Refund Policy

This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which membership fees may be refunded. This policy forms part of our Terms and Conditions and applies to all membership categories and course payments.

1. Membership Fee Refunds

1.1 Refund Eligibility

Membership fees may be refunded under the following conditions:

• Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to membership@bodyartcouncil.co.za
• Requests must be made within 7 days of the original payment date
• Refunds are only available for the current membership year (pro-rata refunds are not available)
• The member must be in good standing with no code of conduct violations

1.2 Refund Calculation

Approved refunds are calculated as follows:

• Original membership fee paid (full amount)
• Less: 50% penalty fee (deducted from the original amount)
• Equals: Refund amount (paid within 5 working days)

1.3 Processing Time

• Refund requests are reviewed within 3 working days
• Approved refunds are processed within 7 working days
• Funds will be returned using the original payment method (PayFast)
• Bank processing times may add additional days depending on your financial institution

2. When Refunds Are NOT Available

Refunds will not be issued in the following circumstances:

• After 7 days: Refund requests received more than 7 days after payment
• Code of conduct violations: Members terminated for disciplinary reasons
• False information: Members who provided false or misleading information in their application
• Second-year renewals: Refunds are not available for membership renewals after the first 7 days of the renewal year
• Course payments: BAC Course fees are non-refundable once access has been granted (see Section 4)

3. How to Request a Refund

1. Submit written request: Email membership@bodyartcouncil.co.za with the subject line "MEMBERSHIP REFUND REQUEST"
2. Include required information:
   • Full name as it appears on membership
   • Member ID (if available)
   • Date of payment
   • Reason for cancellation (optional but appreciated)
3. Confirmation: You will receive an acknowledgment within 2 working days
4. Processing: Approved refunds are processed within 7 working days

4. BAC Course Refunds

The Body Art Council Online Course (R550 for non-members) has a separate refund policy:

• Before access: Full refund available if course access has not been granted
• After access: No refunds once you have logged into the course or accessed any course materials
• Members: Course access is free for members and non-refundable as part of membership
• Technical issues: If you experience technical problems accessing the course, contact us for support rather than requesting a refund

5. Special Circumstances

5.1 Duplicate Payments

If you accidentally make a duplicate payment, please contact us immediately. Duplicate payments will be refunded in full (no penalty) within 7 working days.

5.2 Payment Errors

If you believe you were charged incorrectly, please contact us within 14 days of the transaction. We will investigate and correct any verified errors.

5.3 Extenuating Circumstances

In cases of genuine hardship or exceptional circumstances, the Council may consider exceptions to this policy at its sole discretion. Requests must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation.

6. Contact for Refund Queries

For all questions regarding refunds, please contact our Membership Department:

7. Relationship to Terms and Conditions

This Refund Policy is incorporated by reference into the Council's Terms and Conditions. In the event of any conflict between this policy and the Terms and Conditions, the Terms and Conditions shall prevail.

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By completing your membership payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Refund Policy.