Step 1 · Informed Consent
Becoming a DPO research participant begins with full transparency.
No fine print. No surprises at checkout. This page walks you through what your participation involves, your rights, and what we expect from each other — so you can sign your consent form with confidence, or decide not to.
Use "Skip to payment" only if you've previously completed the Informed Consent Form for a prior order.
Real research begins with informed consent — never with a checkout button.
DoublePenniesOnline LLC operates under NAICS 541720 (Research & Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), and we follow the same transparency standard you'd expect from any research institution.
Reading this page is your first act as a research participant, not a hurdle to clear. Take the time you need.
What you're being asked to consent to
In short: by activating a Spending Account, you're agreeing to participate in research conducted by DoublePenniesOnline LLC about how households apply spending support across qualified everyday categories. Your participation involves paying a refundable $10 research fee, receiving a $500 spending reward via a Restricted Spend Card & Wallet System, and allowing DPO to record category-level transaction data (not individual purchases) for the research.
What your consent covers
- Participation in research conducted under DPO's structured exponential growth research model.
- Payment of a $10 research fee, fully refundable at any time — including after your spending reward has been credited.
- Up to 10 separate research orders during Phase 1, totaling up to $5,000 in research spending rewards.
- Category-level transaction data collection through the Restricted Spend Card & Wallet System (no individual merchant or itemized purchase data).
- Use of your aggregated, anonymized data in published research outputs.
- Operational email communications about your account, milestones, and refund processing.
The research itself
Research purpose
DPO studies how households apply structured spending support across qualified everyday categories — utilities, groceries, transportation, education, and similar. The research goal is to understand patterns, behaviors, and outcomes when families have access to steady spending support, and ultimately to inform the design of programs (including a future Phase 2) that could extend this support across a lifetime.
Procedures — what your participation involves
- Sign this consent form: You complete and submit the consent form on this page, confirming you understand what you're agreeing to.
- Activation: After your consent is captured, you pay a $10 research fee through DPO's third-party payment processor to activate your Spending Account.
- Milestone: DPO's internal exponential growth model determines when your account reaches the research milestone for a $500 spending reward credit.
- Spending reward: A $500 research spending reward is credited to your Restricted Spend Card & Wallet for use at qualified merchant categories.
- Use the card: You apply your spending reward toward qualified household categories. The card automatically declines at non-qualifying categories.
- Data collection: The card platform records each transaction by category code only — never by individual merchant or itemized purchase.
- Optional continuation: Eligible participants can elect up to 10 orders for up to $5,000 in spending rewards across Phase 1.
Duration
Each research order has its own timeline. The spending reward is credited at the milestone point and can be used over time as you spend at qualified merchants. Phase 1 is structured to allow up to 10 orders over your eligible participation window. There is no fixed end date for an individual order — the experiment runs until the spending balance is used or the participant withdraws.
Your rights as a participant
These rights apply throughout your participation and afterward. To exercise any of them, email support@doublepennies.online.
Voluntary participation
You can choose not to participate. There's no pressure, no obligation, no consequence for declining. Participation is entirely voluntary.
Right to withdraw
You can withdraw at any time by requesting a refund of your $10 research fee. The right applies even after your $500 spending reward has been credited.
Refund processing
Full refunds are processed within 5–10 business days through your original payment method. The refund right applies independently to each of your Phase 1 orders.
Data access & control
You can request a copy of any personal information DPO holds about you, request corrections to inaccurate information, or request deletion (subject to legal retention requirements).
No retaliation
Withdrawing your participation does not affect your eligibility for future research opportunities, Phase 2, or any other DPO programs. You are welcome back.
Right to ask questions
At any point — before, during, or after participation — you can email DPO for clarification on any aspect of the research, your spending reward, the Restricted Spend Card, or this consent form.
Risks and benefits
Honest disclosure of both sides — what you might gain and what could go wrong. We don't promise outcomes; we describe what's structurally possible.
What could go wrong
- Financial: Your $10 research fee is at risk — but is fully refundable at any time, so the practical financial risk is minimal.
