Donation Refund & Cancellation Policy

1. Purpose

This Donation Refund & Cancellation Policy (“Refund Policy”) explains the circumstances and process under which Shyamsharanam Skills and Livelihood Foundation (SSLF) may consider cancellation, correction or refund requests relating to donations.

This Refund Policy should be read together with SSLF's Donation Terms & Conditions / Donation Policy and Website & External Privacy Policy.

2. Voluntary Nature of Donations

Donations made to SSLF are voluntary charitable contributions.

Once a donation has been successfully received and recorded, a donor does not have an automatic right to cancel or obtain a refund merely because the donor has changed their mind.

However, SSLF may consider refund or correction requests in the circumstances described in this Policy.

3. Circumstances in Which Refund May Be Considered

SSLF may consider a refund or correction where:

• The same donation was accidentally made more than once
• A demonstrable technical error resulted in an incorrect transaction
• An incorrect amount was charged due to a technical or payment-processing error
• An unauthorised transaction is reported and subsequently verified
• A payment was incorrectly credited to SSLF
• A transaction was subsequently reversed or failed despite the donor's account being debited, or
• Other exceptional circumstances justify corrective action, subject to applicable law and SSLF's approval

4. Change of Mind

A refund request based solely on a donor's subsequent change of mind will generally not automatically qualify for a refund.

SSLF may, however, review exceptional circumstances at its discretion, taking into account the nature and status of the donation, applicable law, accounting treatment and whether the funds have already been utilised or committed.

5. Purpose-Specific Donations

Where a donor has selected a particular charitable purpose, cancellation or refund will not automatically arise merely because the donor later wishes to change the selected purpose.

Where legally permissible and operationally appropriate, SSLF may consider redirecting the contribution to another related charitable purpose instead of processing a refund.

Any donor-specific restriction expressly accepted by SSLF in writing shall be handled in accordance with the applicable written arrangement and applicable law.

6. Duplicate Donations

Where a donor has unintentionally made the same donation more than once, the donor should contact SSLF as soon as reasonably possible.

SSLF may verify the transactions and, where the duplicate payment is established, may process an appropriate correction or refund.

7. Failed, Pending or Reversed Transactions

Where a donor's bank account has been debited but the donation is shown as failed, pending or unsuccessful, the donor should first verify the transaction status with their bank or payment service provider.

Where SSLF has not received the funds, the matter may need to be resolved through the relevant bank or payment service provider.

Where SSLF has actually received the amount and the transaction is subsequently established as an erroneous or failed transaction, SSLF may process an appropriate correction or refund after verification.

8. Unauthorised Transactions

If a donor believes that a donation was made without authorisation, the donor should immediately:

1. Contact their bank or payment service provider
2. Take appropriate steps to secure their payment account, and
3. Inform SSLF with the relevant transaction details

SSLF may conduct reasonable verification before processing any refund or correction.

9. Refund Request Process

A donor seeking a refund or correction should contact SSLF at:

Email: info@shyamsharanam.org

The request should preferably include:

• Donor name
• Registered email/mobile number
• Donation date
• Donation amount
• Payment mode
• Transaction/reference ID
• Reason for the request
• Relevant supporting information, where available

SSLF may request additional information reasonably required to verify the request.

10. Verification of Refund Requests

SSLF may verify a refund request against its:

• Donation records
• Bank records
• Payment gateway records
• Transaction/reference information
• Receipt records, and
• Other relevant documentation

SSLF reserves the right to reject a refund request where the transaction cannot be verified or where the request is inconsistent with applicable law or this Refund Policy.

11. Refund Method

Where a refund is approved, SSLF will generally endeavour to return the amount through the original payment channel or another appropriate traceable method, subject to:

• Payment gateway procedures
• Banking requirements
• Transaction limitations
• Verification requirements, and
• Applicable law

SSLF will not ordinarily make refunds to an unrelated third-party account.

