Refund Policy

1. We Are a Marketplace, Not a Financial Institution

When a Fan purchases access to a Circle, CRCLX briefly holds the gross transaction proceeds in its operational account prior to the monthly Creator settlement. This brief holding period is for reconciliation purposes only — not as a deposit, stored value, or custodial arrangement.

Because funds have not yet been disbursed to the Creator at the time a refund request is made (Creator payouts occur on the last business day of each calendar month), CRCLX has the operational capacity to process refunds directly from the operational account. Approved refunds are processed before Creator settlement — this means there are no clawback complications for either Fans or Creators.

This structure is operationally identical to how marketplace platforms such as Etsy, Patreon, and Gumroad handle refunds on behalf of their creator communities.

2. When Refunds Are Available

CRCLX offers refunds in the following circumstances:

3. Refund Process

To request a refund:

1. Email contact@crclx.co.za with the subject line “Refund Request”. Include your full name, the email address linked to your account, the name of the Circle, and the reason for your request.
2. CRCLX will review your request within 3 business days and notify you of the outcome.
3. Approved refunds are processed within 7 business days of approval via the original payment method. Depending on your bank or card issuer, funds may take an additional 3–5 business days to appear in your account.
4. Refunds are processed before Creator monthly settlementto avoid clawback complications. If a refund is approved after the Creator’s settlement has already occurred, the refund amount will be deducted from the Creator’s next monthly payout.

4. What Is Not Eligible for Refund

Refunds are not available in the following circumstances:

• Change of mind after consuming more than 25% of available Content in the Circle, or after the 7-day cooling-off period has expired.
• Dissatisfaction with style or approach where the Creator has delivered Content as reasonably described at the time of purchase. Subjective preferences are not grounds for refund.
• Account terminated for cause — if your account was suspended or terminated for violation of the Acceptable Use Policy or these Terms, no refund will be issued for any remaining subscription period.
• Third-party issues — payment gateway fees, bank charges, or currency conversion costs charged by your financial institution are not refundable by CRCLX.

5. Chargebacks

We strongly encourage you to contact us at contact@crclx.co.za before initiating a chargeback through your bank or card issuer. Most legitimate concerns can be resolved directly with CRCLX faster than a chargeback process.

Initiating a chargeback while simultaneously holding an active refund request with CRCLX may delay resolution of both. If you proceed with a chargeback, CRCLX will cooperate fully with the payment gateway’s dispute resolution process and will provide transaction records, access logs, and other evidence as required.

Fraudulent chargebacks — where a chargeback is initiated for a transaction that was legitimate and where Content was accessed — may result in account suspension or termination and may be referred to the South African Fraud Prevention Service.

6. Creator Responsibility

Creators are responsible for delivering the Content and experiences described in their Circle at the time Members subscribed. Where a refund is approved because a Creator failed to deliver promised Content — including Circle abandonment, unexplained Content removal, or material misrepresentation — the refund amount will be deducted from that Creator’s next monthly settlement.

Creators who repeatedly generate refund requests due to non-delivery or misrepresentation may be suspended from the Platform pending review, in accordance with the Creator Agreement.

This arrangement is disclosed to Creators as part of their Creator Agreement and is a condition of operating a Circle on the CRCLX Platform.

7. Your Rights Under the Consumer Protection Act

This Refund Policy operates in addition toyour statutory rights as a consumer under the South African Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (“CPA”). Nothing in this policy limits or excludes any right you may have under the CPA, including the right to fair value, good quality, and safe goods and services.

If you believe CRCLX has not honoured your rights under the CPA, you may approach the National Consumer Commission, the Consumer Court, or the National Consumer Tribunal for assistance.

8. Contact