Refund policy
The rule is simple and so are the exceptions. We keep the fee when the assessment happens, and only then.
The rule
Entry fees are non-refundable once paid. Payment confirms your place in the edition and commissions the assessment. This applies whether or not you later withdraw, and regardless of the result.
The three exceptions
Each is a case where the assessment you paid for did not take place.
| Situation | Refund |
|---|---|
| We cancel the edition | Full |
| Two or more jurors withdraw from your entry for conflict of interest | Full |
| Your submission link is invalid when entries lock, despite our correction process | Full |
| You withdraw after paying | None |
| Your entry is assessed and does not win | None |
| Your entry is disqualified for a breach of the rules | None |
These are not concessions. Keeping a fee for an assessment that never happened is precisely the practice this organization exists not to resemble.
Broken links
We check every submitted link when you enter, again periodically while entries are open, and once more after they close. If yours stops working you are emailed immediately with a link to correct it. After entries close there is a short discretionary grace period before the field is locked for the jury. Only if it is still unusable at that point is the entry withdrawn — and refunded.
How refunds are paid
To the original payment method, in the currency charged. Card refunds usually appear within five to ten working days depending on your bank. We do not charge a processing fee against a refund.
Your statutory rights
Nothing in this policy limits rights you have under the consumer law of your own country, which may give you a period in which to cancel regardless of what is written here. Where such a right applies, it applies. If you believe it does in your case, write to us and say so.
If something goes wrong
Contact us before doing anything else. We would rather resolve a problem directly than have you dispute a charge with your bank, and in almost every case a direct answer is faster. Get in touch.