Enlightened Circle Foundation (ECF)
01. SCOPE, APPLICABILITY & LEGAL ACCEPTANCE
This Refund, Cancellation & Payment Policy (“Policy”) governs all financial transactions made in favor of Enlightened Circle Foundation (“ECF”, “we”, “our”, “us”), a Section 8 non-profit entity.
This Policy applies universally across all modes, platforms, and touchpoints, including but not limited to:
- Official Website and web portals
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Mobile applications (including present and future applications such as Swadhyan App)
- Payment gateways and payment links
- Offline registrations and institutional enrollments
- Retreats, satsangs, and in-person experiences
- Membership programs and community participation
- Workshops, seminars, and events
- Donations, grants, and voluntary contributions
By proceeding with any payment, the individual or entity (“Participant”, “Member”, “Donor”, “User”, “You”):
- Confirms having read, understood, and accepted this Policy
- Acknowledges the non-tangible, experiential nature of ECF offerings
- Agrees to be legally bound by the terms herein
- Waives any claim inconsistent with this Policy, except where mandated by applicable law
02. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT & OFFERINGS
ECF provides spiritual, educational, and community-based services, which are inherently:
- Experiential and transformational in nature
- Time-bound and participation-dependent
- Access-based rather than ownership-based
These include:
- Meditation and inner development programs
- Guided spiritual sessions and satsangs
- Digital courses, recordings, and structured learning journeys
- Membership-based access to communities and teachings
- Retreats and immersive offline experiences
- Voluntary donations and contribution-based participation
Legal Characterization
All ECF offerings shall be treated as:
- Non-transferable licenses of access, not sale of goods
- Irrevocable upon activation or reservation, subject to this Policy
PRINCIPLE OF FINALITY OF PAYMENT
All payments made to ECF are final, binding, and non-refundable, except under explicitly defined exceptions in this Policy.
This applies to:
- Membership fees (recurring or one-time)
- Program enrollments (digital or physical)
- Retreat bookings and seat reservations
- Event registrations
- Digital resources, content, and learning materials
- Donations and voluntary contributions
Legal Justification
Refunds are restricted due to:
- Immediate activation of access rights
- Allocation of institutional resources and mentor time
- Blocking of limited-capacity seats
- Irreversible consumption of digital or experiential services
- Operational and logistical commitments triggered upon enrollment
04. LIMITED REFUND ELIGIBILITY
Refunds shall be considered only in exceptional, verifiable, and documented cases, as outlined below:
4.1 Duplicate or Excess Payment
Where the same transaction has been processed more than once for identical services.
4.2 Prolonged Technical Failure
Where:
- Access to paid services is not provided
- Issue persists for 7 consecutive working days
- Participant has formally escalated and ECF has failed to resolve
4.3 Cancellation by ECF Prior to Commencement
Where ECF cancels a program/event before it begins.
4.4 Verified Payment Failure
Where:
- Payment is successfully debited
- Service/enrollment is not activated due to system or gateway failure
Important Condition
All refund requests under this clause are subject to:
- Internal audit and verification
- Technical validation
- Administrative discretion
Refunds are not automatic rights, but conditional remedies.
05. REFUND REQUEST WINDOW & PROCEDURAL LIMITATION
- All refund requests must be submitted within 7 (seven) calendar days from the date of payment
- Requests beyond this period shall be automatically deemed ineligible, unless otherwise required under applicable law
Failure to adhere to this timeline constitutes waiver of refund claim.
06. ABSOLUTE NON-REFUNDABLE CONDITIONS
The following scenarios shall categorically disqualify any refund claim, without exception:
6.1 Voluntary Discontinuation
Participant chooses to withdraw, discontinue, or disengage for any reason.
6.2 Consumption or Access
If the participant has:
- Logged into any ECF platform
- Accessed any content/module
- Attended any session (online/offline)
- Engaged in any form of participation
6.3 Non-Attendance
Failure to attend scheduled sessions or events does not constitute eligibility for refund.
6.4 Change of Mind / User Error
Including:
- Incorrect program selection
- Lack of clarity prior to payment
- Personal preference changes
6.5 Breach of Code of Conduct
Including:
- Disruptive or inappropriate behavior
- Non-adherence to community discipline
- Disrespect toward mentors or participants
6.6 Confidentiality & Intellectual Property Violations
Including:
- Recording sessions without permission
- Sharing internal content or teachings externally
- Unauthorized reproduction or distribution
6.7 Revocation Due to Misconduct
Termination of access due to violations results in immediate forfeiture of all payments.
6.8 Donations & Contributions
All donations are:
- Voluntary
- Non-refundable
- Irrevocable
07. CANCELLATION POLICY FRAMEWORK
7.1 Participant-Initiated Cancellation
- Allowed only for future renewals or upcoming cycles (if not commenced)
- No refund of past payments
- Access continues until validity expires
7.2 ECF-Initiated Cancellation / Modification
ECF reserves absolute rights to:
- Cancel
- Reschedule
- Modify structure or delivery
Due to:
- Operational requirements
- Mentor availability
- Safety, discipline, or ethical considerations
- External or force majeure events
Remedies (At ECF Discretion Only):
- Credit note
- Batch transfer
- Alternate program allocation
- Partial/full refund (rare, discretionary)
08. THIRD-PARTY PAYMENT DISCLAIMER
All payments are processed via third-party service providers.
ECF shall not be liable for:
- Payment gateway errors
- Banking delays
- Transaction failures
- Additional charges imposed by banks/cards
Processing Charges
In case of approved refunds:
- Gateway or transaction charges may be deducted
09. REFUND PROCESSING MECHANISM
- Approved refunds shall be processed within 10–15 business days
- Refunds shall be credited only to the original payment source
ECF shall not process refunds via:
- Cash
- Cheque
- Alternate accounts or methods
10. CHARGEBACK, FRAUD & PAYMENT DISPUTE POLICY
Participants are required to contact ECF before initiating any dispute.
Unauthorized chargebacks may result in:
- Immediate suspension of access
- Permanent account termination
- Blacklisting from future participation
- Legal recovery proceedings
11. FORCE MAJEURE & LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
ECF shall not be liable for failure or delay due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including:
- Natural disasters
- Government restrictions
- Public emergencies
- Internet/system failures
- Civil or national disruptions
In such cases:
- Programs may be rescheduled or deferred
- Refunds shall not be obligatory
12. INDEMNITY & LIMITATION OF CLAIMS
By enrolling or making payment, the participant agrees to:
- Indemnify and hold harmless ECF from any claims arising from participation
- Accept that ECF’s liability is limited strictly to the amount paid (if refund is approved)
- Not initiate claims for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
13. REFUND REQUEST PROCESS
All refund requests must be submitted via:
Email: info@enlightenedcircle.org
Subject Line: Refund Request – ECF
Mandatory details:
- Full Name
- Registered Email / Phone
- Transaction ID
- Program/Event Name
- Detailed justification
Response timeline: Within 7 working days
14. FINAL AUTHORITY & POLICY INTERPRETATION
- All decisions shall rest solely with the ECF Core Administrative Authority
- ECF reserves the absolute right to:
- Interpret policy clauses
- Approve or reject requests
- Modify this Policy without prior notice
This Policy shall be considered binding and enforceable.
15. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
This Policy shall be governed by the laws of India.
All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in New Delhi, India.