Refund Policy
1. Principles
Helvetia provides professional services. Fees remunerate the time, expertise and coordination of our team and are not conditional on the decision of any school, university or authority. This policy sets out when a payment may be refunded.
2. Cooling-off period
A Client may cancel an engagement within 7 calendar days of paying the first invoice and receive a full refund, provided that substantive work (for example, a strategy session, document review or an application submission) has not yet been delivered. Where work has started, the deduction in section 3 applies.
3. Cancellation by the Client after the cooling-off period
| Service | Refund on cancellation |
|---|---|
| Initial private consultation | Refundable if cancelled at least 48 hours before the appointment. Non-refundable thereafter; one free rescheduling is offered. |
| Family education strategy | Full refund before the first working session; 50% refund after the first session and before delivery of the written strategy; non-refundable after delivery. |
| Admissions packages (boarding school, university, postgraduate/MBA, transfer) | Refund of the portion of fees for stages not yet started, less a 20% administration charge on the total package fee. Fees for stages already started or completed (for example, applications submitted) are non-refundable. Instalments not yet due are cancelled. |
| Visa, relocation, summer programme and tutoring coordination | Refundable less work performed at CHF 250 per hour and any non-recoverable third-party costs committed on the Client's behalf. |
| Helvetia Privé retainers | Monthly retainers may be cancelled with 30 days' written notice; the current month is not refunded. Minimum terms stated in the Engagement Letter apply. |
| Ad-hoc concierge services | Refundable if cancelled before the service is arranged; otherwise subject to the cancellation terms of the third-party provider (chauffeur, hotel, aviation operator, etc.). |
| Helvetia Elite membership | Refundable pro rata for whole unused months if cancelled within the first 90 days of a membership year, less services already used at member rates. Non-refundable thereafter; the membership simply does not renew. |
4. Third-party costs
School, university, application, testing, government and visa fees, translations, travel, accommodation and similar costs paid to third parties are governed by those third parties' own terms and are not refundable by Helvetia.
5. Outcomes
Fees are not refundable because an application is unsuccessful, a visa is refused, or a Client changes plans, provided Helvetia has performed the agreed services with professional care.
6. Cancellation by Helvetia
If Helvetia is unable to deliver a service for reasons within its control, the Client will receive a full refund for the undelivered part. If Helvetia terminates an engagement because of false information or conduct incompatible with the relationship of trust, fees for work performed remain due and no refund is made for that work.
7. How to request a refund
Write to info@helvetia-education.com quoting the invoice number. We acknowledge requests within 3 business days and, where a refund is due, process it within 14 business days to the original payment method (card refunds are returned to the card used; bank transfers to the originating account). Bank or currency conversion charges may be deducted where the refund is made in a different currency.
8. Disputes and chargebacks
Please contact us before initiating a chargeback with your card issuer. We will always seek a fair resolution directly.
9. Contact
Helvetia Education Group W.L.L.
Office 4103, Building 2004, Road 1527, Block 115, Hidd, Kingdom of Bahrain
E-mail: info@helvetia-education.com