GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS & LONG-DISTANCE SALES CONTRACT
1. Scope of Application & Legal Framework
1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as "GTC") of Check for Trips GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Seller", "We", or "Istanbul Welcome Card") shall apply to all contracts, purchases, and service agreements concluded between a consumer or a trader (hereinafter referred to as "Client" or "Customer") and the Seller via the online platform and shop operated at [https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/](https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/) (hereinafter referred to as "Website"). Any conflicting, amending, or alternative terms and conditions of the Client are hereby explicitly rejected unless expressly agreed upon in writing by the Seller.
1.2 A "Consumer" pursuant to these GTC is any natural person who enters into a legal transaction for purposes that are predominantly outside their trade, business, craft, or profession (in accordance with § 13 BGB / German Civil Code and Turkish Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection). A "Trader" or "Merchant" is a natural or legal person or a partnership with legal capacity who, when concluding a legal transaction, acts in the exercise of their commercial or independent professional activity.
1.3 Crucial Legal Status of the Seller: The Seller operates exclusively as an intermediary (agent/platform) and digital distributor of tourism-related products, including but not limited to the "Istanbul Welcome Card", public transportation cards, museum passes, guided tours, attractions, and event tickets. The Seller is not a tour operator, transport provider, carrier, hotelier, museum administrator, or event organizer.
Note: The performance, execution, and quality of the respective tours, museum entries, transfers, or cruises are exclusively owed by the third-party service providers (hereinafter referred to as "Service Providers"). Consequently, separate terms and conditions of the respective Service Providers shall apply to the execution of those services.
2. Conclusion of the Contract & Technical Steps
2.1 The presentation and description of products, packages, and services on the Seller’s Website do not constitute a legally binding offer on the part of the Seller, but merely an invitation to the Client to submit a binding offer (invitatio ad offerendum).
2.2 The Client may submit a legally binding offer via the integrated online order form. By placing the selected products/services into the virtual shopping cart, passing through the electronic ordering process, and clicking the final button confirming the purchase (e.g., "Order with Obligation to Pay" or "Buy Now"), the Client submits a legally binding contractual offer regarding the services in the cart.
2.3 The Seller will immediately confirm receipt of the Client’s order by electronic means (e-mail). This automated confirmation of receipt does not yet constitute an acceptance of the offer. The contract is concluded only when the Seller sends a formal order confirmation, issue voucher(s), or transmits the digital product/card details to the Client via e-mail within 48 hours.
2.4 Prior to submitting the binding order, the Client can review, correct, and modify all entered data using standard keyboard and mouse functions. It is the sole responsibility of the Client to ensure that the provided e-mail address, delivery details, and arrival dates are accurate and that SPAM filters are adjusted to accept automated e-mails from @istanbulwelcomecard.com or @istanbulwelcomecard.de.
2.5 The contractual languages are English and German. The text of the contract (these GTC and order details) will be stored by the Seller after the conclusion of the contract and sent to the Client in text form (e-mail).
3. Electronic Long-Distance Sales (Special Provisions for Turkish Territory & Tourism Services)
3.1 In accordance with the Turkish Law on the Protection of Consumers (Law No. 6502) and the Regulation on Distance Contracts (Mesafeli Sözleşmeler Yönetmeliği), this contract governs the distance sale of the Istanbul Welcome Card and related touristic packages delivered or executed within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye.
3.2 By finalizing the order, the Client explicitly acknowledges and declares that they have read, understood, and approved the Preliminary Information Form (Ön Bilgilendirme Formu) containing the essential characteristics of the service, total price including taxes, payment methods, delivery conditions, and remedy channels.
3.3 In the event that a payment via credit card, debit card, or alternative payment channel is cancelled, reversed, or rejected by the bank or financial institution due to alleged unauthorized, fraudulent, or illegal use of the payment method (not caused by the gross negligence or fault of the Seller), the Client shall remain jointly and severally liable to pay the service fee, along with any accrued financial damages and chargeback fees incurred by the Seller.
4. Limitation of Liability & Third-Party Service Providers
4.1 Since the Seller acts solely as an intermediary platform, the Seller shall not be held liable for any bodily injury, personal damage, property damage, accidents, delays, strikes, weather disruptions, scheduling changes, or irregularities occurring during, before, or after the performance of the tours, public transport, boat cruises, museum visits, or theme park activities.
