Payment, Cancellation
& Refund Policy

1. Scope and Application

This Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy ("Policy") applies to all service engagements entered into between Alignelle Editorial ("the Company") and its clients ("the Client"). This Policy forms part of the contractual terms governing each project engagement and should be read together with the Editorial Services Terms and Conditions.

By accepting a project proposal and authorizing the commencement of work, the Client acknowledges and agrees to the payment terms, cancellation provisions, and refund limitations set out in this Policy. The Company reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Any changes will apply to engagements initiated after the date the revised Policy is published.

2. Accepted Payment Methods

The Company accepts payment by the following methods:

• Credit card and debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through the Company's secure payment processor
• ACH bank transfer (United States bank accounts)
• Business check (payable to Alignelle Editorial — subject to clearance before work commences)
• Wire transfer (for project values exceeding two thousand five hundred US dollars — additional banking fees may apply)

All fees are denominated in United States Dollars. International clients are responsible for any currency conversion fees or international transfer charges imposed by their financial institution. The Company does not accept cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment through third-party money transfer services other than those listed above.

3. Standard Payment Schedule

Unless otherwise specified in the project proposal, the following payment schedule applies to all engagements:

For multi-phase projects, the Company may propose a milestone-based payment schedule. Any such schedule will be specified in the project proposal and will supersede the standard schedule above.

4. Late Payments

Invoices are due within fourteen (14) calendar days of the invoice date. If full payment is not received within the payment period, the Company reserves the following rights:

• To suspend all work on the project until the outstanding balance is settled
• To apply a late fee of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month on all overdue amounts, accruing from the original due date
• To withhold delivery of completed work product until all outstanding fees and late charges are paid in full
• To terminate the engagement and retain all deposits paid to date as compensation for work performed, where payment remains outstanding for thirty (30) or more days

The Company will make reasonable efforts to contact the Client regarding overdue invoices before applying late fees or suspending work. However, the responsibility for timely payment rests solely with the Client.

5. Cancellation by the Client

The Client may cancel an engagement at any time by providing written notice to the Company. The financial consequences of cancellation depend on the stage of the project at which cancellation occurs:

Project completion percentages are determined by the Company based on documented work records and will be communicated to the Client upon cancellation notice. All deliverables completed to the date of cancellation will be provided to the Client upon receipt of all outstanding fees.

6. Cancellation by the Company

The Company reserves the right to cancel an engagement under the following circumstances:

• The Client fails to provide required source materials or approvals within thirty (30) days of the agreed submission date, despite written reminders from the Company
• The Client fails to make payment within thirty (30) days of the invoice due date
• The submitted materials contain content that is unlawful, defamatory, or that would require the Company to engage in services outside its stated scope (such as legal document preparation or regulated professional writing)
• The Client's conduct toward Company personnel is abusive, harassing, or otherwise unprofessional

Where the Company cancels an engagement due to the Client's breach of these terms, the deposit paid to date will be retained by the Company as liquidated damages. Where the Company cancels for reasons unrelated to the Client's conduct, a pro-rated refund of the deposit will be issued based on the work completed at the time of cancellation.

7. Refund Limitations

Refunds, where applicable, will be processed within fifteen (15) business days of the cancellation being confirmed in writing by the Company. Refunds will be issued via the same payment method used for the original payment where technically possible.

The Company does not issue refunds on completed and accepted work product. Dissatisfaction with editorial recommendations or structural decisions does not constitute grounds for a refund, provided the work was performed in accordance with the agreed scope of work. The appropriate mechanism for addressing concerns about delivered work is the revision process described in the Project Delivery and Client Responsibilities section.

8. Disputed Charges

If the Client believes an invoice contains an error or that a charge has been applied incorrectly, the Client must notify the Company in writing within ten (10) business days of the invoice date. The Company will investigate and respond within ten (10) business days of receiving the dispute notice. If the dispute is found to be valid, any overcharge will be credited against future invoices or refunded. Initiating a payment chargeback or dispute with a financial institution without first attempting to resolve the matter directly with the Company may be considered a breach of the engagement agreement.