This Refund & Cancellation Policy ("Policy") explains how cancellations, refunds, project termination, advance payments, recurring services, and related payment matters are handled for professional services provided by Arunaksha Sarkar ("I", "me", "my", or "Service Provider").
This Policy applies to paid professional services purchased or commissioned from me, including where applicable:
- AI-ready website design and development;
- AI Business Launch System;
- AI Visibility Upgrade;
- AI Visibility Monitoring;
- website improvement;
- SEO and local visibility work;
- analytics implementation;
- Google Business Profile-related work;
- digital consulting;
- business visibility services; and
- other services expressly agreed in writing.
This Policy should be read together with the applicable:
- Service Terms;
- Terms of Use;
- proposal or quotation;
- Statement of Work;
- project-specific service agreement;
- invoice terms; and
- any other written terms agreed for the relevant project.
If a project-specific written agreement contains different refund or cancellation terms, the project-specific terms will ordinarily apply to that project, subject to applicable law.
Nothing in this Policy removes or restricts rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded.
1. Service Provider
Services are provided by:
Arunaksha Sarkar Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Phone / WhatsApp: +91 83368 52135
Website:
arunaksha.com
2. Purpose of This Policy
Professional digital services involve time, research, planning, reserved capacity, creative work, technical implementation, and sometimes third-party costs.
For that reason, refunds are not determined solely by whether a final website or deliverable has already been launched.
The guiding principle of this Policy is:
You should not be charged for material work that has not been performed, while work that has already been reasonably performed or committed should be paid for.
Refunds therefore depend on:
- the agreed project;
- the amount paid;
- the stage of the project;
- work already performed;
- deliverables already provided;
- costs already incurred;
- approved third-party expenses;
- the reason for cancellation;
- any project-specific agreement; and
- applicable law.
3. Free Services
The Free AI Visibility Audit currently does not require payment.
Therefore:
- no cancellation fee applies to the free audit;
- no refund is applicable because no fee is charged; and
- requesting or cancelling a free audit does not create a paid-service obligation.
If a paid audit or diagnostic service is introduced later, its specific payment and cancellation terms will be disclosed before purchase.
4. Default Payment Structure
Unless a project-specific agreement states otherwise, fixed-price projects ordinarily use the following payment structure:
50% initial payment before work begins
and
50% final payment before final launch, transfer, or handover.
A different project may use:
- milestone payments;
- full advance payment;
- recurring billing;
- a custom deposit;
- or another payment arrangement
where this has been agreed in writing.
The applicable proposal or Statement of Work determines the actual payment arrangement.
5. Purpose of the Initial Payment
The initial payment may be used to:
- confirm the Client's commitment;
- reserve project capacity;
- begin research;
- perform discovery;
- plan the project;
- create architecture;
- prepare content or design;
- configure systems;
- purchase approved third-party items;
- begin implementation; and
- perform other work included in the agreed scope.
The initial payment is not automatically non-refundable in every circumstance.
Its refundability depends on how much work has already been performed or committed when cancellation occurs.
6. When Work Is Considered to Have Begun
Depending on the project, work may be considered to have begun when I start performing activities such as:
- research;
- business or competitor analysis;
- website audit;
- SEO or AI Visibility analysis;
- discovery;
- information architecture;
- copy planning;
- content preparation;
- wireframing;
- visual design;
- website development;
- technical setup;
- platform configuration;
- structured data implementation;
- analytics configuration;
- Google Business Profile review;
- Search Console work;
- purchased or committed third-party resources; or
- another substantive task within the agreed scope.
Work does not need to have reached public launch before it has value.
7. How to Cancel a Project
A Client may request cancellation by providing clear written notice.
Cancellation may be sent through an agreed communication channel, such as WhatsApp or another written project communication channel.
The cancellation request should identify:
- the Client;
- the project;
- the request to cancel; and
- any relevant reason or information.
The effective cancellation date will ordinarily be the date on which clear written cancellation notice is received.
8. Cancellation Before Work Begins
If the Client cancels before substantive project work has begun, amounts paid will ordinarily be refundable.