- Privacy: Category-level transaction data is collected. We don't see individual purchases, but transaction patterns are recorded for research.
- Time: Reading this consent, completing signup, and using the spending reward takes some time. We've worked to minimize it.
- No guaranteed outcome: DPO's research is exploratory. We don't promise specific personal benefit beyond the structured spending reward.
- Card-platform issues: The Restricted Spend Card relies on third-party merchant category coding, which isn't always perfect. Some transactions may decline unexpectedly.
What you might gain
- Personal: A $500 research spending reward to apply toward qualified household categories. Up to $5,000 across Phase 1 if you elect all 10 orders.
- Research contribution: Your participation helps DPO understand how household spending support actually plays out at scale, informing Phase 2 design.
- Stewardship participation: Joining a research model grounded in stewardship principles — supporting household stability, not extracting from it.
- Phase 2 foundation: Phase 1 participation builds the foundation for Phase 2's lifetime stewardship support.
- Steady support: Practical breathing room for the household pressures that show up uninvited — utilities, groceries, transportation, the unexpected.
No promise of personal financial improvement, debt relief, or wealth-building. The benefit DPO offers is the structured spending reward and the satisfaction of contributing to research — not personal financial transformation. This is a research participation program, not a financial product.
Data and confidentiality
Full details are in our Privacy Policy. The summary is below.
What DPO collects
- Account information: Name, email address, payment reference (no full card numbers stored).
- Category-level transaction data: What category each transaction falls into (utilities, groceries, etc.). Never individual merchant names or itemized purchases.
- Standard website analytics: IP address, browser type, page views — typical for any website.
How DPO protects it
- Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS for all web traffic).
- Limited internal access — only DPO personnel who need access for legitimate research administration.
- Third-party processors (payment, card platform) bound by contract to handle data appropriately.
- No sale of personal information to advertisers, data brokers, or any third party.
- Aggregated, anonymized outputs only — individual participants are never identifiable in published research.
Who sees your data
- DPO research personnel (limited, role-based access).
- Third-party processors necessary for operating the program (payment processor, card platform).
- Legal or regulatory authorities only if required by law (we will notify you when permitted).
- The general public — but only as anonymized aggregate metrics in published research outputs.
Compensation and what's expected of you
What you receive
- A $500 research spending reward per order, credited to your Restricted Spend Card & Wallet at the milestone point.
- Up to 10 orders for up to $5,000 in spending rewards across Phase 1.
- Use of the spending reward at qualified everyday merchant categories — utilities, groceries, transportation, education, and similar.
- Notification by email when your spending reward is credited.
- Access to refund your $10 research fee at any time, even after the spending reward is credited.
- The opportunity to be part of Phase 2 (coming) — though Phase 1 participation does not guarantee Phase 2 eligibility.
What's expected of you
- Use the Restricted Spend Card at qualified merchant categories only. Don't try to circumvent the card's restrictions.
- Keep your contact information up to date (notify us if your email changes).
- Notify DPO promptly if your card is lost or stolen.
- Do not attempt to recruit other participants in exchange for compensation, commission, or referral benefit.
- Do not create multiple Spending Accounts to circumvent Phase 1 caps.
- That's it. There are no surveys, no interviews, no public statements, no testimonials required.
How you provide your consent
You provide your consent to this Informed Consent Form by completing the consent form located directly below this page section. The form captures your individual acknowledgments of each major area covered above, your digital signature, and the date.
Once your completed consent form is submitted, you'll be directed to the payment step to activate your Phase 1 participation. No payment is collected before your consent is captured.
You may withdraw your consent at any time after submission by requesting a refund (see Right 02 above). Withdrawal is a fully accepted, no-consequence option.
Questions before you sign
If you have any question about what you're consenting to, the research itself, your rights, or how to exercise them — email us before completing the form below. We'd rather answer your questions in advance than have you proceed with anything you don't fully understand.
Suggested subject: "Informed Consent question"
Ready to confirm your informed consent?
The Informed Consent Form is below. Take your time — review each acknowledgment carefully, type your digital signature, and submit when you're ready.
After you submit, you'll be directed to the payment step to activate your Phase 1 participation.