Layby Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 18 March 2026

Last Updated: 18 March 2026

These Layby Terms & Conditions ("Layby Terms") govern all Layby purchases made through the Utumba platform operated by Castmax Technologies Limited (trading as "Utumba"). These Layby Terms supplement and form part of our general Terms of Service. In the event of any conflict between these Layby Terms and the general Terms of Service, these Layby Terms shall prevail with respect to Layby purchases.

1. What Is Layby?

Layby is an installment-based payment option that allows you to reserve a product by paying an initial deposit and then paying the remaining balance in regular installments over an agreed period. The product is held in reserve by the Store and is only dispatched or made available for collection once the full purchase price has been paid.

2. Eligibility

To use the Layby service, you must:

• Have a registered and verified Utumba account;
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have a valid payment method (mobile money or card) registered on the Platform;
• Agree to these Layby Terms before entering into a Layby arrangement.

Not all products are eligible for Layby. Eligibility is determined by the individual Store and will be clearly indicated on the product listing.

3. Layby Plans

3.1 Plan Configuration

Layby plans are configured by each Store and may vary by product. Key terms of each plan include:

• Plan Duration: The total period over which installments are to be paid, typically ranging from 1 to 24 months.
• Deposit Percentage: The initial deposit required, ranging from 12.5% to 50% of the product price, depending on the plan.
• Installment Frequency: Installments are due on a monthly basis.
• Installment Amount: The remaining balance after the deposit, divided equally across the number of installment periods.

3.2 Plan Selection

When you select a Layby-eligible product, the available Layby plans will be presented to you at checkout. Each plan will clearly display:

• The deposit amount;
• The number of installments;
• The amount of each installment;
• The total cost (which equals the product price; standard Layby does not attract interest).

By selecting a plan and paying the deposit, you enter into a binding Layby agreement.

3.3 Pre-Contractual Information

Before you confirm a Layby arrangement, you will be provided with a clear pre-contractual summary containing the following information in a durable format:

• The total product price;
• The deposit amount and percentage;
• The number, frequency, and amount of each installment;
• The total interest payable (if any), including the Store interest rate and platform interest rate;
• The total amount payable (product price plus any interest);
• The complete payment schedule with due dates;
• The consequences of late or missed payments, including the grace period and auto-default rules;
• Your cancellation rights and any applicable forfeiture terms.

You should review this information carefully before confirming your Layby. This summary will remain accessible in your account under order details for the duration of the Layby arrangement.

3.3 Interest

Layby plans may include interest charges as configured by the Store. Where interest applies, the Store interest rate and any platform interest rate will be clearly disclosed before you confirm the Layby arrangement. The total interest rate is the sum of the Store interest rate and the platform interest rate. The maximum total interest rate shall not exceed 50% of the product price.

4. Deposit

• The deposit is due immediately upon entering into the Layby arrangement.
• Your Layby order is only confirmed and the product reserved once the deposit payment has been successfully processed.
• The deposit is applied towards the total purchase price.

5. Product Reservation

Upon successful payment of the deposit:

• The product is reserved for you, and the Store's inventory is updated accordingly;
• The reserved product will not be shipped or made available for collection until the full purchase price has been paid;
• The product remains the property of the Store until full payment is received.

6. Installment Payments

6.1 Payment Schedule

All installments and their respective due dates are generated at the time of order creation. You will be able to view your complete payment schedule in your account under order details.

6.2 Making Payments

Installment payments can be made using any payment method accepted on the Platform (mobile money or card). You are responsible for ensuring that payments are made on or before the due date.

6.3 Early Payment

You may pay installments ahead of schedule or pay the remaining balance in full at any time. There are no penalties for early payment.

7. Late and Missed Payments

7.1 Grace Period

If an installment payment is not received by the due date, a grace period of 14 days applies. During this grace period, your installment status will be marked as "Late". We encourage you to make payment as soon as possible during this period.

7.2 Missed Payments

If an installment payment is not received by the end of the 14-day grace period, the installment will be marked as "Missed".

7.3 Consequences of Missed Payments

• Missed payments may affect your eligibility for future Layby and Financing arrangements on the Platform.
• We may send you reminders and notifications regarding overdue payments via email and SMS.