However, the refund may be reduced by:
- third-party expenses already purchased with the Client's approval;
- non-refundable platform or licence costs;
- payment-processing charges that are genuinely non-refundable, where legally permissible; or
- another specific cost already incurred at the Client's request.
No arbitrary penalty will be deducted merely because the Client changed their mind before work began.
9. Cancellation After Work Has Begun
If the Client cancels after substantive project work has begun, the refund, if any, will be calculated based on the unperformed portion of the project.
The Client remains responsible for reasonable amounts attributable to:
- work already completed;
- research already performed;
- project planning already completed;
- deliverables already produced;
- development already implemented;
- approved milestones already reached;
- work reasonably committed before cancellation;
- approved third-party expenses;
- non-refundable external costs; and
- other services already provided under the agreed scope.
Any remaining unearned amount will ordinarily be refunded.
10. Refund Calculation
Where a project is cancelled after work has begun, a reasonable refund assessment may follow this approach:
Amount Paid
minus
reasonable value of work already performed
minus
approved and non-recoverable third-party costs
equals
potential refundable balance
subject to:
- the agreed project terms;
- amounts otherwise properly due;
- applicable law; and
- any specific circumstances of the cancellation.
The assessment should reflect actual project progress rather than an arbitrary punishment for cancellation.
11. Work-in-Progress Assessment
Because professional digital projects do not always progress in equal monetary percentages, project progress may not be measured only by:
- number of pages visibly completed;
- number of files delivered;
- percentage of website screens displayed; or
- whether the Site has already been published.
Research, strategy, architecture, copy preparation, technical configuration, design systems, data structure, SEO work, and development can represent substantial completed work even before public launch.
Where necessary, I will provide a reasonable explanation of the work completed when determining a refund.
12. Cancellation After Substantial Completion
If the project has been substantially completed and is awaiting only matters such as:
- Client approval;
- final payment;
- minor included revisions;
- publication;
- domain connection;
- credentials;
- final content;
- or handover,
a cancellation request will not normally result in a refund of amounts attributable to the completed work.
Any remaining obligations will be assessed under the Service Terms and applicable project agreement.
13. Cancellation After Final Delivery
Once the agreed services have been fully performed and the final deliverables have been supplied, launched, transferred, or made available as agreed, payments for those completed services are ordinarily not refundable merely because:
- the Client changes their mind;
- the Client changes business direction;
- the Client later decides not to use the deliverable;
- another provider is preferred;
- the Client's internal priorities change; or
- expected commercial results do not occur.
This does not affect rights relating to an actual defect, deficiency, breach, misrepresentation, or other matter protected by applicable law.
14. Client Delays
A Client delay may occur where the Client does not provide required:
- content;
- credentials;
- business information;
- approvals;
- feedback;
- photographs;
- access;
- payment;
- or other materials reasonably required for the project.
A Client-caused delay does not automatically entitle the Client to a refund for work already completed.
The project schedule may be extended accordingly.
15. Inactive Projects
Consistent with the Service Terms, if there is no meaningful Client response for 30 consecutive days, I may treat the project as inactive after reasonable attempts to obtain the required response.
An inactive project may be:
- placed on hold;
- removed from the active production schedule;
- rescheduled according to future availability; or
- treated as cancelled where continued performance is no longer practical.
16. Restarting an Inactive Project
Restarting an inactive project may require:
- a revised schedule;
- re-confirmation of scope;
- payment of outstanding amounts;
- updated platform or third-party costs;
- reasonable additional fees where substantial rework is required; or
- a new quotation where the original project has materially changed.
A restart charge will not be imposed as an arbitrary penalty.
Any additional fee should reasonably correspond to additional work or cost caused by the restart.
17. Client Abandonment
If a Client remains unresponsive for an extended period despite reasonable contact attempts, I may provide written notice that the project will be treated as abandoned or terminated if no response is received within a reasonable additional period.
Amounts already earned for work performed remain payable.
Any unearned prepaid balance will be addressed according to this Policy and applicable law.
