This Cancellation and Refund Policy (“Policy”) explains how Styken India Private Limited (“Styken”, “we”, “us” or “our”) handles membership cancellations, refunds, failed or duplicate payment transactions, payment reversals, chargebacks and related payment matters concerning the Styken platform (“Platform”).
This Policy forms part of, and must be read together with, Styken’s Terms of Membership and Service (“Terms”) and Privacy Policy. Capitalised terms not defined in this Policy have the meanings given to them in the Terms.
If there is any inconsistency between this Policy and the Terms concerning cancellation, refund, payment-reversal or advance-payment mechanics, this Policy will apply to the extent of that inconsistency. The Terms will govern all other matters.
This Policy explains:
Styken collects Membership Fees, Reservation Advances and other membership-related payments as consideration for its own membership services.
Styken may engage authorised third-party payment service providers to process such payments. Styken does not itself operate as a payment aggregator or payment gateway and does not collect, hold or transfer money on behalf of Brand Partners.
Brand Partner Credits are separately owned, issued, funded and honoured by the relevant Brand Duos. They do not form part of any Membership Fee, Reservation Advance or other amount collected by Styken.
This Policy addresses two separate categories:
Reservation Advances, incomplete payments, renewals, taxation and refund-processing mechanics are addressed separately in the remaining provisions of this Policy.
A Membership Fee is consideration for annual participation in the Styken community and access to the membership features applicable to the relevant Seat.
A Membership Fee:
Before making any Membership Fee, Reservation Advance, part-payment or renewal payment, the applicant or member must affirmatively accept Styken’s Terms of Membership and Service and this Cancellation and Refund Policy through an unchecked checkbox presented at the payment stage.
The payment page will clearly identify:
Styken may retain an electronic record of the acceptance, including the applicant or member identifier, the versions of the documents accepted, the date and time of acceptance and the associated transaction reference.
Means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on which banks are ordinarily open for business.
Means a payment reversal or disputed recovery initiated by an applicant or member through their bank, card issuer, payment service provider or payment network.
Means the annual fee payable for a Seat or membership structure under the Terms.
For the launch year, Membership Fees will be displayed inclusive of applicable Goods and Services Tax (“GST”). From the second membership year onwards, Membership Fees will be displayed exclusive of GST, and GST will be charged in addition at the applicable rate.
The applicable pricing basis, GST treatment and total amount payable will be disclosed before payment.
Means the bank account, card, UPI-linked account, wallet or other payment instrument through which the relevant payment was made.
Means a failed, duplicate, technically erroneous or otherwise unsuccessful payment transaction where:
Means an authorised payment aggregator, payment gateway, acquiring bank or other payment service provider engaged by Styken from time to time.
Means an advance payment made towards the applicable Membership Fee before membership is activated. A Reservation Advance:
Means an individual membership position held by a participating member within a Solo, Duo or Circle Membership, as further described in the Terms.
A Seat within a Duo or Circle Membership may be held by a participating member of any gender, subject to Styken’s women-first and women-led community structure and the Terms.
This Clause applies where:
This Clause applies to Membership Fees, Reservation Advances, part-payments, renewal payments and other membership-related amounts collected by Styken.
Where a Payment Failure is reported to or identified by Styken, Styken will review its transaction records and, where necessary, verify the status of the transaction with the applicable Payment Partner.
Styken will resolve the reported issue and, where a manual refund or reversal is required, initiate the refund or reversal within four (4) to seven (7) Business Days after receiving the information reasonably required to verify the transaction.
Once Styken has initiated the refund or reversal, the time taken for the amount to be credited to the Original Payment Method may depend upon the processing timelines of the applicable Payment Partner, bank, card issuer, UPI service provider or payment network and may be outside Styken’s direct control.
Nothing in this Clause extends or replaces any shorter reversal, resolution or compensation timeline prescribed under applicable law or payment-system requirements.
A failed transaction may be automatically reversed by the applicable Payment Partner, bank or payment network without Styken separately initiating a manual refund.
Where an automatic reversal has already been initiated or completed, Styken will not initiate a separate refund for the same transaction.
Where an applicable mandatory reversal or compensation timeline is shorter than the timeline specified under Clause 3.2, the mandatory timeline will prevail.
A Chargeback, payment dispute or payment reversal initiated through a bank, card issuer, Payment Partner or payment network will be handled in accordance with the applicable rules, procedures and timelines governing that process.
Styken may provide transaction records, evidence of the applicant’s or member’s electronic acceptance, information concerning the purpose of the payment and relevant membership records when responding to a Chargeback or payment dispute.
Where a Chargeback concerns an active membership, Styken may temporarily suspend the affected membership while the Chargeback is investigated, after notifying the member where reasonably practicable.
If the payment is ultimately reversed, the corresponding amount will be treated as unpaid. Styken may suspend or terminate the affected membership unless the outstanding amount is subsequently paid.
Raising a Chargeback or payment dispute will not, by itself, constitute a breach of the Terms. Styken may, however, take appropriate action where it reasonably identifies fraud, deliberate misuse or a knowingly false payment dispute.
Where the same transaction is subject to both:
Styken may pause the internal refund process until the status of the other process is confirmed, solely to prevent duplicate recovery of the same amount.
If an applicant or member receives more than one credit for the same transaction, they must promptly notify Styken and reasonably cooperate in correcting the duplicate recovery.
Styken will not deduct a separate cancellation, payment-processing or administrative fee from a refund arising solely from a confirmed Payment Failure.
This does not affect:
This Clause governs the refund consequences of a membership being cancelled by a member or terminated by Styken. Payment Failures are governed separately under Clause 3.
Where Styken terminates a membership because of a breach of the Terms, Code of Conduct or applicable law, no refund of the Membership Fee will be payable, except where otherwise required under applicable law.
Any Brand Partner Credit associated with the member will continue to be governed by the terms of the relevant Brand Partner.
Where membership is terminated because the member does not satisfy the minimum-age requirement, Styken will refund the unused portion of the Membership Fee for the current annual term on a pro-rata, whole-month basis.
Styken may treat a knowing misrepresentation of age as a breach of the Terms, subject to applicable law.
Where Styken terminates a membership for reasons not attributable to a breach by the member, Styken will provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice.
The member may continue to access the applicable membership services during the notice period.
Following termination, Styken will refund the unused portion of the Membership Fee on a pro-rata, whole-month basis. The notice period and refund calculation will not be applied in a manner that results in the member being charged twice for the same period.
A member may cancel their membership through the Platform or by contacting members@styken.club.
Unless otherwise required under applicable law:
A member may request immediate cancellation, but immediate cancellation will not, by itself, create a right to a refund.
Styken may grant a refund in an individual case at its discretion. Nothing in this Clause limits any statutory right or remedy available to a member, including in relation to a deficiency in service.
Each person holding a Seat within a Duo or Circle Membership is a participating member. A participating member may be of any gender, subject to Styken’s women-first and women-led membership structure and the Terms.
Cancellation or removal of one participating member will not automatically cancel the memberships of the remaining participating members.
Where one person has paid the Membership Fee for more than one Seat, any refund relating to those payments will be made to the person who made the original payment.
Where a Circle falls below the minimum number of participating members, the remaining members may add members, move to another available membership structure or continue through individual billing arrangements, as permitted under the Terms. No refund will arise solely because the Circle falls below the applicable minimum.
Founding-500 pricing and the Research Participant discount apply only while the relevant member maintains continuous membership.
If the membership ends or is not renewed, the applicable pricing benefit will end and will not automatically revive if the person subsequently rejoins Styken.
If Styken permanently discontinues the membership programme during a member’s active paid annual term:
Any refund under this Clause will be subject to the applicable GST treatment under Clause 9.3 and will be initiated in accordance with Clause 10.3.
Modification or discontinuation of an individual feature will not, by itself, create a right to a refund, provided that Styken continues to supply the essential membership service.
Before confirmation of the Founding Cohort, Styken may collect the following Reservation Advances:
For the launch year, these amounts are inclusive of applicable GST.
A Reservation Advance is an advance towards the applicable Membership Fee and is not a security deposit. Payment of a Reservation Advance:
Membership will activate only after Styken receives the full applicable Membership Fee.
A Reservation Advance is fully refundable upon request at any time before Styken confirms the Founding Cohort.
If Styken declines the application, decides not to proceed with the Founding Cohort or does not proceed with the proposed Platform launch, the Reservation Advance will be refunded in full.
Once the Founding Cohort is confirmed and Styken requests payment of the balance Membership Fee, the Reservation Advance will be treated as a part-payment and will be governed by Clause 6.
If Styken is unable to place the applicant in an appropriate Cohort within one hundred and eighty (180) days of receiving the Reservation Advance, Styken will refund the advance in full without requiring a separate request from the applicant.
Membership activates only after Styken receives the full applicable Membership Fee.
Where an applicant has paid a Reservation Advance or another part of the Membership Fee but has not paid the balance, Styken will issue up to three reminders requesting payment of the outstanding amount.
Before the settlement deadline under Clause 6.3, the applicant may:
The outstanding balance must be paid within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the date of the initial payment.
Styken will provide a final written reminder at least thirty (30) days before the expiry of that period, stating:
If the balance remains unpaid after the expiry of the 365-day period, the amount already paid will be retained by Styken and will not be refundable thereafter, subject to applicable law.
Nothing in this Clause limits any statutory right or remedy available to an applicant or member under applicable law.
No Reservation Advance applies to a Circle Membership.
A Circle may be purchased through a group flow in which an organising member identifies the intended participating members and pays for one or more Seats.
A Circle will activate only after:
If the Circle does not activate, Styken will refund each amount paid towards the Circle to the person who made the relevant payment.
