At Teya, we want to empower as many small businesses as possible. However, as a regulated financial provider, we must follow strict policies to keep our platform and the wider financial system secure.
The following businesses are prohibited from using Teya’s services.
| Category | Services/products provided |
|---|---|
| Money transfer services | Remittance businesses; unlicensed currency exchange services; peer‑to‑peer money transfer platforms. Corner shops offering money transfer as a secondary service are allowed, subject to enhanced monitoring. |
| Digital goods | Games; software applications; cloud‑based storage resellers; e‑commerce platforms selling virtual goods. |
| Pawn shops and salvage yards | Gold and precious metal pawn shops; electronics resellers; second‑hand vehicle yards. |
| Firearms (sales) | Guns; ammunition. Sales of firearms are strictly prohibited. Any business allowing customers to purchase firearms or remove firearms or ammunition from the premises must be blocked. Sale of ammunition for use outside the premises is also blocked. |
| Direct marketing | Insurance brokerage services; telemarketing call centres; travel agencies selling flight packages; subscription services. |
| Cash disbursement and quasi‑cash businesses | Cheque cashing services; prepaid debit card issuers; currency exchange kiosks. |
| Gambling transactions | Online casinos; sports betting platforms; lottery and sweepstakes sites. |
| Political and religious organisations | Political fundraising campaigns; religious donation platforms; international missionary programs. |
| Auction houses and related real estate | Art auction platforms; luxury real estate brokers; estate liquidation services. |
| Dating services | Online dating platforms; matchmaking services; escort services. |
| Sale of used motor vehicles | Sale of used cars; sale of other used vehicles. |
| Trusts | Entities structured as trusts are strictly prohibited and cannot be served under any circumstances. |
The following businesses require additional due diligence before Teya can fully provide services. Approval is evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and access can be modified or revoked if risk factors change.
| Category | Services/products provided |
|---|---|
| Clubs | Verification is required to confirm that no adult entertainment or prostitution is involved. |
| Massage parlours | Proof of licensing or other evidence of legitimacy is mandatory. |
| Jewellery and high‑value goods | May require additional documentation, including evidence of trading for at least three years, invoices related to previous sales, or acquirer statements covering at least three months. |
| Charities | Proof of registration and verification with local authorities is required. Financial statements covering the last three years may also be requested. Note: entities structured as trusts are strictly prohibited. |
| Motor servicing and auto garages | Documentation confirming the legitimacy of the business is required. |
| Travel agencies | Verification of valid travel licences is mandatory. |
| Shooting ranges | Onboarding is subject to holding a valid licence to offer on‑premise shooting services and provide ammunition for those services. |
| Craftsman / contractor | Evidence of service contracts or agreements may be requested to verify business legitimacy. Contractors in the UK can only be accepted if their trading address and store verification proof are for a commercial address (workshop / showroom / office). UK merchants trading from a home address are blocked. |
| Real estate services | Additional documentation may be requested to verify business legitimacy, such as property deeds, purchase contracts, or acquirer statements. |
| Art dealers and galleries | May require additional documentation, including evidence of trading history or acquirer statements covering at least three months. |
| Car sales | May require additional documentation verifying the origin of vehicles and legitimate transaction records. Sale of used cars is prohibited. |
| Online education | Proof of licensing or other evidence of legitimacy is mandatory. |
High‑risk jurisdictions and individuals
Teya prohibits use of its services for any dealings, engagement, or sale of goods or services, directly or indirectly, with:
High‑risk jurisdictions – Individuals located in, resident in, or born in jurisdictions identified by Teya as high‑risk, and products or services originating from these jurisdictions.
High‑risk individuals – Individuals identified by Teya as prohibited for legal, contractual, or commercial reasons, including those listed on restricted person or party lists maintained by the United Kingdom, European Union, United Nations, or the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
These restrictions are reviewed periodically and may change with evolving regulations.