18. Cancellation by Arunaksha Sarkar
I may cancel or terminate a project where reasonable grounds exist.
Examples may include:
- inability to perform the agreed service;
- serious illness or incapacity;
- material Client non-payment;
- persistent failure to provide necessary cooperation;
- unlawful Client requests;
- fraudulent information;
- abusive, threatening, or harassing conduct;
- security concerns;
- requests that violate third-party platform policies;
- material breach of the project agreement;
- a conflict that makes lawful or appropriate performance impossible; or
- another substantial reason preventing reasonable continuation.
Where practical, I will communicate the reason for cancellation.
19. Cancellation by Me Without Client Breach
If I cancel a project for reasons that are not caused by a material breach or failure by the Client, the Client will ordinarily receive:
- a refund of amounts paid for work that has not been performed; and
- available completed deliverables for which the Client has paid, where appropriate.
The Client will not ordinarily be charged for material project work that I am unable or unwilling to perform.
20. Cancellation Due to Client Breach
Where cancellation results from serious Client breach, such as:
- material non-payment;
- unlawful instructions;
- abuse;
- fraudulent activity;
- persistent refusal to cooperate;
- unauthorized use of work;
- security abuse; or
- another material contractual breach,
the Client remains responsible for:
- work already performed;
- properly earned fees;
- approved third-party expenses;
- amounts already due; and
- any other reasonable contractual obligations.
Any refundable unearned amount will still be assessed fairly and in accordance with applicable law.
21. Problems With Delivered Work
If you believe a delivered service materially fails to match the agreed scope, please contact me and describe the issue clearly.
Where reasonably possible, the first step will ordinarily be to determine whether the problem can be corrected.
Examples may include:
- agreed functionality not working;
- incorrect implementation;
- missing agreed deliverables;
- material technical defects;
- or another substantial failure to deliver the agreed service.
22. Corrections
Where a genuine implementation defect falls within the agreed scope and was caused by my work, I will normally be given a reasonable opportunity to investigate and correct the issue.
Corrections of my own implementation errors do not consume the Client's normal revision allowance.
23. Refund Where a Material Service Deficiency Cannot Be Corrected
Where:
- a material agreed service was not provided;
- the delivered service is materially deficient;
- the problem is attributable to my performance;
- and the deficiency cannot reasonably be corrected,
an appropriate remedy may include:
- re-performance;
- correction;
- partial refund;
- refund of the affected service component;
- termination of the affected portion of the project; or
- another remedy required by applicable law.
The appropriate remedy depends on the circumstances.
24. Issues Outside My Control
A refund is not automatically due where a delivered service is functioning as agreed but an external platform later changes or fails.
Examples may include:
- Google algorithm changes;
- Google Business Profile changes;
- ChatGPT response changes;
- Gemini changes;
- Grok changes;
- AI-model updates;
- hosting outages;
- domain registrar issues;
- third-party software changes;
- API changes;
- browser changes;
- Client account suspension;
- search ranking changes;
- or platform discontinuation.
Where additional work is required because of a later third-party change, that work may require a separate scope.
25. No Refund Based Solely on Search Ranking
SEO services involve improving factors that may support search visibility.
A refund is not automatically due solely because:
- a particular keyword does not reach a desired position;
- rankings fall;
- a competitor outranks the Client;
- Google changes its algorithm;
- map rankings vary;
- traffic fluctuates; or
- expected search visibility is not achieved.
No specific ranking is guaranteed unless an enforceable written agreement expressly states otherwise.
26. No Refund Based Solely on AI Mentions
AI Visibility services do not guarantee that ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Google AI features, Perplexity, Copilot, or another AI system will:
- mention;
- cite;
- rank;
- recommend;
- summarize;
- or display
the Client.
A refund is therefore not automatically due simply because a particular AI system does not mention or recommend the Client.
The service is for the agreed work performed, not for control of a third-party AI output.
27. No Refund Based Solely on Commercial Performance
Unless a project-specific written agreement expressly guarantees a particular result, a refund is not automatically due because the Client does not achieve:
- a specific number of enquiries;
- a specific number of telephone calls;
- a specific number of WhatsApp conversations;
- specific traffic;
- a particular conversion rate;
- a particular revenue amount;
- a particular return on investment;
- a specific number of customers; or
- a particular level of business growth.
