Refund Policy
Please review this policy carefully before submitting payment, intake information, documents, or project materials.
Effective Date: May 1, 2026
Important Notice:
"There are zero refunds once work has commenced. Work commences immediately upon receipt of any intake, documents, records, uploads, project details, or other client-provided materials."
01. No Refunds Once Work Has Commenced
All payments are final and non-refundable once work has commenced. Work commences immediately when NikolDeRiso.com, DeRiso & Associates, or any affiliated service provider receives any of the following:
- • Client intake forms
- • Questionnaire responses
- • Uploaded records or files
- • Financial or legal materials
- • Emails containing project details
- • Screenshots or case summaries
- • Transaction records or ledgers
- • Website content or assets
- • System login or setup info
- • Any info needed for review
02. Definition of Work Commencement
Work does not begin only when a final deliverable is drafted. Work begins at the point information is received, reviewed, sorted, analyzed, classified, scoped, mapped, organized, planned, or prepared for service delivery.
The act of receiving and professionally reviewing your submitted materials constitutes work and the consumption of professional time and resources.
03. Why This Policy Exists
Many services offered through NikolDeRiso.com involve time-sensitive review, document analysis, forensic evaluation, complex organization, and custom digital system builds. Because these services require immediate professional time, intellectual labor, and customized strategic planning, refunds are not available once professional resources have been allocated to your matter.
04. Payment Requirements & Deliverables
To ensure procedural integrity and the proper allocation of professional resources, the following payment terms apply to all engagements:
- Pre-Commencement Payment: Payment is due in full prior to any service commencing. This includes, but is not limited to, the payment of a retainer fee for ongoing or complex matters.
- Secured Payment Processing: All payments are processed through a secure, encrypted third-party payment processor. We do not accept cash, cryptocurrency, equity, checks of any kind (including personal, business, or certified), or money orders. We only accept secured electronic payments (Credit or Debit).
- Alternative Arrangements: If a Client does not have access to a credit or debit card, alternative secured payment arrangements must be formally established and cleared prior to work commencing.
- Retainer Balances: In cases where a retainer is utilized, work will pause if the retainer balance is exhausted until additional funds are provided.
- Final Balance Requirements: If an outstanding balance is owed at any stage of the project, payment of that balance is required before any deliverables are rendered, including final reports, organized files, or system access.
05. Responsibilities Prior to Payment
Clients are solely responsible for reviewing the following before submitting payment:
- • Service Descriptions
- • Defined Package Scope
- • Pricing & Fees
- • Terms of Service
- • General Disclaimers
- • This Refund Policy
06. Client Authorization
Clients are responsible for ensuring they wish to proceed before submitting documents, intake responses, payment, or project materials. Submitting materials indicates your explicit authorization to begin review and related work.
07. Cancellations Before Work Begins
If a client submits payment but no intake, documents, project details, or work materials have been received or reviewed, a cancellation request may be considered at the sole discretion of the Firm. Any approved cancellation may be reduced by transaction processing fees, administrative costs, or scheduling fees.
08. No Refunds for Change of Circumstance
Refunds are not issued because a client:
- • Changes their mind
- • Delays submitting information
- • Fails to provide complete records
- • Disagrees with the analytical findings
- • Chooses not to use the deliverable
- • Hires another provider
- • Resolves the matter independently
- • Experiences a change in litigation or personal status
09. Completed or Partially Completed Work
No refunds are provided for completed, partially completed, drafted, scoped, or analyzed work. This includes work performed even if a final deliverable has not yet been formally issued to the client.
10. Scope Changes
If the client requests work outside the original agreed-upon scope, additional fees apply. Failure to pay for an expanded scope does not create a right to refund payments already made for work commenced or completed.
11. Services as Non-Returnable Assets
Because our services are customized, intake-driven, and based on client-provided records and goals, they are not returnable products. Once professional review or reconstruction begins, the service cannot be "returned."
12. Chargebacks & Fraudulent Payment Disputes
By submitting payment and materials, the client acknowledges and accepts this Refund Policy.
Any chargebacks or payment disputes filed inconsistent with this policy will be considered fraudulent activity.
In the event of a fraudulent dispute, DeRiso & Associates will take all necessary legal and administrative steps to recover the original funds. These efforts will include, but are not limited to, the recovery of:
- Court costs and filing fees
- Reasonable attorney fees
- Administrative processing and recovery fees
- All other necessary expenses related to the fund recovery process
The Firm will utilize signed agreements, intake records, upload timestamps, communication logs, and work drafts as primary evidence to contest any such dispute.
13. Relationship to Other Terms
This Refund Policy works in conjunction with our Terms of Service, Terms of Use, and Professional Disclaimers. In the event of a conflict with a specific written service agreement, the stricter refund terms shall control.
14. Contact Information
Administrative Contact
DeRiso & Associates / NikolDeRiso.com
Florida, United States
Email: nikol@nikolderiso.com