Refund Policy

Effective as of 08/11/2026

POLICY SUMMARY: Fees pay for administrative review, evaluation, scheduling,
technology, materials, and professional services. Refund eligibility depends on the type of fee and how much work ABBCU has completed when a written cancellation or withdrawal request is received.
 

1. Purpose
This policy establishes uniform rules for refunds, credits, cancellations, withdrawals, duplicate payments, and disputed charges. It is intended to treat applicants, accredited institutions, students, instructors, and other participants fairly while protecting ABBCU from costs already incurred or services already performed.
 

2. Scope
This policy applies to payments made directly to ABBCU for accreditation-related services, application processing, evaluations, expedited review, training, certification, workshops, digital or printed materials, and other programs or services. A signed agreement, invoice, registration page, or program-specific policy may establish different terms; when it does, the more specific written terms control.
 

3. General Principles
Fees and outcomes. Payment of a fee does not guarantee eligibility, accreditation, renewal, approval, certification, course completion, or any particular decision. Work already performed. ABBCU may retain the portion of a payment reasonably attributable to administrative work completed, evaluator time, materials provided, technology access, transaction charges, and non-cancelable third-party commitments. Written notice controls. Refund eligibility is measured from the date ABBCU receives a clear written request to cancel, withdraw, or correct a payment—not from the date the payer stopped participating or communicating.

3. General Principles — Continued
No automatic refund after an unfavorable decision. Denial, probation, conditions, non-renewal, unsuccessful completion, dismissal, or an appeal outcome does not by itself create a right to a refund.

4. Refund Rules by Fee or Service
Application Request Fee

Non-refundable once ABBCU begins processing the request, issues a Private Institution Code, or provides the application packet.

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A full refund may be issued if ABBCU receives written cancellation before processing begins.

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Accreditation or Evaluation Fee

Before intake review begins: 100% of the eligible fee, less the Application Request Fee and unrecoverable costs. After intake begins but before evaluator assignment: 50% of the eligible fee. After evaluator assignment or
evaluation activity begins: no refund.

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Evaluation activity includes document review, correspondence requiring
substantive analysis, interviews, virtual or on-site review, report preparation, anddecision processing.

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Expedited Processing Fee

Non-refundable once expedited work or priority scheduling begins. If ABBCU determines it cannot provide the expedited service, the expedited portion will be refunded unless the delay resulted from the applicant’s acts, omissions, or late
submissions.

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Training, Course, or Certification

Before the program begins: 100% of tuition paid, less non-refundable.

The official start date and published program schedule.

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Tuition application and materials fees.

From program start through 25% completion: 75% of tuition. After 25% through 50% completion: 50% of tuition. After more than 50% completion: no refund.

determine completion percentage. A program-specific enrollment agreement may control.

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Workshops or Events

Seven or more calendar days before the event: refund of the registration fee less non-refundable costs.

Fewer than seven days before the event or after it begins: no refund; ABBCU may allow a substitute participant or future credit.

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No refund is due for failure to attend. ABBCU-cancelled events are governed by Section 6.

Materials, Digital Content, or Records

Generally non-refundable after download, access, shipment, customization, or delivery.

Defective, duplicate, or incorrectly supplied items may be replaced or refunded after verification.

5. Duplicate, Erroneous, and Unauthorized Charges
Duplicate or incorrect charge. A verified duplicate payment or ABBCU billing error will be refunded in full or applied as a credit, according to the payer’s written instructions.
Unauthorized payment. The payer should notify ABBCU promptly and provide enough information to investigate. ABBCU may request identity, payment, or account verification before releasing funds.
Returned or reversed payment. Bank return fees, chargeback costs, or other amounts assessed to ABBCU may be deducted from any amount otherwise due, when permitted by applicable law and the governing payment agreement.

6. Cancellation or Material Change by ABBCU
If ABBCU cancels a paid service or program and does not provide a substantially equivalent alternative, ABBCU will refund the unearned portion of the applicable fee.

