your Account and manage your profile;
- publish destinations and times to find other Sciameres heading to your same area;
- get in touch with the other members of the group via the in-app chat and actually share a taxi;
- pay for the shared ride through the integrated payment provider (see section 5);
- cancel a booking according to the rules and time windows in section 6;
- make any in-app purchases or take out subscriptions (see section 8);
- send us feedback about your experience at info@sciame.cloud.
The app is under continuous development: features may change, be temporarily unavailable, or be introduced gradually. Sciame does not guarantee the absence of errors or uninterrupted availability of the service.
Advertising: the app may display advertisements served by Google AdMob. See the Privacy Policy for details on data collection and personalization options.
5. Payments, fees and costs
When you take part in a shared ride in the app, payment is handled through Stripe, a payment service provider certified PCI-DSS Level 1. Your full card details never pass through Sciame's servers: they are sent directly to Stripe via a certified SDK.
5.1 Roles in the ride
- Creator: the User who publishes the ride, makes the arrangement with the taxi driver, and physically pays the metered fare. They then receive the other participants' shares through the Platform.
- Passenger: the User who joins a ride already published and pays their own share through the Platform.
5.2 Service fee
Sciame applies a service fee of 5% of the individual share, with a minimum of €0.50 per User. The fee is owed both by the Creator and by each Passenger, applied in different ways:
| Role | How it is applied | Example (€5.00 share) |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger | The fee is added on top of your share. You pay share + fee. | You pay €5.50 (€5.00 + €0.50) |
| Creator | The fee is withheld from the amount you receive, once per ride on your personal share. | You receive €4.50 (€5.00 − €0.50) |
The fee pays for the matching service, payment handling, and the Platform's infrastructure. The transaction fees charged by Stripe are borne by Sciame and are not charged to you.
Pre-contractual transparency: before you confirm your participation in a ride, the app shows you a summary screen with the estimated amount of your share and the applicable fee. No cost is charged to you before this explicit confirmation.
5.3 Payment method
You agree to provide valid payment methods that you own or are authorized to use. When you book, a payment method is registered; the actual charge takes place according to the steps described in the app (authorization at check-in, charge at the end of the ride).
For details on the data handled by Stripe, see the Privacy Policy.
6. Cancellations, penalties and no-shows
Ride sharing only works if the participants show up. Late cancellations and no-shows harm the other Users, who are left without the group they expected. For this reason, the following rules apply; they are shown to you in the app before you confirm the booking and again at the time of any cancellation.
6.1 Cancellation windows
| When you cancel | Cost | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| More than 2 hours before the departure time | Free | No charge. No consequences for your Account. |
| Between 2 hours and 15 minutes before departure | €1.00 | Late-cancellation penalty, charged to the registered payment method. The event is recorded for the purposes of section 7. |
| In the last 15 minutes before departure | — | Cancelling through the app is no longer possible. If you do not show up, the no-show rule (6.2) applies. |
6.2 No-show (failure to appear)
If you do not check in and do not show up for the ride, a fixed penalty of €2.00 is charged to the registered payment method 15 minutes after the departure time. The no-show is recorded for the purposes of section 7.
6.3 Where the penalties go
The penalties in points 6.1 and 6.2 are retained entirely by Sciame as a contribution to operating costs, and do not constitute a refund to the Creator or the other participants. The amounts are deliberately kept low and are meant as a deterrent, not as compensation.
6.4 Cancellation by the Creator
If the Creator cancels the ride, the Passengers are not charged anything and any payment authorizations are released.
7. Account restrictions (strike system)
To protect the reliability of the service, Sciame records each User's late cancellations and no-shows over a rolling 30-day window. When the thresholds below are exceeded, the Account is temporarily suspended.
7.1 Thresholds and consequences
| Behavior | Threshold (in 30 days) | Suspension |
|---|---|---|
| No-shows | 2 no-shows | 7 days |
| 3 or more no-shows | 30 days | |
| Late cancellations (in the 2h → 15min window) | 3 late cancellations | 7 days |
| 5 or more late cancellations | 30 days |
7.2 Effects of suspension
During the suspension period you cannot book new rides or create new ones. The app's other functions (browsing, profile, history) remain available. The suspension has a fixed duration and lapses automatically when it expires: no action is required on your part.
The app notifies you with a prominent banner when you have an active strike and when your Account is suspended, showing the reactivation date.
7.3 How to contest a restriction or a penalty
If you believe a late cancellation, a no-show, or a suspension was attributed to you by mistake (for example due to an app malfunction, a technical problem, or force majeure), you can contest it by writing to info@sciame.cloud, stating:
- the email address associated with your Account;
- the ride in question (date, time, destination);
- a brief description of what happened.
You will receive a response within 15 working days. If the complaint is well-founded, the penalty is refunded and the event is removed from the strike count. The contestation procedure is free of charge and does not affect your right to use the dispute resolution tools indicated in section 18.
