Billing, Cancellation and Refund Policy

Private beta and free access

Five to six selected households may participate in the first private beta without payment. Every family’s free Starter Stack includes three human-reviewed opportunities and no credit card. Beta participation is voluntary, limited and does not create a paid membership.

The Match-Ready gate

Research does not begin merely because a questionnaire was submitted. ScholarLadder first checks whether required answers are complete and specific enough to research. Missing or vague answers generate focused follow-up questions. The delivery period starts only after the profile is marked Match Ready.

Planned paid access

The planned Four Month Cycle is $79 for continuous research during four active months. The planned Founding Annual Stack is $149 for continuous research during twelve active months, with a future regular annual price of $199. Match volume is not guaranteed and weak listings will not be added to reach a number. These prices are not currently available for purchase and may change after beta measurement. Before any future payment, checkout will show the exact total, taxes, access period, included services, AI allowance, renewal terms and coupon limitations.

When paid work begins

Paid-plan research begins only after ScholarLadder marks the profile Match Ready and starts reviewing opportunities beyond the free Starter Stack. The customer will receive written confirmation when paid research begins.

Access after membership

A match released while membership is active remains accessible through its published deadline. Expiration stops new research, new releases and next-cycle re-verification; it does not remove an already released match. A next-cycle placeholder does not count as a current reviewed opportunity until ScholarLadder verifies the new cycle.

Renewal and cancellation

The founding pilot will not automatically renew. If recurring billing is offered later, it will require clear affirmative consent and an online cancellation method. Cancellation stops future renewal. It does not erase completed work or automatically create a refund for delivered service.

Refunds and service problems

• The private beta and three-match Starter Stack are free, so there is no matching-service charge to refund.
• If ScholarLadder cannot find three qualified starter opportunities from a complete Match-Ready profile, it will extend the search or explain why the service is not a suitable fit. No paid upgrade is required.
• A future paid plan may be fully refunded before paid-plan research begins.
• After paid research begins, any refund will account fairly for work completed and service delivered. The exact calculation must appear before checkout.
• If ScholarLadder does not deliver an included service during the promised period, the customer may choose reasonable additional time, replacement work or a proportional refund for the undelivered portion.
• An honest profile mistake may be corrected and affected matches reviewed again. Intentional or material misrepresentation may result in cancellation, with any refund based on completed work and applicable law.
• A human writing-review add-on may be refunded before review begins. After feedback is delivered, it is generally nonrefundable unless the service was not provided as described.
• Not applying, not winning or disliking a sponsor’s decision does not create a refund right for research already delivered.

ScholarLadder provides a digital service; there are no physical returns. Nothing limits refund rights required by law.

Timing

Initial human-reviewed matches are targeted within 1 to 3 business days after the profile is Match Ready; please allow up to 5 business days when research or clarification takes longer. Human essay or video-script reviews are generally returned within 1 to 3 business days; please allow up to 5 business days after payment and receipt of a complete draft.

Resilience Fund gifts

The Resilience Fund is not accepting gifts during the private beta. Before activation, ScholarLadder will disclose the administrator, eligible uses, selection process, refund treatment and whether gifts are tax-deductible. A gift must remain separate from service charges and default to $0. No tax deduction should be assumed.