diff --git a/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegate.kt b/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegate.kt
index 902dac083..568f09247 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegate.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegate.kt
@@ -137,11 +137,15 @@ class TipPaymentDelegate @Inject constructor(
      *
      * The fee is stored in whatever currency the recipient set it in, so it is converted through USD
      * to the currency the sender is entering in. A missing rate for either side falls back to the
-     * preset rather than stating a floor in a currency the entry isn't using.
+     * preset rather than stating a floor in a currency the entry isn't using. A fee below the preset
+     * also falls back to it, since every tip carries the regional minimum and the server would deny
+     * the fee for it.
      */
     fun startChattingFee(recipient: UserProfile?): Flow<Fiat?> =
         combine(minTipAmount, exchange.observePreferredRate()) { preset, rate ->
-            recipient?.minDmChatInitFee?.inCurrency(rate.currency) ?: preset
+            val fee = recipient?.minDmChatInitFee
+            val stated = fee?.inCurrency(rate.currency) ?: return@combine preset
+            if (preset != null && fee.isBelow(preset, stated)) preset else stated
         }
 
     /**
@@ -223,6 +227,18 @@ class TipPaymentDelegate @Inject constructor(
         return exchange.rateFor(target)?.let { usd.convertingTo(it).roundedUp() }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Whether this fee, [stated] in the entry currency, falls short of the regional [minimum]. The
+     * minimum is in the entry currency or is the USD fallback row; a fee that can't be priced in USD
+     * keeps its own floor and the server remains the authority.
+     */
+    private fun Fiat.isBelow(minimum: Fiat, stated: Fiat): Boolean = when (minimum.currencyCode) {
+        stated.currencyCode -> stated < minimum
+        currencyCode -> this < minimum
+        CurrencyCode.USD -> exchange.rateToUsd(currencyCode)?.let { convertingTo(it).rounded() < minimum } ?: false
+        else -> false
+    }
+
     /**
      * The built-in fallback presets — the [DEFAULT_USD_MINIMUM] and [DEFAULT_USD_PRESETS] tiers (in
      * USD), localized to [preferred] via the current exchange rate when the user isn't on USD. Leaves
diff --git a/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegateTest.kt b/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegateTest.kt
index 86d165c8e..5f369dff6 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegateTest.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/shared/payments/src/test/kotlin/com/flipcash/shared/payments/TipPaymentDelegateTest.kt
@@ -291,6 +291,39 @@ class TipPaymentDelegateTest {
         assertEquals(CurrencyCode.EUR, fee.currencyCode)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `startChattingFee raises a fee below the regional minimum to the minimum`() = runTest {
+        every { userFlags.resolvedFlags } returns usdPresets()
+        every { exchange.observePreferredRate() } returns flowOf(Rate(fx = 1.0, currency = CurrencyCode.USD))
+
+        val recipient = recipient(Fiat(0.5, CurrencyCode.USD))
+        val delegate = buildDelegate()
+        // The fee floor emits before the presets resolve; judge it once they have.
+        delegate.minTipAmount.first { it != null }
+        val min = delegate.startChattingFee(recipient).first { it != null }
+
+        assertEquals(1.0, min!!.toDouble())
+        assertEquals(CurrencyCode.USD, min.currencyCode)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `startChattingFee judges a fee against the USD fallback minimum`() = runTest {
+        // Only a USD row exists, so an NGN sender's regional minimum is the $1 fallback.
+        every { userFlags.resolvedFlags } returns usdPresets()
+        every { exchange.observePreferredRate() } returns flowOf(Rate(fx = 1320.0, currency = CurrencyCode.NGN))
+        // 1000 NGN at 1320 NGN/USD is about $0.76, under the $1 minimum.
+        every { exchange.rateToUsd(CurrencyCode.NGN) } returns Rate(fx = 1 / 1320.0, currency = CurrencyCode.USD)
+
+        val recipient = recipient(Fiat(1000.0, CurrencyCode.NGN))
+        val delegate = buildDelegate()
+        // The fee floor emits before the presets resolve; judge it once they have.
+        delegate.minTipAmount.first { it != null }
+        val min = delegate.startChattingFee(recipient).first { it != null }
+
+        assertEquals(1.0, min!!.toDouble())
+        assertEquals(CurrencyCode.USD, min.currencyCode)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `minimumTipFor drops to the system minimum once a chat exists`() = runTest {
         every { userFlags.resolvedFlags } returns usdPresets()