Refund Policy

1. General Policy

All donations made to MCKS Food For The Hungry Foundation Cochin ("Foundation") are voluntary charitable contributions. As a general policy, donations are non-refundable once processed, as the funds are utilized for ongoing charitable programs including food distribution, community feeding, and other humanitarian activities.

2. Exceptions — When a Refund May Be Issued

We understand that errors can occur. The Foundation may consider a refund in the following exceptional circumstances:

• Duplicate Payment: If you were charged twice for the same donation due to a technical error or payment gateway issue.
• Incorrect Amount: If an amount significantly different from your intended donation was charged due to a technical error (e.g., you intended ₹500 but were charged ₹50,000).
• Unauthorized Transaction: If a donation was made from your account without your authorization (subject to verification).
• Failed Transaction with Amount Deducted: If your payment was deducted but the transaction was not confirmed on our platform, we will work with the payment gateway to resolve or refund the amount.

3. How to Request a Refund

To request a refund, please follow these steps:

1. Contact us within 7 days of the transaction date by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Refund Request".
2. Include the following information in your email:
   • Your full name (as used during donation)
   • Email address associated with your account
   • Date of the transaction
   • Amount of the donation
   • Transaction reference number or receipt number (if available)
   • Reason for the refund request
3. Our team will review your request and respond within 3 business days.

4. Refund Processing Timeline

If your refund request is approved:

• The refund will be processed within 5–7 business days from the date of approval.
• The refund will be credited to the original payment method used for the donation.
• Depending on your bank or payment provider, it may take an additional 5–10 business days for the refund to appear in your account.
• You will receive an email confirmation once the refund has been initiated.

5. Impact on 80G Tax Receipts

If a refund is processed for a donation for which an 80G tax exemption receipt has already been issued, the receipt will be cancelled. If Form 10BD has already been filed with the Income Tax Department for the relevant financial year, an amendment will be submitted to reflect the refunded amount. You must not claim a tax deduction under Section 80G for any refunded donation. It is your responsibility to inform your tax advisor of the refund.

6. Non-Refundable Contributions

The following contributions are not eligible for refund:

• In-kind donations (food, materials, goods, or services).
• Donations where the funds have already been fully utilized for charitable purposes and a significant period has elapsed.
• Requests made after 7 days from the date of the transaction, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

7. Disputes

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your refund request, you may escalate the matter by writing to us at [email protected] with "Refund Dispute" in the subject line. We will review your case and provide a final resolution within 15 business days. Any unresolved disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Ernakulam, Kerala, India.

8. Contact Us

For any refund-related queries, please contact us: