Refund and cancellation policy

This policy explains how refunds, cancellations, withdrawal requests, and payment problems are handled for purchases made directly through The Change Architect. It applies alongside the Terms of use and does not reduce any consumer right that applies under mandatory law.

The Change Architect is an independent research, publishing, and learning initiative operated by Mohammed Al-Hajjaj in Belgium. It is not currently a registered charity, NGO, university, or accredited training institution. Contributions are not tax-deductible charitable donations.

1. Before you pay

The purchase page will identify what you are buying, the total amount and currency, the access or delivery method, important eligibility conditions, and the support route. The final Stripe-hosted payment screen shows the amount before you authorize payment. We do not store your card details.

2. Paid self-paced courses and certificate pathways

You may request a full refund within 14 calendar days after purchase. For this initial policy, starting the course does not remove that 14-day refund option. If a certificate has already been issued, a full refund also ends the paid licence and the certificate will be revoked in the verification register.

After 14 days, we will still correct duplicate charges and refund purchases that cannot be delivered, remain materially inaccessible, or do not substantially match the published description when we cannot resolve the problem within a reasonable period. Other requests will be reviewed fairly in light of course use, work already delivered, and applicable law.

3. Live cohorts, workshops, and booked sessions

No live cohort or workshop is currently sold through the public Academy checkout. When these services open, the purchase page will state the schedule, rescheduling and cancellation deadline, minimum attendance conditions, and any fair non-refundable portion before payment. Those additional conditions will not reduce statutory rights.

4. Contributions and support payments

Voluntary contributions do not buy a course, certificate, consulting service, membership upgrade, publication decision, or guaranteed response. They are normally final once processed, but we will review duplicate, mistaken, technically incorrect, or apparently unauthorized payments promptly. This does not limit rights available through applicable law or the payment provider.

5. How to request a refund or cancellation

Email contact@thechangearchitect.org with:

• the order number shown in your receipt or Billing page;
• the email address used for the learner account;
• the course, certificate pathway, workshop, or contribution concerned; and
• a short description if the request concerns a technical problem, duplicate payment, or service issue.

You do not need to give a reason when exercising an applicable 14-day withdrawal right. Please do not email card numbers, identity documents, beneficiary information, or other sensitive records.

6. What happens after a request

We will acknowledge the request, check the order and access record, and explain the decision or any information genuinely needed to process it. Approved refunds are sent to the original payment method through Stripe. The time for funds to appear is controlled by Stripe and the customer’s bank or payment provider.

A full refund ends the paid licence attached to that order. Course progress may remain in the learner account as a private learning record, but paid-only assessment, certification, and verification access will be suspended or revoked. A partial refund does not automatically end access unless the written resolution says so.

7. Failed, pending, or duplicate payments

A failed or cancelled checkout does not create paid access. A payment shown as pending will not activate access until Stripe confirms it to the server. If you see two charges or payment was taken without the expected access, contact us before paying again so the order, webhook, licence, and enrollment records can be reconciled.

8. Statutory rights

Consumers may have additional rights under Belgian and European Union law, including distance-contract withdrawal and remedies when digital content or services are not supplied as agreed. Nothing in this policy excludes or limits a right that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

9. Contact and escalation

Payment and refund support: contact@thechangearchitect.org. If a payment appears unauthorized, also contact your bank or payment provider promptly. We encourage customers to contact us first so we can investigate the order and access records without delay.