These outcomes depend on factors beyond the agreed digital services.
28. Included Revisions
Unless otherwise agreed, fixed-price website projects include one defined consolidated revision round.
A reasonable revision within the original agreed scope does not require cancellation or a new project.
29. Change of Business Direction
A Client decision to materially change:
- brand direction;
- target market;
- business name;
- service offering;
- website architecture;
- design direction;
- platform;
- functionality;
- approved content;
- or project objectives
after work has begun does not make the original work defective.
Such changes may require additional scope and fees.
A refund is not automatically due for completed work that became unusable because the Client later changed direction.
30. Rejection Based on Personal Preference
Where work conforms to an approved direction and agreed scope, a later change in subjective preference does not automatically entitle the Client to a full refund.
Reasonable included revisions will still be provided according to the applicable project agreement.
31. Third-Party Purchases
Projects may involve third-party costs including:
- domains;
- hosting;
- paid software;
- themes;
- plugins;
- stock media;
- licences;
- fonts;
- APIs;
- subscriptions;
- advertising;
- platform fees;
- payment-processor fees; or
- other external services.
Where these costs have been approved by the Client and already incurred, they may be non-refundable if the third-party provider does not provide a refund.
32. Third-Party Refunds
Where I purchase an approved third-party item on the Client's behalf and the third party later provides a refund, any amount actually recovered that properly belongs to the Client will be accounted for appropriately.
I will not describe a third-party cost as non-refundable where the amount has in fact been recovered.
33. Processing Fees
If a third-party payment method or processor charges a fee that is genuinely non-refundable, that amount may be deducted from a refund only where:
- the cost was actually incurred;
- it is not recoverable;
- the deduction is permitted by applicable law; and
- the applicable payment or project terms allow it.
No fictitious processing charge will be imposed.
34. AI Visibility Monitoring
AI Visibility Monitoring may be provided as a recurring monthly service.
The website may advertise this service as:
Starting at ₹3,999/month
The exact billing cycle and service scope will be stated in the applicable plan or agreement.
35. Cancelling a Recurring Service
Unless a specific plan states otherwise, a Client may cancel a recurring service by providing written notice before the next billing period begins.
Cancellation will ordinarily prevent renewal for the following billing period.
36. Current Billing Period
If the Client cancels after work for the current billing period has begun, fees attributable to work already performed during that period are ordinarily not refundable.
If a meaningful prepaid amount remains for unperformed work, the refund will be determined fairly according to this Policy.
37. Future Prepaid Periods
If the Client has prepaid for future recurring periods and cancels before those future periods begin, fees attributable to unperformed future periods will ordinarily be refundable, less:
- properly earned fees;
- approved committed costs;
- and any lawful non-refundable expenses.
38. Service Provider Cancellation of Monitoring
If I discontinue a prepaid recurring service before the end of a paid period for reasons not caused by the Client, the Client will ordinarily receive an appropriate refund for the material unperformed portion.
39. Included Optimization Period
Where the AI Business Launch System includes 30 days of post-launch optimization, that period provides reasonable agreed optimization within the original scope.
It is not a 30-day money-back guarantee.
40. What the Optimization Period Does Not Mean
The included optimization period does not guarantee:
- Google ranking improvement within 30 days;
- an AI mention within 30 days;
- a specific number of leads;
- a particular conversion improvement;
- unlimited changes;
- unlimited support;
- unlimited redesign;
- or permanent maintenance.
Refund eligibility continues to depend on whether the agreed services were properly performed.
41. Approval
Where the Client approves a project stage, design, content direction, or final preview, work completed in reliance on that approval will ordinarily be treated as accepted for purposes of project progression.
Approval does not waive the Client's right to report genuine defects that were not reasonably apparent during review.
42. Handover
Final handover or launch may require:
- payment of amounts properly due;
- final Client approval;
- provision of required access;
- completion of agreed Client responsibilities; and
- satisfaction of other project-specific conditions.