For rescheduled events or programs, the payer may accept the new date, transfer the registration when permitted, receive ABBCU credit, or request the refundable portion of the payment. ABBCU is not responsible for incidental or consequential expenses such as travel, lodging, lost wages, financing costs, or third-party purchases, except where applicable law requires otherwise.
 

7. Applicant or Participant Responsibilities
Complete and timely submissions. The payer must provide requested information, records, signatures, and access by stated deadlines. Delay, inactivity, abandonment, or failure to satisfy requirements does not extend a refund period.

Withdrawal notice. A telephone call or informal conversation does not complete a withdrawal. Written notice must identify the payer, institution or participant, service or program, payment date and amount, reason for the request, and requested resolution.
Accurate payment information. The payer is responsible for reviewing invoices, registration selections, and payment amounts before authorizing a transaction.
 

8. How to Request a Refund
A refund request should be submitted within 30 days after the cancellation, withdrawal, duplicate charge, billing error, or other event giving rise to the request. Requests received later may be denied unless ABBCU determines that good cause exists.

• Submit a written request: Send the request to the current ABBCU administrative or finance contact listed on the invoice, registration page, or official website.

• Include supporting information: Provide the payer’s name, institution or participant name, contact information, invoice or transaction number, payment date, amount, service, reason, and any supporting documents.

• Allow review time: ABBCU will normally issue a written determination within 15 business days after receiving a complete request. Complex matters may require additional time.

9. Refund Determination and Payment

• Calculation. Approved refunds are based on the amount actually received by ABBCU and the stage of service shown in this policy, less any permitted deductions.

• Method. Refunds ordinarily are returned to the original payment method. ABBCU may use another secure method when the original method is unavailable or when verification is required.

• Timing. ABBCU will normally initiate an approved refund within 10 business days after the written determination. Financial institutions and payment processors may require additional posting time.

• Credits. A credit is not cash and has no cash value unless ABBCU states otherwise in writing. Credits are non-transferable and expire 12 months after issuance unless the written credit notice provides a different period.
   

10. Hardship and Exceptional Circumstances
ABBCU may, in its discretion, approve a partial refund, future credit, payment
adjustment, or transfer when documented serious illness, death in the immediate family,natural disaster, military activation, or another extraordinary circumstance prevents participation. Requests must include reasonable documentation. An exception in one case does not require the same result in another case.

11. Refund Reconsideration
A payer may request reconsideration of a refund determination by submitting a written explanation and any new supporting documentation within 15 calendar days after the determination was sent. The reconsideration decision is final within ABBCU’s internal administrative process. This section does not replace or limit any non-waivable right available under applicable law.
 

12. Chargebacks and Collection Activity
A payer should first use the refund process in Section 8 so ABBCU has an opportunity to review and correct the matter. Filing a chargeback based on knowingly false or incomplete information may result in suspension of services, collection of amounts properly due, and recovery of authorized fees or costs. ABBCU will not retaliate against a person for raising a good-faith billing concern or exercising a lawful right.

13. Administration, Exceptions, and Legal Compliance
ABBCU Administration is responsible for interpreting and applying this policy,
maintaining refund records, and approving exceptions. Any exception must be
documented in writing. If a written contract, enrollment agreement, payment-network rule, or applicable law provides a greater non-waivable refund or cancellation right, that requirement controls to the extent of the conflict.

NOTICE: ABBCU may revise this policy prospectively. The version in effect when the payment is made generally governs that transaction unless a later version or applicable law provides more favorable terms.

14. Refund Request Contact
Before publishing this policy, ABBCU should insert its current refund-request emailaddress, mailing address, telephone number, and secure portal instructions below.

Email ____________________________________________
Mailing Address ____________________________________________
Telephone ____________________________________________
Secure Portal /
Website ____________________________________________
Adopted by: ______________________________ Date: __________________
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