12. Refund Processing Time

Approved refunds will be initiated by SSLF within a reasonable period after completion of the necessary verification.

The actual time for the refunded amount to appear in the donor's account may depend on the bank, payment gateway or other financial institution involved.

Accordingly, SSLF does not guarantee a particular crediting time controlled by a third-party payment provider.

13. Cash Donations

For donations made in cash, any refund or correction request will be considered separately based on:

• Availability of donation records
• Receipt details
• Identity and verification information
• Applicable accounting requirements
• Applicable law, and
• The circumstances of the request

Where a cash refund is legally or operationally inappropriate, SSLF may use another lawful and traceable method where suitable.

14. Cheque and Demand Draft Donations

Where a donation is made through cheque or demand draft, refund or cancellation requests may be considered after verification of:

• Instrument details
• Realisation of the amount
• Donor identity
• Donation receipt
• Bank records, and
• Other relevant information

A cheque or demand draft that has not yet been realised may be handled differently from a donation that has already been credited and recorded.

15. Bank Transfer Donations

For donations made through bank transfer, refund or correction requests may be considered after verification of the relevant transaction and donor details.

Where a refund is approved, SSLF may use an appropriate banking channel for the refund, subject to applicable requirements.

16. Tax and 80G Documentation

Where a donation has already been reported for statutory purposes or an applicable donation certificate has been issued, any subsequent refund or correction may require corresponding accounting and statutory adjustments.

Where applicable, the donor may be required to return or otherwise appropriately deal with donation documentation already issued.

SSLF does not guarantee that a refunded donation will remain eligible for any tax deduction or benefit.

The tax treatment of a refund shall be subject to applicable income-tax law.

17. Donation Receipts

Where a refund is approved after a donation receipt or acknowledgement has been issued, SSLF may cancel, amend or otherwise adjust its records and documentation as appropriate.

The donor may be requested to provide the original receipt or relevant documentation where required.

18. Third-Party Payment Charges

Where a transaction has been processed through a payment gateway, bank or other third-party service provider, any refund may be subject to the provider's applicable procedures and charges.

SSLF will handle such matters in accordance with the applicable transaction terms and applicable law.

19. No Automatic Refund for Programme Completion

A donation will not automatically become refundable merely because:

• A particular programme has been completed
• A particular fundraising target has been achieved
• A beneficiary has received support from another source
• The donor's preferred activity has changed, or
• SSLF has decided to modify or restructure a programme

Where appropriate and legally permissible, remaining funds may be utilised for related charitable activities in accordance with SSLF's Donation Terms & Conditions / Donation Policy.

20. Fraudulent or Misleading Claims

SSLF may reject a refund request where there is reasonable evidence of:

• Fraud
• Misrepresentation
• False transaction information
• Manipulation of payment records
• Identity misuse, or
• Other unlawful conduct

Where appropriate, SSLF may report the matter to the relevant bank, payment service provider or competent authority.

21. Foreign Contributions

Any refund relating to a foreign contribution, where such contribution is lawfully accepted by SSLF in the future, shall be handled strictly in accordance with applicable foreign contribution, banking, tax and regulatory requirements.

SSLF does not currently represent that it is authorised to accept foreign contributions unless the applicable legal requirements have been satisfied.

22. Contact for Refund Requests

All refund, cancellation and transaction-correction requests should be sent to:

Shyamsharanam Skills and Livelihood Foundation (SSLF)

23. Policy Changes

SSLF may update this Refund Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• Applicable law
• Tax requirements
• Banking requirements
• Payment systems
• Donation procedures, or
• Organisational processes

The latest version published by SSLF shall indicate the applicable “Last Updated” date.

24. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Refund Policy shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws applicable in India.

Subject to applicable law, disputes relating to this Refund Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.

25. Severability

If any provision of this Refund Policy is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to remain effective to the extent permitted by law.

26. No Waiver

Failure by SSLF to enforce any provision of this Refund Policy at any particular time shall not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce that provision subsequently.

27. Document Control