Refund and cancellation policy

Scope

This policy applies to professional fees and deposits for financial auditing and related assurance engagements with Shizuku Audit Partners. It does not cover products, software subscriptions, or services we do not offer.

Eligibility

Refunds are assessed against the signed engagement letter and work completed at the time of cancellation. Website estimate inquiries carry no fee and require no refund.

Timeframe to request

Send refund or cancellation requests in writing to hello@autoalgolab.digital within fourteen days of the event giving rise to the request (for example, withdrawal of the engagement or a scheduling conflict we cannot accommodate).

Full refund

A full refund of the planning deposit is available if we cancel the engagement before interim planning begins for reasons attributable to us (for example, loss of independence or capacity we could not foresee at acceptance).

Partial refund

If you cancel after planning has started but before year-end fieldwork, we refund the unused portion of fees after deducting time already incurred at the rates in the engagement letter, plus non-recoverable disbursements. If fieldwork has begun, fees for completed procedures are earned and non-refundable; unused prepaid amounts may be refunded on a pro-rata basis.

Non-refundable items

• Fees for procedures already performed and documented
• Third-party confirmation charges and courier costs already incurred
• Travel booked with your prior written approval
• Time spent clearing open items caused by delayed client schedules after the agreed fieldwork window

Deposits

The 30% planning deposit secures staffing for the agreed report date. It is applied to the final fee. Unused deposit amounts after deductions described above are refundable.

Cancellation and rescheduling

You may request to reschedule fieldwork subject to our remaining capacity. Moving a March year-end window into peak April without at least three weeks’ notice may incur a rescheduling charge of up to 10% of the quoted fee to cover staff reallocation. Cancellations must be written.

No-shows

If key client personnel are unavailable on agreed fieldwork days without notice, time spent by our team waiting or travelling may be billed and is not refundable. We will attempt to rebook once within the same busy season when capacity allows.

Work already started

Once interim planning or substantive testing has begun, that portion of the engagement is considered delivered professional work. We provide a summary of hours and findings to date upon cancellation.

Purchased materials

We do not sell physical products. External specialist reports commissioned with your approval are charged at cost and are non-refundable once ordered.

Refund process and timing

Approved refunds are processed within twenty-one business days of written agreement on the amount. Refunds are issued to the original payer by bank transfer unless another method is required by law. Processing times at receiving banks are outside our control.

Exceptions

Mandatory cooling-off or consumer protections under Japanese law apply where relevant and prevail over this policy. Engagement letters may include additional terms for multi-year appointments; those terms control if they conflict with this page.

Contact for refund requests

Shizuku Audit Partners, 7501 Jaqueline Way, 北桃子市, 鳥取県, Japan, +81-3-877-7429, hello@autoalgolab.digital.