Refund Policy

1. No-Refund Policy

Registration Completion = Commitment:

By registering for SpellBee Championship 2026, you agree that:

• Once registration is completed and you have logged into the practice platform at least ONE time, your payment becomes 100% non-refundable
• This applies regardless of usage, participation, or any other circumstances
• Login to the practice platform indicates acceptance and activation of services
• No refunds will be issued for change of mind, schedule conflicts, or dissatisfaction

2. Exceptional Circumstances - Limited Refund Eligibility

Refunds may ONLY be considered in the following exceptional cases:

2.1 Valid Medical Reasons

• Serious illness of the student requiring hospitalization (medical certificate required)
• Accident or injury preventing participation (doctor's certificate required)
• Medical emergency requiring extended treatment (documentation required)
• All medical claims must be supported by valid medical certificates from registered hospitals/doctors

2.2 Academy-Approved Reasons

• Death in immediate family (death certificate required)
• Relocation outside Tamil Nadu due to parent's job transfer (transfer letter required)
• Natural disaster or extreme circumstances (case-by-case review)
• Technical platform failure from our end preventing access (verified by our team)

3. Refund Amount for Approved Cases

If your refund request is approved under exceptional circumstances:

Situation	Refund Amount	Deduction
Approved Medical/Exceptional Case	90% Refund	10% processing & administrative fee
All Other Cases	No Refund	100% non-refundable

Processing Fee Explanation:

• 10% deduction covers payment gateway charges, administrative costs, and platform setup expenses
• This fee is non-negotiable even for approved exceptional cases
• Example: If you paid ₹255, approved refund = ₹229.50 (90% of ₹255)

4. Refund Process (For Approved Cases Only)

Step 1: Submit Request with Documentation

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject: "Exceptional Refund Request - [Student Name] - [Registration ID]"
• Required Documents:
  • Student registration details
  • Payment receipt/proof
  • Valid supporting documents (medical certificate, death certificate, transfer letter, etc.)
  • Detailed explanation of circumstances

Step 2: Verification & Review

• Management will review your case and verify all documents
• Processing time: 7-10 business days
• We may request additional documentation if needed
• False claims or fraudulent documents will result in permanent blacklisting

Step 3: Decision Communication

• You'll receive email notification of approval or rejection
• Rejection reasons will be provided
• Academy's decision is final - no appeals

Step 4: Refund Processing (If Approved)

• Approved refunds (90% of amount) processed within 10-15 business days
• Refund credited to original payment method only
• Bank transfers may take additional 5-7 days
• Refund reference number provided for tracking

5. Situations Where Refunds Will NOT Be Issued

The following are NOT valid reasons for refund:

• ❌ Change of mind or loss of interest
• ❌ Schedule conflicts or busy academic calendar
• ❌ Not satisfied with practice platform features
• ❌ Student performance not meeting expectations
• ❌ Didn't like the Tamil-English teaching methodology
• ❌ Comparison with other competitions
• ❌ Technical issues on student's end (internet, device problems)
• ❌ Failure to practice or utilize platform
• ❌ Not advancing to Grand Finale
• ❌ Dissatisfaction with competition results or rankings
• ❌ Registered by mistake (platform login confirms acceptance)
• ❌ Found another competition or program
• ❌ School changed or student transferred schools
• ❌ Parent's job change within Tamil Nadu
• ❌ Financial difficulties or changed financial situation

6. Conditional Prize Refunds

If a class doesn't meet the minimum participant threshold (250 students):

• Students in that class will be merged with the next higher class for competition
• Prize pool will be adjusted proportionally
• Students have the option to request a full refund (100%) if dissatisfied with the merger
• Refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of merger announcement

7. Payment Method-Specific Terms

Online Payments (UPI, Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking)

• Refund to original payment method
• Processing time: 7-10 business days
• Payment gateway charges (2-3%) may be deducted

Cash/Cheque Payments (For School Bulk Registrations)

• Refund via bank transfer to school account
• Processing time: 10-15 business days
• School's cancelled cheque/bank details required

8. Discount Adjustments

If you availed any discount during registration:

• Early Bird Discount: Refund calculated on discounted amount paid
• Women's Day Discount: Refund calculated on discounted amount paid
• School Bulk Discount: Individual student refunds may be adjusted based on new bulk tier

9. Cancellation by Organizers

If SpellBee Championship 2026 is cancelled by organizers due to unforeseen circumstances:

• Full Refund (100%): All participants will receive complete refund
• Processing time: 15-20 business days from cancellation announcement
• Alternative compensation may be offered (e.g., free registration for next year)

10. Contact for Refund Queries

For refund-related questions or issues:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +91 98765 43210 (Mon-Sat, 10 AM - 6 PM IST)
• Response Time: Within 48 hours

11. Dispute Resolution

If you disagree with a refund decision:

• Submit a formal appeal to [email protected]
• Include all relevant documentation and reasoning
• Appeals will be reviewed within 7 business days
• Decision of the appeals committee is final

12. Policy Changes

We reserve the right to modify this refund policy. Changes will be:

• Announced via email to registered participants
• Posted on our website with updated "Last Updated" date
• Applied to future registrations only (existing registrations follow original policy)

By completing registration, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Refund Policy.