ADVOCATES PAYING ADVOCATES MARKETPLACE

Refund & Payment Policy

This Refund & Payment Policy ("Policy") governs all financial transactions on the Advocates Paying Advocates Marketplace ("Marketplace"), operated by Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC ("DVE," "we," "us," or "Company"). This Policy applies to all Buyers and Sellers using the Marketplace and explains how payments are processed, when refunds may be issued, and how payouts are handled.

By using the Marketplace, you agree to the terms outlined in this Policy. Please read this Policy carefully before making any purchase or listing products for sale.

OVERVIEW OF MARKETPLACE TRANSACTIONS

The Advocates Paying Advocates Marketplace operates as a platform that facilitates transactions between independent Buyers and Sellers.

Transaction Responsibility: Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC (DVE), as the Marketplace operator, is responsible for processing all payments, refunds, and payment disputes. When you make a purchase on the Marketplace, your transaction is processed by DVE through our payment processor, Stripe. This means:

• DVE handles all customer service matters related to payments and refunds
• If you have a payment issue, contact DVE directly—not your bank
• DVE will work with you and the Seller to resolve any legitimate concerns
• DVE maintains reserves to ensure refunds can be processed promptly when warranted

Important: All payments are processed through Stripe, our third-party payment processor. When you make a purchase or receive payment through the Marketplace, you are also agreeing to Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy.

PAYMENT PROCESSING

Payment Processor

All payments on the Marketplace are processed securely through Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe"), a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. The Company does not directly handle, process, or store your credit card information. All payment data is transmitted directly to and stored by Stripe in accordance with their security standards.

For more information about how Stripe handles your payment information, please review:

• Stripe's Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy
• Stripe's Terms of Service: https://stripe.com/legal/consu...

Accepted Payment Methods

Through Stripe, we accept the following payment methods:

• Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
• Debit cards
• Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, where available)
• ACH payments (for eligible transactions)
• Other payment methods supported by Stripe in your region

Transaction Processing

When you purchase a product on the Marketplace:

• Payment is processed immediately through Stripe
• You will receive an email confirmation of your purchase from the Marketplace
• Your payment receipt will be issued by Stripe
• The purchased digital product will be made available for immediate download
• The Marketplace commission is automatically deducted, and the remaining amount is held for the Seller

Pricing and Currency

All prices on the Marketplace are displayed in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified. Sellers set their own prices for their products. The Marketplace does not control or set product pricing, though we reserve the right to establish minimum and maximum price limits for products listed on the platform.

If you are making a purchase from outside the United States, your financial institution or Stripe may convert the transaction to your local currency and may charge currency conversion fees. The Marketplace is not responsible for any currency conversion fees or rates applied by your bank or payment provider.

BUYER REFUND POLICY

General Refund Terms

Due to the nature of digital products, which are delivered instantly and cannot be "returned," refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. However, we are committed to ensuring customer satisfaction and will work with both Buyers and Sellers to resolve any legitimate issues.

Refund Eligibility

You may be eligible for a refund if:

• Product not as described: The product you received is materially different from what was described in the product listing
• Defective or incomplete product: The product files are corrupted, cannot be opened, or are missing components that were advertised
• Duplicate charge: You were charged multiple times for the same product due to a technical error
• Unauthorized charge: You believe a charge was made without your authorization
• Technical delivery failure: You did not receive access to the product after payment was processed and the Seller cannot provide access

Refunds Will NOT Be Issued

Refunds are generally not provided in the following circumstances:

• You changed your mind after purchasing the product
• You did not read the full product description before purchasing
• You purchased the wrong product by mistake (though we may make exceptions at our discretion)
• You found a similar product elsewhere at a lower price
• The product did not meet your subjective expectations, but otherwise matched the description
• You lack the technical skills or software needed to use the product
• You have already downloaded, accessed, or used a significant portion of the product

Refund Request Timeframe

Refund requests must be submitted within 14 days of the original purchase date. Requests submitted after this period will not be considered, except in cases of fraud or unauthorized charges, which may be reported at any time.

How to Request a Refund

To request a refund, please follow these steps:

1. Contact our support team at support@dawsonvisionaryenterprisesllc.com
2. Include your order number, the date of purchase, and the product name
3. Provide a detailed explanation of why you are requesting a refund
4. Include any relevant screenshots or evidence to support your claim

We will review your request and typically respond within 3-5 business days. In some cases, we may need to contact the Seller to gather additional information before making a decision.

Refund Processing

If your refund is approved:

• The refund will be processed through Stripe to your original payment method
• You will receive an email confirmation once the refund has been initiated
• Refunds typically appear in your account within 5-10 business days, depending on your financial institution
• Your access to the product will be revoked
• The refunded amount will be deducted from the Seller's upcoming payout

SELLER PAYOUT POLICY

Commission Structure

The Marketplace charges a commission on each sale based on the Seller's membership tier:

This commission covers the costs of operating the platform, including payment processing fees, hosting, customer support, and platform maintenance. The commission structure may be modified with reasonable advance notice to Sellers. Any changes to the commission rate will be communicated via email and posted on the Marketplace at least 30 days before the new rate takes effect.

Payout Schedule

Seller payouts are processed on a monthly basis through Stripe. Payouts are typically processed on the first business day of each month for all eligible earnings from the previous month.

Minimum Payout Threshold

To receive a payout, your account balance must meet or exceed the minimum payout threshold of $25.00 USD. If your balance is below this amount at the time of the scheduled payout, your earnings will roll over to the following month until the minimum threshold is met.

