Refund Policy

Mechora Automation LLC ("Mechora," "we," "us," or "our") is dedicated to delivering high-quality robotics and automation consulting services that create measurable value for our clients. This Refund Policy ("Policy") outlines the terms and conditions governing refunds, cancellations, and credits for consulting services provided by Mechora Automation. Please read this Policy carefully before engaging our services.

1. Nature of Services

Mechora Automation provides professional consulting services, including operational process analysis, automation opportunity assessment, vendor-neutral equipment selection guidance, ROI modeling, and implementation strategy development. Our services involve the commitment of significant professional expertise, time, and intellectual resources from the moment an engagement begins.

Due to the bespoke and knowledge-intensive nature of consulting services, refund eligibility is subject to the specific conditions outlined in this Policy. The delivery of consulting services differs fundamentally from the sale of physical goods, and this Policy has been designed to reflect the unique characteristics of professional advisory engagements.

2. Pre-Engagement Consultation

Mechora Automation offers a complimentary initial consultation to prospective clients. This consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your operational challenges, understand our approach, and determine whether our services are a good fit for your organization's needs. No fees are charged for this initial consultation, and no refund obligations apply.

We strongly encourage all prospective clients to take advantage of this complimentary consultation before committing to a paid engagement. This helps ensure alignment of expectations and reduces the likelihood of refund requests.

3. Cancellation Before Engagement Commencement

3.1 Full Refund Window

If you cancel your engagement in writing before any substantive work has commenced, you are eligible for a full refund of any fees paid, less any non-refundable deposit as specified in your Statement of Work (SOW) or Consulting Agreement. "Substantive work" is defined as any activity beyond administrative setup, including but not limited to: initial data review, preliminary process assessment, stakeholder interviews, site visit preparation, or any analytical work performed by Mechora consultants.

3.2 Cancellation After Deposit

If a non-refundable deposit was specified in your SOW or Consulting Agreement, this deposit is retained by Mechora to cover the administrative costs of scheduling, resource allocation, and engagement preparation. The deposit amount and its non-refundable nature will be clearly stated in the applicable agreement prior to execution.

4. Cancellation After Engagement Has Begun

4.1 Partial Completion

If you cancel an engagement after substantive work has commenced, fees are calculated based on the percentage of work completed and resources committed at the time of cancellation. Specifically:

• You will be invoiced for all work completed through the date of cancellation, calculated on a pro-rata basis or time-and-materials basis as applicable to your engagement structure
• Any deliverables completed prior to cancellation will be provided to you as described in the applicable SOW
• Any prepaid fees in excess of the amount owed for completed work will be refunded within thirty (30) business days of the cancellation date
• If the amount owed for completed work exceeds prepaid fees, you will be invoiced for the remaining balance, payable within thirty (30) days

4.2 Milestone-Based Engagements

For engagements structured around defined milestones or phases, cancellation terms apply as follows:

• Fees for completed milestones are non-refundable, as the corresponding deliverables have been provided
• Fees for the current in-progress milestone are subject to pro-rata calculation based on the percentage of completion at the time of cancellation
• Fees for future milestones that have not commenced are fully refundable

5. Dissatisfaction and Dispute Resolution

5.1 Quality Concerns

Mechora Automation stands behind the quality and professionalism of our consulting work. If you are dissatisfied with the quality of our deliverables or the conduct of our consulting services, we encourage you to raise your concerns with your designated engagement manager as soon as possible. We will work in good faith to address your concerns, which may include:

• Revising or supplementing deliverables to meet the agreed-upon specifications in the SOW
• Assigning additional consulting resources to address specific concerns
• Modifying the engagement scope or approach by mutual agreement
• Providing a credit toward future services for any portion of the engagement that demonstrably failed to meet the specifications outlined in the SOW

5.2 Formal Dispute Process

If informal resolution efforts are unsuccessful, either party may initiate the formal dispute resolution process outlined in the applicable SOW, Consulting Agreement, or our Terms of Service. This process may include mediation, arbitration, or other resolution mechanisms as specified. During the dispute resolution process, any disputed fees shall be held in abeyance until the dispute is resolved.

6. Force Majeure and Exceptional Circumstances

In the event that an engagement is disrupted due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of either party (such as natural disasters, pandemics, government orders, acts of war, or other force majeure events), Mechora and the Client will work together in good faith to determine an equitable resolution, which may include:

• Rescheduling the engagement to a mutually agreeable date
• Modifying the engagement scope to accommodate changed circumstances
• Providing a credit for future services
• Issuing a partial or full refund based on the circumstances and the amount of work completed

7. Non-Refundable Items

The following items are non-refundable under any circumstances:

• Non-refundable deposits as specified in the applicable SOW or Consulting Agreement
• Travel expenses, accommodations, and other out-of-pocket costs that have been incurred by Mechora in connection with the engagement and cannot be recovered
• Fees for completed deliverables that have been accepted by the Client, either explicitly or through the passage of the review period specified in the SOW
• Third-party costs incurred by Mechora on behalf of the Client (such as specialized software licenses, third-party data, or subcontractor fees) that cannot be refunded by the third party
• Administrative and processing fees explicitly designated as non-refundable in the SOW

8. Refund Processing

Approved refunds will be processed and issued within thirty (30) business days of the approval date. Refunds will be issued using the same payment method used for the original payment, unless an alternative method is mutually agreed upon. For wire transfer refunds, the Client is responsible for any bank fees associated with the return transfer. Mechora will provide written confirmation of the refund amount and expected processing timeline.

9. Engagement Suspension

In certain circumstances, rather than cancellation, it may be beneficial for both parties to suspend an engagement temporarily. Suspension terms include:

• Either party may request a suspension of up to ninety (90) days with written notice
• Fees for completed work through the suspension date are non-refundable
• Resumption of the engagement after the suspension period is subject to consultant availability and may require updated terms
• If the engagement is not resumed within ninety (90) days, it will be treated as a cancellation under the terms of Section 4
• Mechora will make reasonable efforts to maintain resource availability during the suspension period, but cannot guarantee the same consultants will be available upon resumption

10. Client-Initiated Scope Changes

If the Client requests significant changes to the engagement scope after work has begun, the parties will negotiate an amendment to the SOW. Fees already incurred for completed work under the original scope are non-refundable, regardless of whether the scope change renders previously completed work less relevant to the revised engagement objectives.

11. Mechora-Initiated Termination

In the rare event that Mechora initiates termination of an engagement (for reasons other than Client breach), the Client will receive a refund for any prepaid fees corresponding to work that has not been completed, plus any applicable deliverables completed through the termination date. Mechora will provide at least fifteen (15) business days' written notice before initiating termination, except in cases where continued performance is legally or ethically impossible.

12. Governing Terms

This Refund Policy is subject to and should be read in conjunction with our Terms of Service and any applicable SOW or Consulting Agreement. In the event of a conflict between this Policy and a specific SOW or Consulting Agreement, the terms of the SOW or Consulting Agreement shall prevail with respect to refund and cancellation provisions for that specific engagement.

13. Policy Amendments

Mechora Automation reserves the right to update this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting on our website with an updated "Last Updated" date. Any changes will not apply retroactively to engagements commenced before the effective date of the change. We encourage clients to review this Policy periodically.

14. How to Request a Refund or Cancellation

To request a refund or cancel an engagement, please contact us in writing using the information below. Your request should include: the name of the Client and the engagement reference number, the reason for the refund request or cancellation, the date of the request, and any relevant supporting documentation. We will acknowledge your request within five (5) business days and provide a detailed response within fifteen (15) business days, including an assessment of refund eligibility and the applicable amount.