Refund & Cancellation Policy
Last updated: 5 August 2026
This policy explains when Samman Tiranga Foundation can cancel or refund a payment, how to ask for one, and how long it takes. It covers donations, annual membership and purchases from our shop.
We try to be fair and practical. If something has genuinely gone wrong on our side, we will put it right — please talk to us first.
1. Donations
Donations are voluntary contributions to our charitable work and are generally non-refundable, because funds are committed to programmes soon after receipt.
We recognise that genuine mistakes happen. We will consider a refund request in the following circumstances if you contact us within 7 days of the transaction.
- A duplicate donation caused by a technical error or a double submission.
- An amount entered incorrectly — for example ₹50,000 instead of ₹5,000 — where the error is clear and reported promptly.
- An unauthorised transaction on your card or account, supported by evidence and also reported to your bank.
- A technical failure where money was debited but no donation record was created on our side.
Where a tax-exemption receipt has already been issued for a donation, a refund may require that receipt to be cancelled and returned, as we cannot allow a tax benefit to be claimed on refunded money.
2. Annual Membership
Membership fees fund our programmes for the year ahead and are generally non-refundable once the membership has been activated.
- You may cancel and receive a full refund within 7 days of payment, provided no membership benefits have been used and no membership items have been dispatched.
- Where membership items have already been dispatched, we may deduct the cost of those items and the shipping incurred from any refund.
- After 7 days, membership fees are non-refundable, but you may cancel at any time to prevent any future renewal.
- Membership terminated by us for a breach of our Terms & Conditions is not refunded.
3. Shop Orders — Cancellation
You may cancel a shop order free of charge at any time before it is dispatched. Contact us as quickly as possible with your order reference and we will confirm whether it has already been handed to the courier.
Once an order has been dispatched it cannot be cancelled, but it may still be eligible for return under section 4.
We may cancel an order ourselves if the item is out of stock, if there was an obvious pricing error, if we cannot deliver to your address, or if we suspect fraud. In every such case you receive a full refund.
4. Shop Orders — Returns and Replacements
We want you to be happy with what you receive. Tell us within 7 days of delivery if there is a problem.
- Damaged in transit, defective, incorrect or incomplete items are eligible for a free replacement or a full refund, including any shipping you paid.
- To make a claim, send us your order reference, a description of the issue, and clear photographs of the item and its packaging within 48 hours of delivery where the problem is visible damage.
- Items must be returned unused, in their original condition and packaging, with all tags and inclusions, unless the item is faulty.
- Where a return is due to our error, we arrange and pay for the return. Where a return is for any other reason we may accept at our discretion, the return shipping cost is yours.
For hygiene, safety and dignity reasons, National Flags and other flag items cannot be returned once the sealed packaging has been opened, unless the item is faulty or was damaged in transit. This is because a flag that has been handled and returned cannot be resold as a new National Flag.
5. Items That Cannot Be Returned
- National Flags and flag items where the sealed packaging has been opened, except where faulty or damaged in transit.
- Personalised, customised or made-to-order items, except where faulty.
- Items returned after 7 days from delivery.
- Items that have been used, washed, displayed, soiled or altered, or that are missing their original packaging, tags or inclusions.
- Free items, promotional gifts and complimentary replacement flags issued under the Flag Exchange programme.
6. The Flag Exchange Programme
The Flag Exchange programme is provided free of charge, so there is no payment to refund.
Flags submitted to us for retirement cannot be returned. Once a damaged flag has been collected it enters our retirement process, which is irreversible. Please remove and keep anything of sentimental value before handing a flag over.
If a replacement flag you receive is faulty or damaged in transit, contact us and we will replace it at no cost.
7. How to Request a Refund or Cancellation
Email sammantiranga@gmail.com or call +91 99713 96900 during working hours (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (IST)). Please include the information below so we can act without going back and forth.
- Your full name and the phone number or email used for the transaction.
- The order, donation or membership reference, and the date and amount of the payment.
- The reason for your request, with photographs where the issue is a damaged or incorrect item.
- Your preferred outcome — replacement, refund, or store credit.
We acknowledge every request within 24-48 business hours and aim to reach a decision within 7 working days. We will always tell you the reason for our decision.
8. How Refunds Are Paid
Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method used for the transaction. We cannot refund to a different card, account or person.
Once we approve and initiate a refund, it typically reaches you within 5 to 10 working days. The exact time depends on your bank, card issuer or UPI provider, and that part of the process is outside our control.
Refunds are made in Indian Rupees for the amount actually received by us. Any bank charges, currency conversion differences or payment gateway fees that we do not recover may be deducted.
We do not charge a cancellation or restocking fee.
9. Failed and Duplicate Payments
If money was debited but your order, donation or membership did not complete, it is usually an authorisation that will be reversed automatically by your bank, generally within 5 to 7 working days.
If it has not been reversed after 7 working days, contact us with the transaction reference and date and we will trace it with the payment gateway.
Duplicate charges for the same order are refunded in full as soon as they are confirmed.
10. Chargebacks
If you believe a payment is wrong, please contact us before raising a chargeback with your bank. We can almost always resolve the matter faster and more simply than the chargeback process allows.
Where a chargeback is raised, we will cooperate fully with your bank and provide the transaction records, delivery evidence and correspondence relevant to the claim.
11. Grievance Redressal
If you are not satisfied with how your refund or cancellation request was handled, you may escalate it to our Grievance Officer using the contact details below.
We will acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours and aim to resolve it within 15 days.
Contact Us About This Policy
If you have questions, concerns or a complaint about this policy, please get in touch. We aim to respond within 24-48 business hours.
You can also use our contact form.