Billing & Refund Policy
Important information about payments, billing, and our refund policy.
Important: All Purchases Are Non-Refundable
All payments made on The Local Gem are final and non-refundable. By making a purchase, you acknowledge and agree that you will not be entitled to a refund for any reason. Please read this policy carefully before completing your purchase.
1Overview
This Billing & Refund Policy (“Policy”) governs all payments, subscriptions, and financial transactions made through The Local Gem platform (“Platform”). By making any purchase on our Platform, you agree to be bound by this Policy.
The Local Gem offers premium membership plans for business owners. All premium membership purchases are processed securely through Stripe, our third-party payment processor.
2Payment Processing
2.1 Payment Provider
All payments are processed securely by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. The Local Gem does not store your credit card information directly. By making a payment, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service.
2.2 Accepted Payment Methods
- Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Debit cards with Visa or Mastercard logo
- Apple Pay and Google Pay (where available)
2.3 Payment Authorization
By providing your payment information and completing a purchase, you authorize The Local Gem (via Stripe) to charge the applicable fees to your payment method. You confirm that you are the authorized holder of the payment method used.
2.4 Currency
All prices are listed and charged in United States Dollars (USD). Currency conversion fees, if applicable, are determined by your bank or payment provider.
3Pricing & Fees
3.1 Premium Membership Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Premium | $199 USD | Per year | ❌ No |
| Early Access | $99 USD | Per year (50% off, limited spots) | ❌ No |
3.2 Taxes
Prices may not include applicable taxes. You are responsible for any sales tax, VAT, or other taxes required by your jurisdiction.
3.3 Price Changes
We reserve the right to change our pricing at any time. Existing members will not be affected by price changes during their current billing period. Early access pricing is limited to the first qualifying applicants and may be discontinued at any time.
4Non-Refundable Policy
ALL PURCHASES ARE STRICTLY NON-REFUNDABLE
By completing a purchase on The Local Gem, you expressly acknowledge and agree that:
4.1 No Refunds Will Be Issued
All payments are final and non-refundable. Once your payment has been processed, you will not receive a refund under any circumstances, including but not limited to:
- Change of mind after purchase
- Failure to use the premium features
- Dissatisfaction with the Platform or services
- Technical issues on your end (device, browser, internet)
- Business closure or change in business circumstances
- Forgetting to cancel before trial period ends
- Duplicate purchases made in error
- Any other reason not explicitly covered
4.2 Acknowledgment Before Purchase
Before completing any purchase, you will be required to acknowledge that you have read and understood this non-refundable policy. By checking the acknowledgment box and completing your purchase, you confirm that:
- You have read and understood this Billing & Refund Policy
- You understand that all purchases are non-refundable
- You waive any right to request a refund after purchase
- You have evaluated the Platform through our free trial if desired
4.3 Recommendation: Use Free Trial First
We strongly recommend that you use our 30-day free trial to evaluate our premium features before making a purchase. The free trial gives you full access to all premium features with no obligation. If you cancel before the trial ends, you will not be charged.
4.4 No Exceptions
Our non-refundable policy applies universally and without exception. Our customer support team is not authorized to issue refunds or credits for any purchase. Please do not contact support requesting a refund, as the request will be denied.
4.5 Legal Enforceability
This non-refundable policy is a material term of your agreement with The Local Gem. By making a purchase, you enter into a binding contract that explicitly waives your right to a refund. This policy is enforceable under applicable consumer protection laws, as you are provided with:
- Clear disclosure of the non-refundable nature before purchase
- A free trial option to evaluate services before committing
- Explicit consent requirement (checkbox acknowledgment)
- Access to this policy before completing payment
5Free Trial
5.1 Trial Period
We offer a 30-day free trial for new users to evaluate our premium features. During the trial period, you have full access to all premium features at no cost.
5.2 Trial Requirements
- A valid payment method is required to start the trial
- Your card will not be charged during the 30-day trial period
- You may cancel at any time during the trial without being charged
5.3 After Trial Ends
5.4 How to Cancel Trial
To cancel your trial and avoid being charged:
- Log into your account
- Go to Account Settings
- Click “Cancel Trial” before Day 30
- You will receive a confirmation email
5.5 Trial Limitations
- One free trial per user/business
- Free trial is not available for users who have previously had a premium account
- We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the free trial at any time
6Chargebacks & Payment Disputes
6.1 Chargeback Policy
Filing a chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or credit card company for a legitimate purchase is a violation of this agreement. By making a purchase, you agree that:
- You will not file a chargeback for any purchase you authorized
- You acknowledged the non-refundable policy before purchase
- Any chargeback filed in bad faith may result in legal action
6.2 Consequences of Chargebacks
If you file a chargeback for a legitimate charge:
- Your account will be immediately suspended
- You will lose access to all premium features
- We will provide evidence to your bank/card issuer disputing the chargeback
- You may be held liable for chargeback fees and collection costs
- We reserve the right to pursue legal remedies for fraudulent chargebacks
6.3 Legitimate Disputes
If you believe a charge was made in error (e.g., technical duplicate, unauthorized access to your account), please contact us at billing@thelocalgem.com before filing a dispute with your bank. We will investigate and resolve legitimate billing errors promptly.
7Cancellation
7.1 Annual Membership
Annual memberships renew automatically each year. You may cancel at any time to prevent future charges, but no refund will be issued for the current billing period. Your access continues until the end of your paid period.
7.2 Free Trial Cancellation
You may cancel your free trial at any time before the trial period ends. If cancelled before Day 30, you will not be charged. Cancellation instructions are provided in Section 5.4 above.
7.3 Account Deletion
If you delete your account while you have an active membership:
- You will lose access to premium features immediately
- No refund will be provided for remaining time
- Your membership cannot be transferred to another account
7.4 Termination by The Local Gem
We reserve the right to terminate accounts that violate our Terms of Service. If your account is terminated for policy violations:
- No refund will be provided
- You may appeal the termination within 14 days
- Reinstatement is at our sole discretion
8Billing Disputes & Support
8.1 Billing Questions
If you have questions about a charge on your statement, please contact us at billing@thelocalgem.com. Include your:
- Account email address
- Date of the charge
- Amount charged
- Last 4 digits of the card used
8.2 Technical Billing Issues
In cases of genuine technical error (duplicate charge, wrong amount), we will investigate and resolve the issue. Examples of legitimate billing issues:
- Duplicate charges for the same transaction
- Charged amount different from displayed price
- Unauthorized charges (if your account was compromised)
8.3 What Is NOT a Billing Issue
The following are not considered billing errors and will not result in a refund:
- Forgetting to cancel free trial
- Change of mind after purchase
- Not using the premium features
- Expecting features that were not advertised
8.4 Response Time
We aim to respond to all billing inquiries within 48-72 business hours.
9Contact Us
For billing-related questions or to report a technical billing issue:
billing@thelocalgem.com
support@thelocalgem.com
www.thelocalgem.com
We aim to respond to all inquiries within 48-72 hours.
Final Reminder
All purchases on The Local Gem are final and non-refundable. By completing a purchase, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Billing & Refund Policy. If you are unsure about purchasing, please use our free 30-day trial first.