Please read this Refund and Payment Policy carefully before purchasing or using any services on ExpertBuddy. This policy outlines your rights and responsibilities concerning payments, refunds, and service transactions. It forms an integral part of the Terms and Conditions.

1. Scope

This policy governs all monetary transactions, lesson purchases, subscriptions, and refunds on the ExpertBuddy platform.
It applies to all users, including tutors, students, and parents.

2. Platform Role & Responsibility

ExpertBuddy facilitates the exchange of academic services by connecting tutors and students through an online platform.
We are not a party to the direct contract between tutors and students. All educational services are provided by independent tutors, and ExpertBuddy acts solely as an intermediary to manage payments and bookings.

3. Payment Terms

3.1 Accepted Payment Methods

Payments on ExpertBuddy are processed securely through trusted third-party gateways such as:

  • Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
  • UPI / Net Banking (India)
  • Stripe / Razorpay / PayPal (International)
  • Google Pay / Apple Pay (Mobile)

We do not store your card or billing details directly.
All transactions are secured using SSL encryption and processed by PCI-DSS compliant providers.

3.2 Currency

  • Payments are accepted in multiple currencies (INR, USD, EUR, GBP).
  • If your local currency is not supported, conversions are handled by your bank or payment provider.
  • Additional charges (FX fee, conversion charges) may apply.
  • ExpertBuddy is not responsible for such external bank fees or exchange rate discrepancies.

4. Refund Eligibility

Refunds will be issued only under specific, valid conditions.
Users may be eligible for a full or partial refund if:

  • The tutor fails to deliver the session without prior notice.
  • There was a technical issue on our platform that prevented the session.
  • The session did not match the promised description or learning outcome.
  • Duplicate payment or overcharging occurred.

Refund requests must be submitted within 48 hours of the session or scheduled delivery time.

5. Non-Refundable Situations

Refunds will not be granted in the following cases:

  • Student no-show or late arrival beyond 15 minutes.
  • Incomplete or vague instructions leading to unsatisfactory solutions.
  • Missed deadlines due to delayed material submission by the student.
  • Breach of academic integrity or use of ExpertBuddy content for cheating/plagiarism.
  • Services that were already fulfilled and confirmed by the student.
  • Subscription services used partially or fully.

6. Refund Procedure

To initiate a refund request, email us at support@expertbuddy.com with the following:

  • Full name and registered email
  • Tutor name and session date
  • Reason for refund (include screenshots if needed)
  • Order/transaction ID

Refund requests will be reviewed within 5–10 business days, and decisions will be communicated via email.
Approved refunds will be processed via the original payment method within 7–14 working days.

⚠️ Note: Refund amounts may be subject to deduction of payment processor fees.

7. Chargebacks and Disputes

Initiating a chargeback through your bank or payment provider without contacting us first will result in:

  • Immediate suspension of your ExpertBuddy account
  • Withholding of any remaining credits or scheduled lessons
  • Potential legal action for false claims

We urge users to contact us before initiating any disputes.

8. Lesson Expiry & Auto-Renewals

8.1 Lesson Credits Expiry

Unused prepaid lessons or wallet balances are valid for 6 months from the purchase date unless specified otherwise.
Expired credits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

8.2 Auto-Renewal (Optional)

Users subscribing to lesson packages or weekly sessions may opt-in for automatic renewals.
Auto-renew settings can be disabled or modified from your dashboard at any time.

9. Tutor Payouts

Tutors will be paid for each confirmed session as per their agreed hourly rate.

To receive payouts, tutors must:

  • Verify their identity and qualifications
  • Provide valid tax and bank details
  • Use supported withdrawal methods (PayPal, UPI, Stripe, Payoneer, etc.)

ExpertBuddy may withhold payouts for tutors violating platform rules or failing to meet documentation requirements.

10. Taxes and Invoicing

  • GST (India) or VAT (EU/UK) may be applicable based on your region and the nature of services rendered.
  • ExpertBuddy may issue tax invoices on behalf of tutors for regulatory compliance.
  • Tutors are responsible for declaring and paying taxes on their earnings as per local laws.

11. Policy Updates

We may revise this Refund and Payment Policy periodically.
The most recent version will be posted on our website.
Continued use of ExpertBuddy after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

For any billing or refund-related queries, please contact:

📧 Email: support@expertbuddy.com
🌐 Website: https://www.expertbuddy.com