Refund & Dispute Policy

Last updated: 2026-05-10

This policy applies to organisation-run cash transactions on Manifold Chess: tournament entry fees, workshop fees, materials pass-throughs, and any other priced offering operated by Manifold. Peer-to-peer transactions on future Manifold services (e.g. timebank hour exchanges) are governed by the relevant service's own policy.

1. Refund policy

1.1 Cancellation by the participant

When you cancel	Refund
More than 7 days before the event	Full refund less the original Stripe processing fee (~3%, typically about $1).
Within 7 days of the event	50% refund.
On or after the day of the event	No refund (entry fee retained to cover venue / arbiter / materials commitments already made).

Hardship exception. If you can't attend due to a medical emergency, family emergency, or comparable cause outside your control, contact the Tournament Director within 14 days of the event. The TD has discretion to issue a full refund on a case-by-case basis. Documentation may be requested but is not automatically required.

1.2 Cancellation by Manifold

If an event is cancelled outright, or postponed by more than 30 days, every registrant is entitled to a full refund (no Stripe deduction).
If an event undergoes a material change (significantly different format, venue, schedule, or rating status that meaningfully alters the offering), registrants may request a full refund within 7 days of the change being announced.

1.3 How refunds are processed

Refunds are issued via the original payment method.
Refunds are processed within 14 days of approval.
Stripe fees on the original transaction are non-recoverable; the refund net is the entry fee minus the original Stripe fee, except in the cases noted above where Manifold absorbs the fee.

2. Dispute policy (tournament-related)

Most tournament disagreements — pairings, results, conduct, time forfeits, etc. — are resolved on-site by the Tournament Director. Where a participant feels the on-site resolution is unsatisfactory, the following ladder applies:

Step 1 — Talk to the Tournament Director

The TD has authority over on-site decisions and is the first and usually final voice. Most disputes resolve here. The TD's decision on rules-of-chess questions is binding for the event under standard chess practice.

Step 2 — Written escalation to Manifold

If a dispute is not resolved on-site, you may submit a written description to Manifold within 14 days of the event:

Email: disputes@manifoldchess.club (until that mailbox is established, send to karnigank@gmail.com with subject line beginning [disputes]).

Manifold will acknowledge within 7 days and provide a written response within 30 days.

Step 3 — Independent review

If the response in Step 2 is unsatisfactory, you may request escalation to an independent reviewer — an experienced arbiter not involved in the original decision. The reviewer's findings are advisory; Manifold's TD-team has final say on tournament-level matters.

Step 4 — External recourse

For any dispute not resolved by Step 3, all rights under applicable law remain available, including the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal (for claims under $5,000) and Small Claims Court.

2.5 Rated-event note

For CFC- or FIDE-rated events, rating-related disputes may also be addressed through the relevant federation's processes (independent of Manifold's internal ladder).

3. Code of conduct

By registering for a Manifold Chess event, participants agree to:

Abide by the FIDE laws of chess (or club-rated equivalents for unrated events).
Abide by the venue's policies (no smoking, accessible-route requirements, etc.).
Conduct themselves respectfully toward other participants, arbiters, and venue staff. Manifold operates as an inclusive community and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination on any prohibited ground under the BC Human Rights Code.
Comply with the Tournament Director's reasonable decisions during the event.

Material breach of the code of conduct may result in immediate expulsion from the event without refund, at the Tournament Director's discretion. Decisions of this kind are reviewable under Step 2 of the dispute policy above.

4. Contact

Privacy Officer / compliance: privacy@manifoldchess.club (or karnigank@gmail.com until established) — privacy policy.

Refund & dispute correspondence: disputes@manifoldchess.club (or karnigank@gmail.com with subject [disputes] until established).

Manifold Chess is operated by 624984 B.C. LTD., a BC corporation. Future Benefit Company designation is under consideration; this page will be updated once the conversion is filed.