The annual membership term for each original participating member of a Circle will commence on the date the Circle is activated, irrespective of the date on which payment for an individual Seat was made.
The common Circle activation date and the corresponding annual term will be disclosed before payment and recorded in the applicable membership confirmation.
A person who joins a Circle after its activation will ordinarily hold an individual annual membership term commencing on the date their Seat is activated, unless Styken expressly aligns that Seat with the existing Circle term and discloses the resulting term before payment.
Where the organising member paid for another participating member’s Seat, any refund relating to that Seat will be paid to the organising member as the original payer.
Membership is annual and does not automatically renew at launch.
A member must affirmatively elect to renew their membership. If the membership is not renewed, it will end at the expiry of the current annual term and no refund will arise.
Where a member elects to renew but the renewal payment fails or is not completed, Styken will provide a grace period of fourteen (14) days from the expiry of the annual term.
If payment is not completed during the grace period, the member’s access and benefits will be suspended until payment is completed.
If the renewal payment remains outstanding for thirty (30) days after expiry of the fourteen (14) day grace period, the membership will automatically lapse. Any subsequent admission or reactivation will be subject to Styken’s then-applicable membership process, availability and pricing.
A failed renewal payment will not, by itself, constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct or a for-cause removal.
Where the payment failure falls within Clause 3, the transaction will also be handled in accordance with the applicable payment-failure provisions.
If Styken introduces automatic renewal in the future, it will obtain the member’s separate opt-in authorisation and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements governing recurring payment mandates.
This Clause does not itself introduce or authorise automatic renewal. Styken will update the applicable payment flow and customer-facing terms before offering automatic renewal.
For the launch year, Membership Fees and Reservation Advances will be displayed inclusive of applicable GST.
From the second membership year onwards, Membership Fees will be displayed exclusive of GST, and GST will be charged in addition at the applicable rate.
The applicable pricing basis, GST amount and total amount payable will be disclosed before payment.
Applicable GST on a Reservation Advance or part-payment will be accounted for at the time Styken receives the amount, in accordance with applicable tax law.
Where a refund becomes payable under this Policy, the refundable amount and any applicable GST adjustment will be determined and processed in accordance with applicable tax law. Styken will issue any credit note, refund voucher or other document required by law.
Refunds will ordinarily be made to the Original Payment Method.
Where this is not possible because of a banking or technical limitation, Styken may request reasonable information required to process the refund through an alternative lawful method.
Refunds and reversals arising from a Payment Failure will be handled in accordance with the timelines under Clause 3.
Any refund payable under this Policy, other than a refund or reversal arising from a Payment Failure under Clause 3, will be initiated within thirty (30) Business Days after:
After Styken initiates the refund, the time taken for the amount to be credited to the Original Payment Method may depend on the applicable Payment Partner, bank, card issuer, UPI service provider or payment network and may be outside Styken’s direct control.
Styken will not deduct a separate cancellation, payment-processing or administrative fee from a refund payable under this Policy. This does not prevent:
A membership provided to a Styken employee as an employment benefit is not a purchased membership and does not create a right to a refund when it ends.
Brand Partner Credits are owned, issued, funded and honoured by the relevant Brand Partner.
They do not form part of a Membership Fee or refund payable by Styken. Any issue concerning the issuance, value, expiry or redemption of a Brand Partner Credit will be governed by the relevant Brand Partner’s terms.
Questions or complaints concerning payments, cancellations or refunds may be submitted to support@styken.club.
Styken will acknowledge the complaint within twenty-four (24) hours and endeavour to resolve it within fifteen (15) days, or within any other period required under applicable law.
General membership questions may be submitted to members@styken.club.
Questions or grievances concerning the processing of Personal Data may be submitted to privacy@styken.club.
Privacy grievances will be handled in accordance with Styken’s Privacy Policy.
A complaint concerning a payment, cancellation or refund must first be submitted in accordance with Clause 12 of this Policy. If the complaint remains unresolved, it will be dealt with in accordance with the grievance process, jurisdiction and governing-law provisions set out in Clause 17 of the Terms.
Styken may amend this Policy from time to time.
Any amendment will apply prospectively and will not reduce or extinguish a refund right that accrued before the amendment became effective.
Where an amendment materially affects members’ payment, cancellation or refund rights, Styken will provide reasonable prior notice through the Platform or the member’s registered email address.
Nothing in this Policy excludes or limits any statutory right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
If any provision of this Policy is held invalid or unenforceable, it will be severed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue to apply.
For questions concerning this Policy, please contact:
Styken India Private Limited
GSTIN: 29ABTCS9451J1ZB
No. 8/3, WeWork Princeville, Golf Link Software Park, Prince Ville, Challaghatta, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka – 560071
Billing and refund queries: support@styken.club
Membership queries: members@styken.club
Privacy grievances: privacy@styken.club