7.4 Automatic Default

If three (3) consecutive installments are missed (i.e., not paid within their respective grace periods), your Layby order will be automatically defaulted. Upon default:

• The Layby arrangement is terminated;
• The product reservation is cancelled, and the product is returned to the Store's available inventory;
• Amounts already paid (including the deposit) may be subject to forfeiture as outlined in Section 8 below.

8. Cancellation and Forfeiture

8.1 Cancellation by You

You may cancel a Layby arrangement at any time before full payment has been made by contacting our support team at hello@utumba.com. Upon cancellation:

• The product reservation is released;
• Refund of amounts paid (including the deposit) is at the Store's discretion and subject to the Store's Layby cancellation policy;
• The Store may deduct a reasonable cancellation fee or administrative charge, which will be disclosed in the plan terms.

8.2 Cancellation by Default

If your Layby order is defaulted due to missed payments (as described in Section 7.4):

• The deposit and any installments paid may be forfeited, in whole or in part, at the Store's discretion;
• The Store is not obligated to provide a refund for defaulted Layby orders;
• Forfeiture terms are set by the Store and will be disclosed in the Layby plan details at the time of purchase.

8.3 Cancellation by the Store

In exceptional circumstances, a Store may cancel a Layby arrangement (for example, if the product is discontinued or a listing error is identified). In such cases:

• You will be notified promptly;
• All amounts paid (deposit and installments) will be refunded in full;
• Utumba will facilitate the refund on your behalf.

9. Completion of Layby

Once all installments have been paid and the full purchase price has been received:

• Your Layby order status will be updated to "Completed";
• The product will be dispatched for delivery or made available for collection, in accordance with the fulfillment method you selected at checkout;
• For store pickup orders, you will receive a unique pickup code for verification.

10. Returns and Refunds After Completion

Once a Layby order is completed and the product has been delivered or collected, the standard Returns & Refunds Policy applies. Please refer to that policy for information on eligible returns, return windows, and refund procedures.

11. Notifications

We will send you notifications regarding your Layby arrangement, including:

• Order and deposit confirmation;
• Upcoming installment due date reminders;
• Payment confirmations;
• Late and missed payment warnings;
• Default notices;
• Completion and fulfillment notifications.

Notifications are sent via email and SMS to the contact details on your account. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact information is accurate and up to date.

13. Cooling-Off Period for Layby

Under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2021, a statutory 7-day cooling-off period applies to goods purchased online. For Layby purchases, this right applies as follows:

• Before product dispatch: Since Layby products are reserved but not shipped until full payment, the cooling-off period applies to the initial Layby agreement. You may cancel the Layby arrangement within 7 days of entering into it (paying the deposit) by contacting hello@utumba.com.
• After full payment and delivery: Once the product has been delivered or collected, the standard 7-day cooling-off period applies from the date of delivery, subject to the exclusions in our Returns & Refunds Policy.

Cancellation under the cooling-off period is subject to the cancellation and forfeiture terms in Section 8 above. The Store's cancellation policy regarding deposit refunds continues to apply.

14. Statutory Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Layby Terms shall be construed to limit or exclude your statutory rights under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act or the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2021 of the Republic of Zambia. Where any provision of these Layby Terms conflicts with your statutory consumer rights, your statutory rights shall prevail. In particular:

• Your right to receive goods of merchantable quality is not affected;
• Your right to accurate product descriptions is not affected;
• Your right to lodge complaints with the relevant consumer protection authorities is not affected;
• Forfeiture of deposits and installments upon cancellation is subject to reasonableness under Zambian law.

15. Relationship to Other Policies

These Layby Terms should be read in conjunction with:

• The Terms of Service, which govern your general use of the Platform;
• The Privacy Policy, which describes how your personal data is collected and used;
• The Returns & Refunds Policy, which applies after a Layby order is completed.

16. Governing Law

These Layby Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Zambia. Any dispute arising from a Layby arrangement shall be subject to the dispute resolution provisions in our Terms of Service.

17. Contact Us

For questions about Layby or your Layby order, please contact:

Castmax Technologies Limited (trading as Utumba)
Email: hello@utumba.com
Lusaka, Zambia