Refund and Cancellation Policy

1. Introduction

This Refund and Cancellation Policy ("Policy") outlines the terms and conditions for refunds and cancellations of products and services offered by ArthaSutra, operated by Ajay Chaudhary ("we", "us", or "our"). This Policy forms part of our Terms of Service and should be read in conjunction with those terms.

We strive to provide high-quality educational content and research materials. We understand that sometimes our products may not meet your expectations, and we have established this Policy to address such situations fairly and transparently.

By purchasing any product or service from ArthaSutra, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Refund Policy. Different products and services have different refund terms as detailed below.

2. General Refund Principles

2.1 Our Commitment

We are committed to customer satisfaction while protecting the intellectual property value of our digital products. Our refund policy balances these considerations fairly.

2.2 Digital Product Nature

Most of our products are digital and delivered immediately upon purchase. Once digital content is accessed or downloaded, it cannot be "returned" in the traditional sense. This influences our refund terms.

2.3 Verification Requirements

All refund requests must include:

• Order ID or transaction reference
• Email address used for purchase
• Date of purchase
• Reason for refund request

3. Subscription Plans (₹299 Researcher / ₹599 Analyst)

3.1 Refund Eligibility

3.2 Non-Refundable Situations

Subscriptions are non-refundable if:

• More than 24 hours have passed since purchase
• Any premium content has been accessed or downloaded
• The subscription is a renewal (not first-time purchase)
• The account has been suspended for Terms of Service violations

3.3 Cancellation Terms

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Upon cancellation:

• Access continues until the end of the current billing period
• No partial refunds for unused time
• Auto-renewal is disabled immediately
• Downloaded content remains accessible

3.4 How to Cancel

To cancel your subscription:

1. Log into your account dashboard
2. Navigate to "Subscription" section
3. Click "Cancel Subscription"
4. Confirm cancellation

Alternatively, email support@arthasutra.site with your cancellation request.

4. Independent Investigation Program (₹2,000 to start)

4.1 Payment Structure

The program uses a progressive payment model:

• Month 1: ₹2,000 (Experience & Decide)
• Month 2: ₹8,000 (Only if you find value)
• Month 3: ₹15,000 (Only if you're transforming)
• Total: ₹25,000 (paid only as you progress)

4.2 Refund Conditions

Upon requesting a refund:

• Immediate removal from program WhatsApp group
• Cannot rejoin the program for 12 months
• Loss of access to research frameworks

5. Digital Products (eBooks, Case Studies, Research Reports)

5.1 Refund Policy

5.2 Exception - Purchase Errors

Full refund available only if:

• Requested within 24 hours of purchase
• Content has NOT been downloaded or accessed
• Clear evidence of purchase error (duplicate purchase, technical error)

5.3 Quality Concerns

We stand behind our content quality. If you have concerns about content quality:

• Contact us with specific feedback
• We may offer account credits at our discretion
• No cash refunds for quality disputes after download

5.4 Individual Purchases vs Bundle Access

If you purchase content individually that is later included in your subscription:

• No retroactive refunds
• Consider subscription value before individual purchases
• Contact support for guidance on best value options

6. Payment Errors and Special Circumstances

6.1 Duplicate Payments

If you accidentally make duplicate payments:

• Contact us within 48 hours
• Provide transaction IDs for both payments
• Full refund of duplicate amount processed within 5-7 business days

6.2 Technical Failures

If you cannot access purchased content due to our technical failures:

• We will first attempt to resolve the technical issue
• If unresolvable, full refund offered
• Report issues to support@arthasutra.site immediately

6.3 Pricing Errors

In case of obvious pricing errors:

• We reserve the right to cancel orders
• Full refund issued for cancelled orders
• Option to purchase at correct price offered

7. Refund Process and Timeline

7.1 How to Request a Refund

Submit refund requests to:

7.2 Processing Timeline

• Acknowledgment: Within 24-48 hours
• Review: 2-3 business days
• Processing: 5-7 business days after approval
• Bank credit: Additional 3-5 days depending on bank

7.3 Refund Method

Refunds are processed to:

• Original payment method when possible
• Bank transfer for UPI/cash payments
• Account credits offered as faster alternative

7.4 Currency and Fees

• Refunds processed in INR only
• Transaction fees are non-refundable
• Currency conversion losses borne by customer

8. Abuse Prevention

8.1 Fair Use

This refund policy is based on trust and fair use. We reserve the right to:

• Deny refunds for suspected abuse
• Close accounts showing patterns of refund abuse
• Implement additional verification for frequent refund requesters

8.2 Fraudulent Activity

In cases of suspected fraud:

• We may delay refunds pending investigation
• Report fraudulent activity to authorities
• Pursue legal remedies as appropriate

9. Disputes and Appeals

9.1 Appeal Process

If your refund request is denied:

1. You may appeal by emailing ajay@arthasutra.site
2. Include original request details and reason for appeal
3. Final decision provided within 5 business days

9.2 Chargeback Policy

Before initiating a chargeback:

• Please contact us to resolve the issue
• Chargebacks may result in account suspension
• We actively dispute fraudulent chargebacks

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Refund Policy periodically. Changes will be:

• Posted on this page with updated effective date
• Announced to active subscribers via email
• Applicable to purchases made after the effective date

Existing purchases remain governed by the policy in effect at time of purchase.