43. Intellectual Property After Refund
If the Client receives a full refund covering the entire project and no contrary written agreement exists, rights to unpaid or fully refunded custom work do not automatically transfer to the Client.
The Client should not use, publish, resell, or claim ownership of fully refunded custom deliverables unless permission is expressly granted.
44. Partial Refunds
Where only part of a project is refunded, ownership and usage rights will depend on:
- work paid for;
- work delivered;
- intellectual-property terms;
- third-party licences; and
- the applicable project agreement.
45. How to Request a Refund
To request a refund, contact:
Arunaksha Sarkar
Phone / WhatsApp: +91 83368 52135
Please clearly state:
Refund Request
and provide:
- your name;
- business name;
- relevant project;
- amount paid;
- payment date if available;
- reason for the request; and
- any relevant supporting information.
Do not send banking passwords, UPI PINs, OTPs, or payment credentials.
46. Review of Refund Requests
Refund requests will be reviewed based on:
- the applicable project documents;
- payments received;
- work performed;
- project stage;
- deliverables;
- Client communications;
- approved expenses;
- reason for cancellation;
- any alleged deficiency; and
- applicable law.
I may request reasonable additional information where necessary to assess the request.
47. Refund Decision
Where a refund is approved, I will provide or communicate:
- the approved refund amount;
- any relevant calculation;
- any non-refundable costs included in that calculation; and
- the expected refund process.
If a request is declined in whole or in part, I will aim to explain the material reason.
48. Refund Processing Time
Approved refunds will ordinarily be initiated within 14 business days after:
- the refund amount has been determined;
- any necessary payment information has been provided; and
- any reasonable verification has been completed.
Where applicable law requires a shorter or otherwise specific period, the legally required period will apply.
Banking systems, UPI providers, payment processors, or other financial institutions may require additional time after a refund has been initiated.
49. Refund Method
Where practical, refunds will normally be returned using:
- the original payment method; or
- another mutually agreed lawful payment method.
Additional identity or account verification may be requested where reasonably necessary to reduce fraud or payment misdirection.
50. Duplicate Payments
If you accidentally make the same payment more than once, contact me as soon as reasonably possible.
A verified duplicate amount that is not otherwise properly due will ordinarily be refunded.
51. Incorrect Payment Amount
If you accidentally pay more than the amount due, the verified excess will ordinarily be:
- refunded; or
- credited toward the project
as mutually agreed.
52. Payments Made by Mistake
If a payment is demonstrably received by mistake and no amount is properly due, reasonable steps will be taken to return it.
53. Contact Before Raising a Payment Dispute
If you believe a payment has been charged incorrectly, please contact me first where reasonably possible.
Many disputes can be resolved by reviewing:
- the scope;
- invoice;
- payments;
- work completed;
- refund entitlement; and
- project communication.
Nothing in this section prevents you from exercising a lawful right to contact your bank, payment provider, consumer authority, or another competent body.
54. Fraudulent Chargebacks
A Client should not knowingly initiate a false or fraudulent payment dispute for services that were properly authorized and delivered.
I may provide relevant project records to a bank, payment processor, court, consumer authority, or other competent body where reasonably necessary to respond to a payment dispute and permitted by law.
55. Founding Client Offers
The Site may occasionally display limited, founding-client, introductory, discounted, or capacity-based offers.
The existence of a discounted offer does not remove the Client's rights under this Policy or applicable law.
56. Cancellation of Discounted Projects
Refunds for discounted projects are based on:
- actual amounts paid;
- work performed;
- actual costs incurred;
- applicable project terms; and
- applicable law.
A refund will not normally be calculated using a higher undiscounted hypothetical price merely to eliminate an otherwise legitimate refundable balance.
57. Raising a Concern
If you disagree with a refund or cancellation decision, please contact me so the issue can first be reviewed directly.
Contact:
Arunaksha Sarkar Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Phone / WhatsApp: +91 83368 52135
Please use:
Refund Dispute
at the beginning of the message where practical.
