Payment Policy
Billing, subscriptions, renewals, and refunds.
This Payment Policy is part of, and incorporated into, the MarriageEmporium Terms of Service. It explains how payments, subscriptions, renewals, cancellations, and refunds work on MarriageEmporium. By purchasing a membership or any paid service, you agree to this Payment Policy.
Please note before you subscribe. Memberships renew automatically at the then-current rate until you cancel, and cancellation must be completed before the renewal date to stop the next charge. The full terms are in Section 2, Section 4, and Section 5; this summary does not replace them.
1. Memberships and Paid Services
MarriageEmporium offers tiered memberships — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — and optional paid services, such as compatibility reports, background checks, counseling or coaching sessions, assessments, and concierge services. Current prices and included features for each tier and service are displayed on the Membership page before you purchase. Prices are shown in the applicable currency and may exclude taxes (such as VAT, GST, or sales tax), which are added where required by law. Features of a membership tier apply only while that membership is active.
2. Billing and Automatic Renewal
Recurring billing. Membership subscriptions are billed in advance on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the plan you select). By purchasing a subscription, you expressly authorize us (through our payment processor) to charge your payment method the applicable subscription fee, plus any applicable taxes, at the start of each renewal period.
Automatic renewal. Your subscription will automatically renew for the same duration at the then-current rate at the end of each billing period unless you cancel before the renewal date (see Section 4). The recurring nature of the subscription, the renewal amount, and the cancellation method are disclosed to you at checkout before you are charged.
Renewal reminders. For subscriptions with an initial term of six months or longer, we will send a reminder to your registered email address before the renewal charge, as required by applicable law.
Payment methods. We accept major credit and debit cards and other payment methods shown at checkout. You represent that you are authorized to use the payment method you provide and agree to keep your payment information current.
Free trials and promotions. If you begin a free trial or promotional offer, the terms of that offer will be shown at sign-up. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, your payment method will be charged the applicable subscription fee when the trial converts to a paid subscription.
3. Failed Payments
If a payment fails (for example, due to an expired card or insufficient funds), we or our payment processor may retry the charge, and we may notify you to update your payment method. You remain responsible for all uncollected amounts. If we cannot process payment after reasonable attempts, we may downgrade, suspend, or terminate your access to paid features until payment is received. Your subscription period is not extended for any period of suspension caused by failed payment.
4. Cancellation
How to cancel. You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings (Membership or Billing section) or by emailing customerservices@marriageemporium.com. Cancellation must be completed before the renewal date to avoid the next charge.
Effect of cancellation. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You retain access to paid features until that date, and no further subscription charges will be made. Cancelling a subscription does not delete your account; you may continue using the free features of the Services.
No retroactive effect. Cancellation stops future charges only; it does not, by itself, entitle you to a refund of fees already paid (see Section 5).
5. Refunds
Membership subscriptions. If you are not satisfied, you may request a refund of your initial subscription purchase within fourteen (14) days of the original purchase date by emailing customerservices@marriageemporium.com with the subject line “Refund Request.” Renewal charges are not refundable except where required by law. No refunds are given for partially used billing periods outside this window.
EEA/UK consumers — statutory withdrawal right. If you are a consumer in the EEA or UK, you have a statutory right to withdraw from your purchase within 14 days without giving a reason. If you request immediate access to the Services, you expressly consent to performance beginning before the withdrawal period ends and acknowledge that (a) if you withdraw after the Services have been fully performed, you lose the right of withdrawal, and (b) if you withdraw after partial performance, you may be charged a proportionate amount for the Services already provided. To exercise the statutory right, email customerservices@marriageemporium.com with an unequivocal statement of withdrawal.
Optional services. Fees for optional services (such as compatibility reports, background checks, counseling sessions, and concierge services) are non-refundable once the service has been delivered or performed, except where required by law or where the service was not delivered as described. If a scheduled session is cancelled by the provider, we will reschedule or refund the fee at your option.
Goodwill discretion. Outside the cases above, refund decisions are at our reasonable discretion, subject to applicable consumer-protection law. Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method, typically within 5–10 business days.
6. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes
If you believe a charge is incorrect, please contact us first at customerservices@marriageemporium.com so we can investigate and resolve the issue quickly. If you initiate a chargeback or payment dispute, we may suspend the associated account and paid features pending resolution, and we reserve the right to contest chargebacks that are inconsistent with this Policy, including by providing evidence of your acceptance of these terms and your use of the Services.
7. Payment Security
Payments are processed by Stripe, a PCI-DSS–compliant third-party payment processor, over secure, encrypted (TLS) connections. MarriageEmporium does not store full card numbers or CVV codes; we store only tokenized references needed for recurring billing. Payment processing is additionally subject to Stripe’s terms of service and privacy policy. We are not liable for the acts or omissions of Stripe except as required by law.
8. Price Changes
We may change subscription prices from time to time. For existing subscribers, we will provide at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice by email or in-Service notification before a price increase applies to your subscription. If you do not agree to the new price, you may cancel before the change takes effect; otherwise, the new price will apply from your next renewal after the notice period.
9. Taxes
You are responsible for all applicable taxes, duties, or levies associated with your purchases (other than taxes on our income). Where required, we will collect and remit taxes and show them at checkout.
10. Contact Us
Billing, cancellation, and refund questions:
Email: customerservices@marriageemporium.com
(please include “Billing” in the subject line)