Payout Method

All payouts are issued via Stripe to the bank account or debit card you have connected to your Seller account. To receive payouts, you must:

• Complete Stripe's identity verification process
• Provide valid banking information or connect a debit card
• Ensure your account information is current and accurate
• Accept Stripe's Connected Account Agreement

The Marketplace is not responsible for delays in payout processing caused by incomplete or inaccurate information in your Stripe account.

Payout Holds and Reserves

In certain circumstances, payouts may be held or delayed:

• New Seller holds: For new Sellers, there may be an initial hold period of 7-14 days on first payouts to protect against fraud
• High dispute rates: If your account experiences an unusually high number of refund requests or disputes, we may place a hold on payouts pending investigation
• Suspected fraud: If we suspect fraudulent activity on your account, payouts will be suspended until the investigation is complete
• Stripe requirements: Stripe may impose holds or reserves on accounts based on their risk assessment policies

You will be notified via email if a hold is placed on your account, along with information about how to resolve the issue.

Refund Impact on Payouts

When a refund is issued to a Buyer, the full refund amount (including the Marketplace commission) will be deducted from your next scheduled payout. If you do not have sufficient funds in your upcoming payout to cover the refund, the negative balance will carry forward until it is reconciled through future sales.

Seller Account Closure with Outstanding Balance

If a Seller closes their account or is terminated from the Marketplace while carrying a negative balance, the Seller remains legally responsible for that balance. DVE reserves the right to:

• Pursue collection of the outstanding negative balance
• Report unresolved balances to collection agencies if necessary
• Take legal action to recover amounts owed
• Prohibit the individual from creating new accounts on the Marketplace

CHARGEBACKS AND PAYMENT DISPUTES

What is a Chargeback?

A chargeback occurs when a Buyer disputes a charge with their credit card company or bank, rather than requesting a refund through the Marketplace. Chargebacks are costly and disruptive to the platform and to Sellers, and they may indicate fraud or abuse.

Chargeback Process

If a Buyer initiates a chargeback:

• The chargeback will be handled by Stripe in accordance with their dispute resolution process
• We will work with the Seller to gather evidence to contest the chargeback
• The Marketplace will be responsible for the chargeback fee assessed by Stripe (currently $15, subject to change per Stripe's fee schedule)
• If the chargeback is successful, the full purchase amount will be deducted from the Seller's account

Preventing Chargebacks

To minimize chargebacks:

• Buyers: Please contact us first through our refund request process before disputing a charge with your bank. This allows us to resolve the issue more quickly and at no cost to anyone.
• Sellers: Provide accurate and detailed product descriptions, respond promptly to Buyer inquiries, and maintain high-quality products to reduce disputes.

Excessive Chargebacks

Accounts with excessive chargebacks may be subject to increased scrutiny, payout holds, or termination. Both Buyers and Sellers who engage in chargeback abuse may have their accounts permanently suspended from the Marketplace.

FEES AND TAXES

Platform Fees

The Marketplace commission covers:

• Stripe payment processing fees
• Platform hosting and infrastructure
• Customer support
• Payment fraud prevention
• Platform maintenance and development

No additional fees are charged to Buyers beyond the listed product price. No additional fees are charged to Sellers beyond the stated commission percentage.

Tax Responsibilities

For Buyers

You are responsible for determining whether any taxes apply to your purchase and for reporting and remitting those taxes to the appropriate tax authorities. The Marketplace does not currently collect sales tax on purchases, but this may change based on applicable laws.

For Sellers

As an independent business owner selling on the Marketplace:

• You are responsible for determining and paying all applicable taxes on your earnings
• You may need to report your earnings to federal, state, and local tax authorities
• If you earn more than $600 USD in a calendar year, you may receive a Form 1099-K from Stripe for tax reporting purposes
• The Marketplace does not withhold taxes from your payouts

We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified tax professional regarding your specific tax obligations. The Marketplace is not able to provide tax advice.

PAYMENT SECURITY AND FRAUD PREVENTION

We take payment security seriously and work closely with Stripe to prevent fraud and protect both Buyers and Sellers. Security measures include:

• PCI DSS Level 1 compliance through Stripe
• Encryption of all payment data in transit and at rest
• Fraud detection algorithms and monitoring
• Identity verification for Sellers
• Account activity monitoring

If we detect suspicious activity on your account, we may temporarily suspend transactions while we investigate. We will contact you via email if any action is required on your part.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions about this Refund & Payment Policy, need assistance with a refund request, or have concerns about a payment or payout, please contact us:

Email: support@dawsonvisionaryenterprisesllc.com

Mailing Address:

Dawson Visionary Enterprises, LLC

Attn: Marketplace Support

10770 Columbia Pike #300

Silver Spring, MD 20901

For technical issues with Stripe payments or payouts, you may also contact Stripe support directly at https://support.stripe.com. 

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Refund & Payment Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, payment processors, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy
• Post the revised Policy on the Marketplace
• For material changes, send email notification to all Buyers and Sellers at least 30 days before the changes take effect

Your continued use of the Marketplace after changes to this Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. If you do not agree with any changes, you may discontinue use of the Marketplace.

DISCLAIMER

This Policy is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as financial or legal advice. While we strive to process refunds and payouts fairly and promptly, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes for any refund request or dispute.

The Marketplace operates as a platform connecting Buyers and Sellers. DVE is responsible for payment processing, refunds, and chargebacks as the platform operator, and we will make reasonable efforts to facilitate fair resolution of any disputes.

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Thank you for being part of the Advocates Paying Advocates Marketplace community.

We are committed to fair and transparent financial practices that support

both Buyers and Sellers in our advocacy community.