58. Good-Faith Resolution
Both parties are encouraged to attempt a reasonable resolution before escalating a dispute.
This may include reviewing:
- the project scope;
- timeline;
- work completed;
- payments;
- cancellation date;
- third-party costs;
- alleged deficiencies;
- and applicable contractual terms.
59. Governing Law
This Policy and relevant paid service arrangements are governed by the laws of India, subject to mandatory statutory protections and jurisdiction that may apply.
60. Jurisdiction and Consumer Remedies
Subject to mandatory statutory or consumer jurisdiction, courts of competent jurisdiction in Kolkata, West Bengal, India may have jurisdiction over contractual disputes relating to the services.
Nothing in this Policy prevents an eligible person from approaching:
- an appropriate consumer commission;
- regulator;
- court;
- tribunal;
- payment provider;
- or another authority or remedy
where such right exists under applicable law.
61. Consumer and Other Mandatory Rights
Nothing in this Refund & Cancellation Policy is intended to:
- waive mandatory consumer rights;
- exclude remedies for deficient services where those remedies cannot lawfully be excluded;
- permit misleading commercial practices;
- exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded;
- or impose an unlawful penalty.
Where this Policy conflicts with a mandatory legal requirement, that legal requirement prevails.
62. Reasonable Compensation Rather Than Penalties
Amounts retained following cancellation are intended to reflect matters such as:
- work actually performed;
- resources reasonably committed;
- approved non-recoverable expenses;
- and amounts otherwise properly due.
They are not intended as arbitrary punitive cancellation penalties.
63. Policy Updates
This Policy may be updated to reflect:
- changes in services;
- pricing changes;
- new payment methods;
- new recurring plans;
- changes in business operations;
- changes in applicable law;
- or changes in project processes.
The Last Updated date at the top will show the current website version.
64. Existing Projects
Unless otherwise agreed or required by law, changes to the general website Refund & Cancellation Policy will not retroactively change refund terms already incorporated into an accepted project agreement.
The version applicable to an existing project should be interpreted together with the project-specific documents agreed for that engagement.
65. Related Terms
This Policy should be read with:
- Service Terms
- Terms of Use / Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Disclaimer
- Cookie & Analytics Policy, where applicable
- applicable Proposal
- applicable Statement of Work
- applicable invoice terms
- and any separate Service Agreement.
66. Order of Priority
Unless a project agreement states otherwise, where terms conflict regarding a paid project, the following order will generally apply:
- signed or expressly accepted project-specific Service Agreement / Statement of Work;
- accepted proposal or quotation;
- project-specific written variations;
- Service Terms;
- this Refund & Cancellation Policy;
- Disclaimer;
- general Terms of Use;
- general website descriptions.
Mandatory law overrides conflicting contractual language.
For clarity:
Free AI Visibility Audits have no refund issue because they are free.
The normal fixed-project payment structure is 50% to start and 50% before final launch or handover unless the proposal says otherwise.
Cancel before substantive work starts and the payment is ordinarily refundable, apart from genuine non-recoverable costs already incurred.
Cancel after work starts and you pay for the reasonable value of work already performed and approved costs already committed.
Any remaining unearned prepaid amount is ordinarily refundable.
A completed project is not automatically refundable simply because you later change your mind or do not use it.
Genuine defects or deficient services will be investigated and, where appropriate, corrected, re-performed, partially refunded, or otherwise remedied.
SEO does not guarantee rankings.
AI Visibility does not guarantee AI mentions or recommendations.
A lack of rankings, AI mentions, leads, or revenue does not by itself mean the agreed service was not performed.
Monthly services can normally be stopped before the next billing period; unperformed future prepaid periods are ordinarily refundable.
Approved refunds are ordinarily initiated within 14 business days, subject to applicable statutory requirements.
There is no blanket “no refunds” rule.
Mandatory legal and consumer rights remain unaffected.
68. Contact
For cancellations, refunds, or questions about this Policy:
Arunaksha Sarkar Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Phone / WhatsApp: +91 83368 52135
Website:
arunaksha.com
Please begin refund-related communications with:
Refund Request