Refund Policy

Effective date: [EFFECTIVE_DATE] · Last updated: [EFFECTIVE_DATE]

This policy explains when and how we refund payments for paid listing features on Aurélie — Boutique Companions, operated by [OPERATOR_LEGAL_NAME]. It forms part of our Terms of Service and does not limit any right you have under South African consumer law that cannot lawfully be excluded.

1. What you are paying for

Payments buy a paid listing feature — typically a period of listing visibility. You pay by EFT or bank deposit, quoting your EL-XXXXX reference; we match the deposit to your listing and apply the time it buys. We do not process card payments and do not store card details.

2. When we refund

We will refund, in full or in part, where:

you were charged in error, paid twice, or overpaid;
your payment could not be applied to a listing (for example it could not be matched, or the listing was never activated) and you would prefer a refund to having it applied;
a technical fault on our side prevented the listing feature you paid for from being delivered; or
we remove or reject your listing for our own reasons not caused by a breach of our Terms — in which case we refund the unused portion of the period you paid for.

3. Cooling-off

Where the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act or the Consumer Protection Act gives you a cooling-off right, we honour it. Note that once a listing feature has begun — i.e. your listing is live — the service has started, which may limit a cooling-off refund to the unused portion. [Counsel to confirm cooling-off scope and any ECTA s42-44 exception wording.]

4. When we usually will not refund

For time that has already run on a live listing (the service was delivered).
Where a listing is removed, hidden or suspended because of a breach of our Terms of Service (for example prohibited content or conduct).
For a simple change of mind after the listing is live, except where the law gives you a right to a refund.

Nothing here removes a refund right the law gives you and that cannot lawfully be excluded.

5. How to request a refund

your EL-XXXXX payment reference (and the deposit date and amount);
the listing the payment relates to; and
the reason you are requesting a refund.

Signed-in users can open a support ticket; otherwise email [BILLING_CONTACT_EMAIL].

6. How a refund is processed

We review each request against this policy. If we approve it, an administrator records the refund against your payment. This reverses the listing days that payment granted (so the listing's expiry is adjusted, and it may move to "expired" if no paid time remains), and we return the refunded amount to the bank account the payment came from by EFT. Because payments and refunds are handled by bank transfer, please allow about [REFUND_PROCESSING_DAYS] business days for the funds to reach you after approval. Every refund is logged for our records.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time; the effective date above shows the current version. Where a change is material and affects registered users, we will give notice (for example by email or an in-account notice).

Questions about a payment or refund? Contact us, or email [BILLING_CONTACT_EMAIL].