Last updated: 17 August 2026
This policy explains how to cancel a service, when you are entitled to a refund, and how refunds are processed. It applies to all payments made to Youngbyte (Pty) Ltd and forms part of our Terms and Conditions.
1. Your cooling-off right
If you are a consumer and you bought a service from us electronically — through this website or by accepting a proposal by email without meeting us in person — section 44 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 gives you seven days to cancel without reason and without penalty.
The seven days run from the date you concluded the agreement.
This right does not apply where:
- You asked us to begin work before the seven days expired, and we have begun. In that case you may still cancel, but you must pay for work already performed.
- The service has already been fully performed with your agreement.
- You have accessed digital training materials, downloaded course content, or been granted login credentials to a platform.
How to use it: email refunds@youngbyte.com within seven days saying you wish to cancel. We will refund you within 30 days, less the value of any work already performed at your request.
2. Consulting engagements
Before work begins. Cancel at no cost. Any deposit paid is refunded in full.
After work begins. You may cancel at any time with written notice. You are liable for: – All work performed up to the cancellation date, charged at the agreed rates – Any third-party costs already committed on your behalf – Any non-recoverable subcontractor or associate commitments
We will provide a statement of work performed and refund any balance within 30 days.
Retainers. Support retainers are billed monthly in advance and may be cancelled with 30 days’ written notice. Unused hours in the final month are not refundable and do not carry over.
Where we cancel. If we cancel an engagement for any reason other than your breach, we refund all fees for work not yet performed.
3. Academy programmes
Before the programme starts
| Notice given | Refund |
|---|---|
| More than 14 days before start date | Full refund |
| 7 to 14 days before start date | 75% refund |
| Less than 7 days before start date | 50% refund |
After the programme starts
Fees are not refundable once a programme has started or once you have been granted access to course materials or the learning platform. Digital course content cannot be returned.
Deferral. You may defer to a later intake once, at no charge, if you ask more than 7 days before the start date. Later deferrals are at our discretion and may attract an administration fee.
Examination and certification fees. Vendor examination fees, accreditation levies, and certification charges are paid to third parties and are not refundable once booked or paid.
Where we cancel or postpone. If we cancel a programme or change the dates and you cannot attend, you may choose a full refund or a transfer to a later intake.
Substitution. An organisation that has enrolled a learner may substitute another learner at no charge up to the start date.
4. Subscriptions
This covers Digital Presence services and subscriptions to our software platforms.
How to cancel. Email refunds@youngbyte.com or use the cancellation option in your account. We will confirm in writing.
Notice period. Subscriptions are month to month. Cancel at least five business days before your next billing date to avoid being charged for the following month.
Where you have signed a fixed-term agreement, section 14 of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 entitles you to cancel on 20 business days’ written notice. We may charge a reasonable cancellation penalty, which will not exceed the fees for the remaining notice period.
Refunds for partial months. Subscription fees are billed in advance for a full month and are not refundable pro rata. Your service continues to the end of the paid period.
First-month refund. If you cancel a new subscription within seven days of your first payment and we have not yet delivered the initial build or set-up, we will refund that payment in full.
Set-up and build fees. Once a website or platform configuration has been built and delivered, set-up fees are not refundable.
Third-party costs. Domain registrations, software licences, advertising spend, and similar third-party charges are not refundable once incurred, because we cannot recover them ourselves.
What happens to your data. On cancellation we will provide a full export of your website files and database, or your platform data, on request made within 30 days of the cancellation date. After 60 days we delete hosted data permanently.
Where we cancel. We may cancel a subscription on 30 days’ notice, or immediately where an account is materially in arrears or the service is being used unlawfully. Where we cancel other than for your breach, we refund any unused portion of the period already paid.
5. Custom software development
Custom development is governed by the milestones in the applicable proposal.
- Deposits are refundable in full before work begins.
- Once a milestone has been started, fees for that milestone are payable in proportion to work performed.
- Completed and accepted milestones are not refundable.
- Where a deliverable does not meet the specification in the proposal, we will correct it at no additional cost as set out in clause 11.2 of our Terms and Conditions. Correction is our first remedy; a refund applies only where we are unable to correct the defect.
6. Payment problems
Duplicate payments. Tell us and we will refund the duplicate in full within 10 business days.
Incorrect amounts. Tell us within 30 days of the charge and we will investigate and correct it.
Failed payments. If a scheduled payment fails we will retry and notify you. Services may be suspended if payment remains outstanding after 14 days.
Unauthorised transactions. If you believe a payment was made without your authorisation, contact us immediately and also notify your bank. We will co-operate fully with any investigation.
7. How to request a refund
Email refunds@youngbyte.com with:
- Your name and organisation
- The invoice or transaction reference
- The date and amount of the payment
- The reason for the request
What happens next. We acknowledge within 2 business days, decide within 10 business days, and process approved refunds within 30 days of approval.
Method. Refunds are made to the original payment method wherever possible. Card payments are reversed through PayFast. Where reversal is not possible, we refund by electronic transfer to a bank account in your name.
If we decline. We will explain why in writing. You may escalate to our director at the address below, and you retain your rights under the Consumer Protection Act, including referral to the National Consumer Commission or an accredited consumer ombud.
8. Chargebacks
If you dispute a charge with your bank or card issuer without first raising it with us, we may suspend your services while the dispute is resolved, and recover any chargeback fees imposed on us.
We would rather resolve it directly. Contact us first.
9. Contact us
Youngbyte (Pty) Ltd Registration number 2012/056995/07 665 Fauna Road, Florauna, Pretoria, 0182 refunds@youngbyte.com +27 81 212 0915