1. Overview of the Refund Policy

The refund policy for a freelance private chef marketplace is designed to provide clarity and assurance to both clients and chefs regarding financial transactions. This policy outlines the conditions under which refunds may be issued, ensuring that all parties understand their rights and responsibilities.

2. Booking Confirmation and Payment Terms

  • Clients are required to pay full of the amount at the time of booking, which secures the chef’s services for the specified date.
  • Payments are securely held in escrow until after the event has concluded to protect both clients and chefs.

3. Cancellation by Clients

  • If a client cancels their booking more than 48 hours before the event, they will receive a full refund of any deposits made.
  • Cancellations made between less than 24 hours prior to the event will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total booking amount, with the remainder refunded.
  • Cancellations made less than 12 hours before the event will result in no refund being issued.

4. Cancellation by Chefs

  • In cases where a chef is unable to fulfill their commitment due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., illness or emergency), they must notify the client as soon as possible.
  • The marketplace will assist in finding a replacement chef. If no suitable replacement can be found, clients will receive a full refund.

5. Post-Event Refunds

  • After an event has taken place, refunds will not be issued unless there is clear evidence of service failure (e.g., food safety issues or significant deviations from agreed-upon services).
  • Clients must submit any claims for post-event refunds within 48 hours after the event concludes, along with supporting documentation.

6. Dispute Resolution

  • Any disputes regarding refunds should first be addressed directly between clients and chefs through communication facilitated by the marketplace platform.
  • If an agreement cannot be reached, clients may escalate their concerns to customer support for mediation.

7. Changes to Refund Policy

  • The marketplace reserves the right to modify this refund policy at any time. Clients will be notified of any changes via email or through updates on the platform.

This structured approach ensures transparency and fairness in managing refunds within a freelance private chef marketplace, fostering trust among users while protecting their interests.