Refund Policy
1. Introduction
Thank you for using Student Toolbox Central. This Refund Policy outlines your rights and our obligations regarding refunds for the digital services and products offered on our platform. This policy is drafted in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA) of South Africa.
Important Notice regarding Cooling-Off Periods:
Under Section 42(2) of the ECTA, the standard 7-day "cooling-off" period for online transactions does not apply to electronic services that have begun with your consent, or to unsealed audio, video, or software data. By purchasing and accessing our digital content, you consent to the immediate performance of the contract and acknowledge that you lose the right of withdrawal once access is granted.
2. Timetable Creator (SaaS Product)
The Timetable Creator is a software-as-a-service tool that processes your schedule data into a usable format.
2.1 Consent to Immediate Performance
The service is considered "fully performed" the moment you upload your file and the system processes or displays your timetable data. By uploading your file, you give express consent for the service to begin immediately.
2.2 No Refunds on Used Services
Due to the immediate and irrevocable nature of this digital service, we do not offer refunds once the service has been used (i.e., a file has been processed), as per the exemptions in ECTA Section 42(2)(d).
2.3 Try Before You Buy
To ensure customer satisfaction, we provide a free testing feature. You are strongly encouraged to use this feature to verify that your specific timetable file is compatible with our system before making a payment. By proceeding with the purchase, you acknowledge that you have verified compatibility and accept that the sale is final.
3. Notes Marketplace (Digital Downloads)
The Notes Marketplace allows users to purchase and download study materials uploaded by other students.
3.1 Digital Nature of Goods
Notes and study guides are digital data messages. Once the download link has been accessed or the file downloaded, the product is deemed "unsealed" and "consumed." Consequently, non-defective digital downloads are non-returnable and not eligible for a cooling-off refund.
3.2 Corrupted or Defective Files (Statutory Warranty)
We honor the implied warranty of quality under Section 56 of the CPA. If you purchase a file that is technically defective (e.g., corrupted, blank, or illegible):
- Reporting: Please report the defect to us immediately so we can resolve it.
- Remedy: You may choose to receive a replacement copy of the working file or a 100% refund.
- No Fees: No processing fees will be deducted from refunds for defective products.
3.3 Misrepresented Content
If the content of the file does not match the description provided by the seller (e.g., wrong module code, wrong year, or completely irrelevant content):
- Investigation: You must log a dispute with us. We will investigate the claim and contact the seller for verification.
- Refund: If our investigation confirms that the file was misrepresented, you will receive a 100% refund.
3.4 Accidental Purchases (User Error)
We understand that mistakes happen. If you accidentally purchase notes for the wrong module and have not yet downloaded the file:
- You may request a refund for this specific error.
- Partial Refund: As this is a voluntary refund not required by law, we will refund you the purchase price minus the payment gateway processing fees.
- The deduction is strictly to cover the non-refundable fees charged to us by the payment processor.
3.5 Reporting Timeframe
While the CPA provides a 6-month warranty for defects, we request that any claims regarding corrupted files, defective content, or misrepresentation be reported to us within 7 days of the purchase date to ensure a swift resolution and fair treatment of our student sellers.
4. General Refund Conditions
4.1 Method of Refund
Refunds are processed via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or, where possible, a reversal to your original payment method. If an EFT is required, you will need to provide valid South African banking details. We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA); your banking details are used strictly for the refund transaction and are not shared with third parties.
4.2 Currency
All transactions and refunds are processed exclusively in South African Rand (ZAR). We are not responsible for any differences in amounts due to foreign exchange rates if international cards are used.
4.3 Abuse of Policy
We reserve the right to refuse a discretionary refund (e.g., for accidental purchases) if we detect a pattern of abuse, such as repeated refund requests from the same user account, or if our system logs verify that the digital content was successfully accessed and used without technical fault.
4.4 Chargebacks and Disputes
Initiating a payment dispute or "chargeback" with your bank without first contacting our support team to resolve the issue is considered a breach of these terms. If a chargeback is initiated, we reserve the right to suspend your account pending an investigation into the dispute. If the chargeback is found to be fraudulent or a misuse of the banking dispute process, your account may be permanently terminated.
5. How to Request a Refund
To request a refund or log a dispute regarding a marketplace purchase, please contact our support team with your transaction details and a description of the issue.
We aim to process all verified refund requests within 7 business days.
6. Changes to this Policy
We reserve the right to modify this Refund Policy at any time. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the website.