Square · Square Terms of Service

Unilateral Amendment of Terms

Medium severity
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What it is

Square can change its terms of service and fees at any time, and your continued use of the service means you agree to the new terms even if you didn't explicitly accept them.

Why it matters

Merchants may unknowingly agree to less favorable terms simply by continuing to process payments, without realizing the rules have changed.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

Unilateral amendment clauses in merchant agreements raise issues under contract law principles of mutual assent; compliance and procurement teams should establish processes to monitor Square's communications for material term changes and assess whether notice periods satisfy applicable state consumer protection requirements.

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Consumer impact

Square's terms grant the company broad discretion to hold, delay, or withhold merchant funds for risk management reasons, which can significantly disrupt business cash flow. Merchants waive their right to participate in class action lawsuits and must resolve disputes through binding arbitration, limiting their legal remedies. You can opt out of the arbitration clause by sending written notice to Square within 30 days of first accepting the terms.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Close Your Account
    If you do not agree to updated terms, you must close your Square account before the effective date of the changes. Log in to your account settings and follow the account closure process, or contact Square Support.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over unfair or deceptive trade practices, including inadequate notice of material changes to consumer and merchant agreements.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Square Terms of Service
Entity
Square
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 20, 2026
Last verified
March 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-00362003
Document ID
CA-D-00362
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
3d79cc9cc45aa3558212c7d86da79a91ba4fe8c01edd664c184c4b174d81f32c
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Square | Document: Square Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-00362003
Captured: 2026-03-20 10:40:05 UTC | SHA-256: 3d79cc9cc45aa355…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/square/square-terms-of-service/unilateral-amendment-of-terms/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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