LawyerBuddy — Legal & Tax Advisor

This Refund & Escrow Policy explains when and how refunds operate on the LawyerBuddy platform, and how the Escrow mechanism for Counsel engagements works. It forms part of our Terms of Service.

1. Automated Query and Document Review Charges

Automated Legal Information Service queries (₹5 each) and document reviews (₹9 each) are consumed immediately on submission. As a rule these charges are not refundable. However:

Technical failure of the automated service: if our language-model service provider returns an error or our system fails to deliver a response, the charge is automatically credited back to your in-app wallet as platform credit. No bank refund is issued.
Quality disputes: Automated responses are informational and probabilistic. We do not refund based on dissatisfaction with the content of an automated response.

2. Wallet Top-ups

When you top up your wallet (₹199, ₹499, ₹999 tiers, including the bonus credits stated on the wallet page at the time of top-up), the amount is credited as non-refundable in-app wallet credit.

No refunds to bank, card, or UPI. Top-ups, including any bonus component, can only be spent on Platform services (automated queries, document reviews, future paid features). They cannot be withdrawn to a bank account.
Unauthorised transactions: if you believe a top-up was made without your authorisation, raise a complaint at grievance@lawyerbuddy.io within 7 days. Verified fraudulent transactions are reversed through the original payment instrument.
Account closure: any unused wallet balance is forfeited on voluntary account closure, save where required to be refunded by law.

3. Counsel Engagement Escrow

3.1 How the escrow works

When you accept a Counsel's bid, the quoted fee is locked through our payment partner. The amount remains in escrow until:

You click "Mark as Resolved" in the secure case workspace, at which point a seven (7) calendar day cooldown begins;
The cooldown elapses with no dispute raised by either party. At that point the fee is released: LawyerBuddy retains its Platform Fee (10% of the accepted quote, minimum ₹299); the balance is credited to the Counsel's wallet.

3.2 Disputes during the 7-day cooldown

During the cooldown either party may raise a dispute through the in-app dispute channel or by writing to grievance@lawyerbuddy.io. Possible outcomes:

Full refund to user (net of Platform Fee): where Counsel is materially unresponsive, the engagement did not progress, or where the Counsel consents to a refund. The Platform Fee is non-refundable once a bid has been accepted.
Partial refund: by mutual agreement between you and the Counsel, recorded on-Platform.
Full release to Counsel: where the dispute is determined unfounded.

Our trust & safety team will review the in-Platform chat history, attachments, and any external communication brought to our attention. Decisions are made within 15 days. Funds remain frozen during review.

3.3 After the 7-day cooldown

Once the cooldown lapses and funds are released to the Counsel's wallet, the transaction is treated as final. Any remaining grievance is between you and the Counsel; LawyerBuddy is not a party. You may still proceed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 or under your private engagement with the Counsel.

3.4 Chargebacks

Unauthorised or fraudulent chargebacks may result in suspension. Where a chargeback is initiated on a legitimate transaction, we will contest it with appropriate documentary evidence.

4. Refund Processing Time

Where a refund is approved:

Wallet credit: instant.
Bank/card/UPI refund (only in the exceptional cases listed above): 5–10 working days, subject to the issuing bank's processing time.

5. Contact

Refund queries and dispute escalations: grievance@lawyerbuddy.io.