4.2 Any claims regarding defective execution, misconduct, poor service quality, or operational accidents must be directed exclusively against the respective local Service Provider (e.g., the specific transport company, guide association, boat operator, or museum management).
4.3 The Client is highly encouraged and responsible for maintaining sufficient travel insurance, personal accident insurance, and international health insurance coverage during their travels.
4.4 The Seller’s liability for its own contractual breaches shall be strictly limited to intent (Vorsatz) and gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit). In the event of a breach of material contractual obligations (Kardinalpflichten), liability shall be limited to the foreseeable, typically occurring damage at the time of contract conclusion.
5. Statutory Right to Cancel (Right of Withdrawal)
5.1 Consumers residing in the European Union (EU) or Germany generally possess a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal. However, pursuant to § 312g para. 2 no. 9 BGB (German Civil Code) and Article 15 of the Turkish Regulation on Distance Contracts, the statutory right of withdrawal does not apply to contracts for the provision of services related to leisure activities, catering, or transport, if the contract provides for a specific date or period of performance (e.g., dated tours, specific arrival day passes, time-limited museum entries).
5.2 Contractual Free Cancellation Policy: Notwithstanding the statutory limitations above, the Seller grants the Client a voluntary commercial right to cancel. The Client may cancel their order without any penalty up to twenty-four (24) hours prior to the designated arrival date / tour date selected during the booking process.
5.3 To exercise this contractual cancellation right, the Client must inform the Seller via a clear, written statement sent by e-mail to:
- Entity: Check for Trips GmbH
- Address: Hintergasse 6, 65428 Rüsselsheim, Germany
- Phone: +49 (0) 6142 3306675
- E-Mail: info@istanbulwelcomecard.com (or info@istanbulwelcomecard.de)
5.4 Cancellations requested less than 24 hours prior to the arrival/start date, or "No Shows," are strictly non-refundable.
6. Commercial "Money-Back Guarantee" & Refund Protocol
6.1 To ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction, the Seller offers a conditional Money-Back Guarantee. A full or partial refund under this commercial policy is strictly subject to the following cumulative criteria:
- a) Material Defect of Intermediary Service: The dissatisfaction must stem from a verifiable failure of the card/voucher activation or an objective discrepancy in what was promised by the Seller.
- b) Substantiated Proof: The Client must submit an explicit complaint containing at least three (3) clear photographic or digital proofs of the issue, accompanied by a descriptive text (minimum 50 words) detailing the exact nature of the problem, the time, and the staff involved.
- c) Order Verification: The complaint must be emailed to info@istanbulwelcomecard.com within forty-eight (48) hours of the incident, along with the official order number.
6.2 Non-Use Rule for Physical/Digital Items: A full refund is absolutely excluded if any component of the package has already been utilized. If the public transportation card (Istanbulkart), the Museum Pass, or any tour voucher has been scanned, used, or activated, no refund claims can be entertained under the Money-Back Guarantee. Refund evaluations are at the reasonable discretion of the Seller's quality assurance team.
7. Period of Validity & Automatic Activation
7.1 The default period of validity for the standard Istanbul Welcome Card tourism package is seven (7) consecutive days starting from the first date of use or activation.
7.2 The Museum Pass (included in the Deluxe Card option) is subject to the strict regulations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and is valid for five (5) consecutive days (120 hours) from its first physical or digital scan at a museum gate.
7.3 Card Activation: The system will automatically configure or prepare the physical/digital card based on the "Arrival Date" provided by the Client during the checkout process. The Client is entirely responsible for the absolute accuracy of this date. If the Client shifts their travel dates without notifying the Seller at least 24 hours in advance, the Seller cannot guarantee validity, and no refunds will be granted for expired cards due to incorrect date inputs.
8. Discount Partners & B2B Cooperations
8.1 The Istanbul Welcome Card provides holders with access to voluntary discounts of up to 50% at contracted third-party local commercial venues, restaurants, shops, and activity facilities (hereinafter referred to as "Discount Partners").
8.2 Pre-Reservation Requirement: Many premium tours, workshops, and high-demand activities require an electronic pre-reservation via [https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/](https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/) to secure a time slot. Availability is subject to seasonal capacity constraints.
