Refund and Returns Policy

At QRKavach, we want every purchase to be the right one. This Refund and Returns Policy explains when and how you can request a refund or return, and what to expect during the process. It applies to both physical QR sticker orders and digital subscription plans purchased through our platform.

1. Overview

QRKavach offers two categories of purchasable products:

• Physical Products: Custom-printed, weather-resistant QR stickers that are personalised to your account and shipped to your address.
• Digital Subscriptions: Annual subscription plans (Silver, Gold, Business) that unlock advanced features, higher usage quotas, and additional sticker registrations.

Because these two product types differ fundamentally in nature, our refund terms for each are distinct. Please read the relevant sections carefully before placing an order or purchasing a subscription.

2. Eligibility for Refunds

To be eligible for a refund, all of the following conditions must be met:

• You are the registered account holder who made the original purchase.
• Your refund request is submitted within the applicable time window specified in this policy.
• The purchase was made directly through the QRKavach platform (qrkavach.com). Orders placed through third-party resellers or marketplaces are subject to that seller's own return policy.
• You provide the required information (order/transaction reference, registered email address, and reason for the request).

Refund requests that do not meet the eligibility criteria above will not be approved. QRKavach reserves the right to decline a refund if evidence of misuse, fraudulent activity, or violation of our Terms of Service is found.

3. Physical Sticker Orders

QR stickers are custom-manufactured and individually encoded for your account at the time of order. For this reason, the following conditions apply:

• Sticker orders are non-refundable and non-returnable once the order has been confirmed and production has begun.
• Production typically begins within 24–48 hours of order confirmation. If you wish to cancel an order, you must contact us within 24 hours of placing it, before production starts.
• If you cancel within the 24-hour window and production has not started, a full refund will be issued to your original payment instrument within 7–10 business days.

Exceptions apply for damaged, defective, or incorrect orders — see Section 8 below.

4. Subscription Plan Refunds

All paid subscription plans (Silver, Gold, Business) are annual and billed in full at the time of purchase. The following refund terms apply:

• 7-Day Money-Back Window (New Subscriptions Only): You may request a full refund within 7 calendar days of your initial subscription purchase, provided that:
  • You have not activated any sticker under the paid plan; and
  • You have not consumed any paid quota (masked calls, WhatsApp messages, or SMS alerts).
• After 7 Days or After Using Paid Features: No refund will be issued. This applies even if the subscription period has not expired.
• Renewals: Annual renewal payments are non-refundable once processed. You may prevent auto-renewal by cancelling your subscription at least 7 days before the renewal date from your account settings.
• Plan Downgrades: If you downgrade from a higher-tier plan to a lower-tier plan mid-cycle, no partial refund is issued for the unused period. The downgrade takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle.

5. Non-Refundable Items & Services

The following are explicitly non-refundable under all circumstances:

• Physical sticker orders where production has already commenced.
• Subscription fees where the 7-day window has lapsed or paid features have been used.
• Subscription renewal payments.
• Any portion of a subscription consumed during a partial billing period.
• Shipping and handling charges on sticker orders (where applicable).
• Convenience or processing fees charged by payment gateway partners.

6. How to Request a Refund

To submit a refund request, email us at support@qrkavach.com with the subject line "Refund Request — [Your Order/Transaction ID]" and include the following information:

• Your full name as registered on your QRKavach account.
• Registered email address.
• Order number or transaction reference (found in your confirmation email or account dashboard).
• Reason for the refund request.
• For damaged or incorrect sticker orders: clear photographs of the item received.

We will acknowledge your request within 2 business days and inform you of the outcome within 7 business days of receipt.

7. Refund Processing Timeline

Once a refund is approved, the following timelines apply:

• Credit/Debit Card: 7–10 business days to appear on your statement, depending on your bank's processing cycle.
• UPI (IMPS/NEFT): 3–5 business days.
• Net Banking: 5–7 business days.
• Wallets: 1–3 business days.

Refunds are always returned to the original payment instrument. We are unable to redirect refunds to a different account or payment method. If you do not see your refund within the stated timeframe, please contact your bank or payment provider before reaching out to us — banks occasionally hold refunds for additional review.

8. Damaged or Incorrect Orders

If you receive QR stickers that are physically damaged, defective, or do not match your order, you are entitled to a free replacement under the following conditions:

• You must notify us within 48 hours of delivery confirmation (as recorded by the courier).
• Email support@qrkavach.com with clear photographs showing the damage or discrepancy, along with your order number.
• Do not discard the damaged stickers until our support team confirms the replacement has been arranged, as we may request the items to be returned for quality review (return postage covered by QRKavach in such cases).

Claims reported after 48 hours of delivery may not be accepted, as we are unable to verify the condition at the time of delivery beyond that window. In exceptional circumstances (e.g., delayed discovery of a defect that was not visible at delivery), we will consider claims on a case-by-case basis.

9. Exchanges & Replacements

Because QR stickers are personalised to your QRKavach account, standard product exchanges (e.g., swapping for a different design or size) are not available. Each sticker is encoded at the time of production and cannot be transferred between accounts or re-encoded.

Replacements are only issued in the following situations:

• Stickers received in a damaged or defective condition (see Section 8).
• Incorrect stickers shipped due to a fulfilment error on our part.

All replacement stickers will carry the same account encoding as your original order and will be dispatched within 5–7 business days of your replacement being confirmed.

10. Cancellation Policy

Sticker Orders: You may cancel a sticker order within 24 hours of placing it, provided production has not yet started. Contact us at support@qrkavach.com immediately. Once production begins (usually within 24–48 hours), cancellations are not accepted.

Subscription Cancellations: You may cancel your subscription auto-renewal at any time from your account settings. Cancellation stops future billing; it does not trigger a refund for the current active period. Your paid plan remains active until the end of the current annual billing cycle, after which your account reverts to the Basic (free) tier.

To cancel auto-renewal: log in → go to Account Settings → Subscription → Cancel Renewal. You will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, contact support@qrkavach.com.

11. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

We encourage you to contact us directly at support@qrkavach.com before initiating a chargeback or payment dispute with your bank. Most issues can be resolved quickly through direct communication, and we are committed to working with you in good faith.

If you initiate a chargeback without first contacting us, your QRKavach account may be suspended pending investigation, and your stickers may be deactivated. Any active subscription benefits will be paused until the dispute is resolved.

Fraudulent chargebacks — where a refund has already been issued or where the goods/services were received as described — may be reported to relevant payment networks and authorities in accordance with applicable law.

12. Your Consumer Rights

As a consumer in India, you are protected under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. These laws grant you certain rights that QRKavach respects and upholds, including:

• The right to receive goods that conform to the description and quality as advertised.
• The right to a remedy (repair, replacement, or refund) for defective goods or deficient services.
• The right to be informed of the terms of sale, including return and refund policies, before purchase.
• The right to seek redressal through consumer dispute redressal commissions if your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction.

If you believe your consumer rights have been violated, you may escalate your complaint to the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) at 1800-11-4000 or file a complaint on the INGRAM portal (https://consumerhelpline.gov.in). Nothing in this policy limits or waives any rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

13. Changes to This Policy

QRKavach reserves the right to update this Refund and Returns Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated by:

• Sending a notification email to the address associated with your account; and/or
• Posting a notice on this page with an updated "Effective Date".

We recommend reviewing this policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after an updated policy is posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.