8. In-app purchases and subscriptions
The app may offer in-app purchases and subscriptions managed through RevenueCat and processed directly by Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store), under their respective terms.
In-app purchases renew automatically until cancelled, according to the stores' procedures. You can cancel a subscription at any time from your App Store or Google Play account settings.
For purchases made through the stores, the right of withdrawal is governed by Apple's and Google's terms. For refund requests, contact the store directly.
9. Expressions of interest (website forms)
The sciame.cloud website includes two forms intended for professional partners:
- Taxi Driver form (page /tassisti): allows taxi drivers to leave their contact details so they can be contacted at the commercial launch to discuss a partnership.
- Events form (page /eventi): allows event and trade fair organizers to propose a "Mobility Partner" partnership at the commercial launch.
Completing and submitting these forms constitutes a non-binding expression of interest for both parties. Neither the User nor Sciame assumes any contractual obligation merely by filling in the form. Any contractual relationship will be governed by specific agreements at the time of the commercial launch.
10. Newsletter
By subscribing to the newsletter on the website, you consent to receiving informational communications about Sciame: launch updates, activation of the service in your city, and project news. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email or by writing to info@sciame.cloud.
11. User obligations
By accessing the Platform, you agree to:
- not use the Platform for commercial or profit-making purposes;
- not provide false, misleading, or harmful information;
- not publish defamatory or insulting content about Sciame or third parties;
- not infringe Sciame's intellectual property rights;
- not open more than one Account or open Accounts in the name of third parties;
- not attempt to decompile, reverse engineer, or extract data from the Platform;
- comply with Italian law and these Terms.
12. What will change in the next phases
Sciame is progressively activating its full commercial features. In particular, the following will be introduced:
- Sciame Card: a single-use virtual card via Apple Pay / Google Pay to pay the metered fare on the taxi driver's contactless POS with a single tap
- Advanced Sciame Split: automatic splitting of the cost among group members, with notifications and tracking
- Polline Rewards: a points-based loyalty program, with Zero-Fee Mode and partner rewards
- Verified Profile: optional verification via identity document
- Feedback system between Users after rides
Substantial changes to the Terms will be notified on the website and in the app with at least 30 days' notice. Continued use of the Platform after the new terms take effect will constitute acceptance. Anyone who does not wish to accept the new terms may close their Account.
When the company that will commercially operate Sciame is incorporated, the service owner will be updated and Users will be informed with a prominent notice.
13. Processing of personal data
The processing of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.
14. Intellectual property
All intellectual property rights relating to the Sciame trademark, the logo, the content of the website and app, the software, and the databases are the exclusive property of Luca Paratore (and will be transferred to the company upon its incorporation). Any use, exploitation, reproduction, modification, decompilation, or reverse engineering without prior written authorization is prohibited.
15. Limitations of liability
The website and the app are provided "as is". As the service is under continuous development, Sciame does not guarantee:
- uninterrupted operation, absence of errors, or full compatibility with all devices;
- the permanent completeness or accuracy of the product's descriptive information;
- uninterrupted availability of matching or of specific destinations;
- specific timelines for the activation of new features.
Sciame is not responsible for the behavior of other Sciameres during the shared ride, nor for false information provided by them. Sciame is not a party to the transport contract with the taxi driver (see section 2).
To the extent permitted by law, Sciame's liability towards the User is limited to direct and foreseeable damages connected to the matching and payment-splitting service, excluding indirect damages, loss of profit, loss of data, and any consequential damages.
16. Platform availability
We will endeavor to keep the website and the app accessible, but access may be temporarily suspended without notice for maintenance, updates, or force majeure. Sciame reserves the right to modify, suspend, or withdraw all or part of the Platform or its features.
17. Changes to the Terms
Sciame may amend these Terms at any time. Changes will be published with an indication of their effective date. Substantial changes, in particular those related to the commercial launch, will be notified with at least 30 days' notice to those who have provided an email contact.
18. Dispute resolution
For any dispute, the User is invited to first contact Sciame at info@sciame.cloud to attempt an amicable solution.
For disputes with Users acting as consumers, the courts of the consumer's place of residence have jurisdiction (Art. 33 of the Italian Consumer Code).
Consumer Users residing in the EU can access the European Commission's ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) platform: ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.
19. Governing law
These Terms are governed by Italian law.
20. Contacts and point of contact for complaints
You can reach us at:
- Email: info@sciame.cloud
- Phone: +39 328 203 5047
- Website: sciame.cloud
- Operating address: c/o Incubatore d'Impresa POINT — Polo per l'Innovazione Tecnologica, via Pasubio 5 (corner of via Einstein), 24044 Dalmine (BG), Italy
Single point of contact for complaints and reports
The address info@sciame.cloud is the single point of contact for:
- contesting a penalty or an Account restriction (see section 7.3);
- reporting inappropriate content or behavior by other Users;
- exercising your personal data rights (see the Privacy Policy);
- any other complaint about the service.
We are committed to providing a response within 15 working days of receiving the report. Communications may be sent in Italian or English.