8.3 Quality Limitation: While the Seller exercises professional commercial diligence (Sorgfaltspflicht) when selecting high-quality local Discount Partners, the Seller assumes no liability or warranty for the ongoing business operations, service quality, pricing adjustments, or sudden refusal of a Discount Partner to honor the discount. Any disputes regarding on-site transactions must be settled directly between the Client and the respective establishment.
9. Prices, Taxes, and Payment Conditions
9.1 All prices displayed on the Seller's online shop are total prices stated in Euros (€), US Dollars ($), or Turkish Liras (TL), and include the statutory Value Added Tax (VAT), sales taxes, and local service fees, unless specified otherwise in the product description. Any applicable shipping, hotel delivery, or processing fees will be explicitly detailed prior to checkout.
9.2 Payments may be processed through the secure electronic gateways provided on the Website, including but not limited to credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, and Stripe.
9.3 Processing via Stripe: If a credit card or direct debit method managed by Stripe is chosen, the payment will be handled by Stripe Payments Europe, Ltd., C/O A&L Goodbody, IFSC, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland. In case of unjustified chargebacks or payment reversals due to insufficient funds or incorrect banking details provided by the Client, the Client shall bear all bank reversal fees, chargeback fines, and collection fees incurred by the Seller.
9.4 Processing via PayPal: Payments made via PayPal are subject to the PayPal User Agreement applicable in the country of transaction. The processing entity is PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg.
10. Delivery, Hotel Drop-Off & On-Site Collection
10.1 Hotel Delivery: To maximize convenience, the Client may select "Hotel Delivery" during checkout. The Seller fulfills its delivery obligation by handing over the physical card package to the reception desk, concierge, or front office of the designated hotel/accommodation provided by the Client, on or before the specified arrival date. Once handed over to the hotel staff, the risk of loss or misplacement shifts to the Client and the accommodation provider.
10.2 On-Site Collection / Operation Center: Alternatively, the Client may choose to personally collect their physical passes or public transport cards at the designated Istanbul Welcome Card Operation Centers, Welcome Desks, or Meeting Points located at main tourist hubs or airports in Istanbul. The exact location coordinates and operational hours will be specified in the booking voucher.
11. Warranty Regulations & Statutory Rights
11.1 In the event of any technical defects inherent to the digital voucher, card codes, or delivery processes directly controlled by the Seller, the statutory warranty provisions of the applicable consumer law shall apply. The Client must notify the Seller immediately to allow for a swift digital replacement or rectifying solution.
12. Applicable Law & Choice of Jurisdiction
12.1 Applicable Law: All legal relationships, disputes, and contracts concluded between the parties shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
Consumer Protection Exception: For individual Consumers, this choice of law applies only to the extent that it does not deprive the consumer of the mandatory, non-waivable protection afforded to them by the laws of the country in which the consumer has their habitual residence (e.g., specific consumer protection rules in Turkey, the UK, or other EU states).
12.2 Forum Selection & Place of Jurisdiction:
- If the Client is a Trader, Merchant, legal entity under public law, or a special fund under public law established within the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all legal disputes arising from this contract shall be the registered seat of the Seller (Rüsselsheim / Frankfurt am Main, Germany).
- If the Client is a Trader/Merchant domiciled outside Germany, the Seller’s place of business shall likewise be the sole venue of jurisdiction.
- For Consumers, legal jurisdiction is determined by the statutory rules of the European Union and the national code of civil procedure.
13. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for Consumers
13.1 Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): The European Commission provides an official online platform for out-of-court dispute resolution resulting from online sales or service contracts. Consumers can access this platform at: [https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr](https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr).
13.2 Dispute Participation Notice: Pursuant to § 36 VSBG (German Consumer Dispute Resolution Act), the Seller hereby informs the Client that the Seller is neither legally obligated nor willing to participate in formal dispute settlement proceedings before a consumer arbitration board (Verbraucherschlichtungsstelle). The Seller prefers to resolve all consumer concerns directly and amicably via its customer care department at info@istanbulwelcomecard.com.
14. Intellectual Property & Image Licensing
14.1 All visual elements, photographs, graphics, layouts, and text content displayed on the Website [https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/](https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/) are legally protected by international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.
14.2 The photographic assets used on this platform are legally licensed from Shutterstock, Inc. or direct local photography partners. The primary Shutterstock license verification numbers include: be4397153 and de51385799. Any unauthorized reproduction, downloading, or commercial use of these materials without an explicit license is strictly prohibited and subject to legal prosecution.
