Overview
This Refund Policy applies to all subscription payments made to VINIKIS LTD for access to the BookWalker digital library platform. It should be read alongside our Subscription Agreement and Terms of Service.
VINIKIS LTD is committed to treating all refund requests fairly and transparently. This policy sets out clearly when refunds are available, how to request one, and how long the process takes.
The digital content rule
BookWalker sells access to digital content — specifically, the right to read books through our online platform. Under EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU (Article 16(m)) and the equivalent UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, subscription fees for digital content are non-refundable once you have accessed the service, provided you gave explicit prior consent to immediate supply and acknowledged the loss of your withdrawal right.
At checkout, before payment is taken, we clearly display and require you to confirm:
- The introductory price and the subsequent recurring price;
- That your subscription starts immediately upon payment;
- That by accessing the service, you waive your statutory right of withdrawal.
This acknowledgement is legally required for the digital content exception to apply, and we collect it explicitly.
Right of withdrawal (EU & UK consumers)
If you have NOT accessed the service
If you are an EU or UK consumer and you have not accessed any content after payment (i.e., you have not logged in and read any book), you may withdraw from the contract within 14 calendar days of purchase without giving any reason.
To exercise this right, contact us at [email protected] with the subject line "WITHDRAWAL REQUEST" before accessing the service. You will receive a full refund within 14 days.
If you HAVE accessed the service
If you have logged in and accessed any book or content after payment, your right of withdrawal is extinguished under Article 16(m) of the EU Consumer Rights Directive (and its UK equivalent), as you confirmed at checkout. Standard no-refund rules apply, subject to the eligible circumstances in Section 4.
Non-EU / Non-UK subscribers
Subscribers outside the EU/EEA and UK do not have a statutory right of withdrawal. Refund eligibility is governed by Section 4 of this policy.
Eligible refund circumstances
Outside of the statutory withdrawal right, VINIKIS LTD will issue refunds in the following circumstances:
| Circumstance | Condition | Refund amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-access withdrawal | Request submitted within 14 days of purchase, before accessing any content (EU/UK consumers) | Full refund |
| Duplicate charge | A technical error causes the same period to be charged twice | Full refund of duplicate amount |
| Unauthorised transaction | Demonstrated fraudulent use of your payment method (subject to investigation) | Full refund, subject to investigation |
| Platform outage | Verified platform unavailability exceeding 72 continuous hours during a paid period | Pro-rata refund for outage period |
| Termination by VINIKIS LTD | We terminate your subscription for reasons not caused by your breach | Pro-rata refund for unused period |
All other refund requests are evaluated at our sole discretion on a case-by-case basis. We aim to be reasonable and fair in exceptional circumstances not covered above.
How to request a refund
To request a refund under any eligible circumstance:
Contact us by email
Send your request to [email protected] with the subject line "REFUND REQUEST".
Include the required details
Your registered email address; the date and amount of the charge; a description of the reason for your request; any supporting documentation (e.g. bank statement showing duplicate charge).
Wait for acknowledgement
We will acknowledge your request within 5 business days and provide a decision within 14 business days.
Receive your refund
Approved refunds are processed to your original payment method within 14 days of approval.
Urgent matters: include "URGENT" in subject line.
Processing time
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgement of request | Within 5 business days |
| Decision on eligibility | Within 14 business days of request |
| Refund payment (if approved) | Within 14 days of approval |
| Credit to your account (after payment issued) | 3–10 business days (depending on your bank) |
Refunds are returned to the original payment method used at checkout. If the original card or account is no longer available, please inform us when submitting your request and we will discuss alternatives.
Chargebacks
We strongly encourage you to contact us before initiating a chargeback with your bank or card issuer. Most disputes can be resolved quickly through direct communication.
If you initiate a chargeback without first following the procedure in Section 5, we will provide your card issuer with evidence demonstrating:
- Your explicit authorisation of the charge at checkout;
- The service access acknowledgement you provided;
- Evidence of service delivery (access logs).
Unjustified chargebacks may result in account suspension. We reserve the right to recover processing costs associated with unjustified chargebacks where permitted by law.
Cancellation vs refund
Cancellation and refunds are separate actions:
- Cancellation stops future charges and ends your subscription at the end of your current paid period. It does not generate a refund for amounts already charged.
- Refund returns money already charged, and is only available in the circumstances described in Section 4.
To cancel your subscription, go to your account → Profile → Cancel Subscription, or email [email protected].
Contact
For refund requests and billing enquiries:
Email: [email protected]
Post: 1 Bishops Green, St. Swithins Close, Derby, England, DE22 3FX, UK
Response time: within 5 business days
You can also submit enquiries via our contact form.