Refund Policy

Last updated: February 2026

We want you to feel confident purchasing our service. If things don't work out, here's exactly how refunds work. no fine print, no surprises.

Trip Planning Buddy ($19.99)

• Before we respond: Full refund, no questions asked. If we haven't sent you anything yet, you get all your money back.
• After our first reply: Once our team has responded to your first message, the service is considered started. No refund at this stage.

Why? The $19.99 covers our team's time and effort in helping you plan your trip through ongoing conversations. Once we've started, we can't "un-start" it. But honestly, at $19.99, we think you'll find it's worth every penny.

On-Trip Assistant

Daily Pass ($25.99/day)

• Within first 24 hours: Not happy? Full refund. Just let us know.
• After 24 hours: The service day is considered used. No refund for that day.

7-Day Package ($139.99)

• Within first 24 hours: Full refund if you're not satisfied, no questions asked.
• After the first day: Unused full days can be refunded proportionally. Used days are charged at the daily rate of $25.99/day.

Example: You bought the 7-day package ($139.99) and used it for 3 days, then decided to cancel. Used = 3 days × $25.99 = $77.97. Refund = $139.99 − $77.97 = $62.02.

Payment Processing Fees

All payments are processed through PayPal, our third-party payment provider. PayPal charges a non-refundable processing fee on every transaction (approximately 4–5% of the transaction amount). This fee is charged by PayPal directly — not by China Local Friends.

When a refund is issued, PayPal does not return this processing fee to us. As a result, refund amounts may be reduced by the processing fee that PayPal has already deducted. This is a standard practice across online services that use third-party payment processors.

Example: If you paid $139.99 and PayPal charged a ~$6.46 processing fee, your refund would be $139.99 − $6.46 = $133.53. The $6.46 is retained by PayPal, not by us.

How to Request a Refund

It's simple. just 3 steps:

1. Message us on WhatsApp. Send us a message saying you'd like a refund. That's it. No forms, no phone calls, no emails required (though you can email us too if you prefer).
2. We'll confirm within 24 hours. We'll review your request and confirm the refund amount.
3. Money back in 5–10 business days. The refund goes back to your original payment method through PayPal. The exact timing depends on your bank.

Special Situations

PayPal payment failed or I was charged twice

If you see a duplicate charge or a failed payment that still went through, contact us immediately. We'll sort it out right away. duplicate charges are always refunded in full.

I bought the wrong service

No worries. If you meant to buy one service but purchased another, let us know before we start working on your request. We'll refund the original purchase so you can buy the correct one.

Service was unavailable

If we fail to respond within our service hours (8 AM – 10 PM Beijing Time) for an extended period due to issues on our end, you're entitled to a full refund for the affected service period.

I'm not sure if I qualify for a refund

Just ask! Message us on WhatsApp and explain your situation. We're reasonable people, and we'll always try to find a fair solution.

Contact Us

Ready to request a refund or have questions?

• WhatsApp: Chat with us (fastest way)
• Email: chinalocalfriends@outlook.com