(847) 241-2777

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Effective Date: February 1, 2026

At American Built Websites, we provide custom digital services, including website design, development, marketing, and data-driven services. Because these services involve time, labor, strategy, and digital deliverables, this Refund & Cancellation Policy is designed to be clear, fair, and compliant with merchant service requirements.

By purchasing our services, you agree to this policy in full.

1. Nature of Services (Important)

Our services are custom, non-tangible, and labor-based. Once work begins, value is immediately delivered through planning, research, design direction, development setup, and resource allocation.

For this reason, refunds are limited and subject to the terms below.

2. Refund Eligibility (Before Work Begins)

A refund may be considered only if:

  • Payment has been made, and

  • Work has not yet started, and

  • No design, strategy, setup, research, or development work has been performed

If these conditions are met, any approved refund may be reduced by:

  • Administrative costs

  • Processing fees

  • Any non-recoverable third-party costs

Refunds are not guaranteed and are issued at our discretion.

3. No Refunds After Work Begins or Approval

This is a strict policy.

Once any of the following occurs, no refunds will be issued:

  • Work has begun

  • Design direction or mockups are approved

  • Development setup has started

  • Access to tools, systems, or platforms is provisioned

  • Strategy, planning, or data services have been initiated

This includes situations where the client:

  • Changes their mind mid-project

  • Decides not to proceed for personal or internal reasons

  • Experiences delays on their side

  • No longer needs the service

A change of mind does not qualify for a refund.

4. Design Approval Clause (Critical)

Once the client approves a design, layout, structure, or direction (via email, message, project tool, or written confirmation):

  • The approved design is considered final

  • Any further changes are treated as revisions or new scope

  • No refunds will be issued after approval

  • Rebuilds or redesigns are billed separately

Approval confirms that the service meets the agreed expectations at that stage.

5. Cancellations After Work Begins

If you choose to cancel after work has started:

  • All payments made remain non-refundable

  • You are responsible for payment for:

    • Work completed up to the cancellation date

    • Any committed or non-cancelable third-party costs

  • Partial completion does not entitle a partial refund

6. Deposits & Upfront Payments

  • All deposits are non-refundable

  • Deposits secure time, resources, and project scheduling

  • Deposits are applied toward work performed and are not held as escrow

7. Non-Responsive or Abandoned Projects

If a client fails to respond, provide content, or give approvals:

  • Projects may be paused after 14 days

  • Projects may be closed after 30 days of inactivity

Closed or abandoned projects are not eligible for refunds. Restarting may require additional fees.

8. Third-Party Costs

Refunds do not apply to third-party costs, including but not limited to:

  • Paid plugins or licenses

  • Stock images or assets

  • Hosting or domain services

  • Advertising spend

  • Software subscriptions or tools

These costs are non-recoverable once purchased.

9. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

By purchasing our services, you agree:

  • Not to file chargebacks for services already delivered or worked on

  • That approvals, communications, and deliverables may be used as evidence to dispute chargebacks

  • That unresolved disputes may result in service suspension or termination

Filing a chargeback does not override this Refund & Cancellation Policy.

10. Payment Methods

Payments may be accepted through:

  • Stripe

  • Square

  • Authorize.Net

  • Zelle (bank transfer, when applicable)

Refunds (if approved) are issued using the original payment method where possible.

11. Policy Updates

We reserve the right to update this policy at any time. The most current version will always be posted on our website with the effective date.

12. Contact

Questions about this policy can be directed to:

American Built Websites
📧 Email: info@americanbuiltwebsites.com
📞 Phone: (847) 241-2777

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