Understanding Geotagging and Why Hydrogen Requires It

At Hydrogen, we are committed to maintaining a secure, transparent, and compliant payment ecosystem for all our merchants. One of the important requirements that helps us achieve this is Geotagging.

What is Geotagging?

Geotagging is the process of capturing and attaching the precise geographical location (latitude and longitude coordinates) of your business or POS terminal using GPS technology.

Simply put, it allows us to confirm that:

• Your business operates from a verified location
• Your POS terminals are used at approved merchant locations
• Transactions originate from legitimate business premises

Geotagging does not track your personal movement. It is only used to verify registered business locations.

Why Geotagging is Important

Geotagging helps Hydrogen, regulators, and merchants maintain a safe payment environment. It is also part of regulatory requirements for payment service providers.

Key benefits include:

1. Regulatory Compliance

The Central Bank of Nigeria requires payment companies to verify merchant locations as part of KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) obligations. Geotagging enables Hydrogen to meet these requirements.

2. Fraud Prevention

Location verification helps prevent:

• Unauthorized POS usage
• Identity fraud
• Transaction laundering
• Misuse of merchant accounts

This protects both your business and the broader payment ecosystem.

3. Merchant Protection

Geotagging confirms your legitimate business presence and can help:

• Reduce disputes
• Support investigations when fraud occurs
• Protect your merchant profile

4. Improved Service Support

When your location is verified, Hydrogen can:

• Provide faster support
• Resolve transaction issues more efficiently
• Improve service delivery in your area

When is Geotagging Required?

You may be required to complete geotagging during:

• Merchant onboarding
• POS deployment
• Merchant profile updates
• Compliance reviews
• Regulatory audits

If requested, timely completion helps prevent service disruptions.

How to Complete Geotagging

When geotagging is required, Hydrogen may:

• Request your business location confirmation
• Conduct a physical verification visit
• Request location capture via an approved app
• Verify your POS terminal location

To ensure successful geotagging:

• Ensure your business address is accurate
• Allow location access if using a mobile verification tool
• Ensure your POS is located at your registered business address
• Cooperate with verification teams when contacted

What Happens if Geotagging is Not Completed?

Failure to complete geotagging when required may result in:

• Temporary transaction restrictions
• POS service limitations
• Compliance review flags
• Possible account review

These measures are necessary to meet regulatory obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does geotagging track my personal location?

No. Geotagging only verifies your registered business location and does not track personal movement.

Does this affect my daily transactions?

No. Once completed successfully, it does not affect your normal business operations.

How often is geotagging required?

Geotagging is typically required during onboarding and may be requested again during periodic compliance reviews or when there are updates to your business information.

Is geotagging mandatory?

Yes. Geotagging is mandatory as part of regulatory and compliance requirements for payment service providers.

Need Help?

If you encounter any difficulties or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team through any of the means below:

• Chat with Support: Use the chat widget at the bottom right corner of any of the portal's page to chat with our support team.
• Log a Request: Click this link to submit a request through the webform on this site.
• Email Support: Reach out to our support team via email at support@hydrogenpay.com.