Billing & Refund Policy

1. Payment Channels and Where to Manage Your Subscription

The payment channel for a StageVPN subscription depends on the app you use and where you installed it. Where you manage or cancel your subscription, and where you request a refund, differ by payment channel. Your subscription is linked to your StageVPN account, so you can also use it on other devices signed in to the same account.

The Company does not store payment method information such as card numbers. App marketplace payments are processed by Apple and Google, and Web Payments are processed by Stripe.

2. Plans and Automatic Renewal

1. Displayed prices include value-added tax. The price shown on the payment screen before payment prevails.
2. Until you cancel, your subscription automatically renews on the same plan at the end of each period of use and is charged to your registered payment method.
3. An App Store subscription renews unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. A Google Play or Web Payment subscription does not renew if you cancel it before the next billing date.
4. Before payment, the Company displays on the payment screen whether the subscription renews automatically, the renewal cycle and price, how to cancel, and the criteria for and restrictions on withdrawal.

3. Cancellation (Stopping Automatic Renewal) and Plan Changes

3-1. Cancellation

1. You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period, and you can continue to use the Service until the end of the period you paid for.
2. This cancellation (ordinary cancellation) does not by itself result in a refund of fees for the remaining period. Withdrawal when you have not used the Service since payment, and a refund on early termination of an annual plan, can be requested separately under the criteria in 4-1.
3. After you schedule a cancellation, you can turn automatic renewal back on before the period ends.
4. Deleting the app or logging out does not cancel your subscription. Please cancel an app marketplace subscription directly in the relevant app marketplace before deleting your account. For a Web Payment subscription, automatic renewal stops when you delete your account.

3-2. Plan Changes

To move to a different payment channel, you must first cancel automatic renewal on your existing channel. If the periods would overlap, the app will tell you before payment.

4. Withdrawal and Refunds

4-1. Web Payments (Stripe)

(1) Withdrawal (7 days): If you request withdrawal within 7 days from the payment date (including both the initial payment and each renewal payment) and you have not used the Service during the period of use that began with that payment, the full payment amount will be refunded. Whether you have used the Service is determined from the VPN connection or Chrome extension connection records for that period.

(2) Restrictions on withdrawal: If you have started using the Service during the paid period of use, withdrawal is restricted under Article 17(2)(5) of the E-Commerce Act. The Company clearly displays this restriction before payment.

(3) Where the Service differs from what was displayed or advertised: Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if the Service differs from what was displayed or advertised or from the terms of the contract, or was provided differently from the contract, you may withdraw within 3 months from the date the Service was supplied or within 30 days from the date you became aware, or could have become aware, of that fact, and the full payment amount will be refunded.

(4) Refund criteria by situation are as follows.

(5) Calculation method: The “amount for days used” is the payment amount × (the number of days from the start date of the period of use to the date of the termination request ÷ the total number of days in that period of use). The “remaining amount” is the payment amount minus the amount for days used. Fractions of KRW 1 are discarded, and if the result is KRW 0 or less, there is no amount to refund.

(6) If you request a refund on early termination of an annual plan, your subscription ends on the date of the request and your use of the Service stops. If you want to keep using the remaining period, use ordinary cancellation (3-1) instead of requesting a refund.

(7) The Company will process the refund to the original payment method within 3 business days from the date the grounds for the refund are confirmed. When a card payment cancellation actually appears in your account or statement may vary by card issuer. If the Company delays a refund, it will also pay the late-payment compensation prescribed by the E-Commerce Act.

4-2. App Store and Google Play Payments

1. Withdrawal and refunds for payments made through the App Store and Google Play are handled under the refund policies and procedures of each App Marketplace Operator. Your rights as a consumer under applicable laws are protected in the same way.
2. App Store payments: The Company cannot directly refund App Store payments. Please submit a request through Apple’s “Report a Problem” (reportaproblem.apple.com) or Apple Support.
3. Google Play payments: Please submit a request through your order history in the Play Store or through the Google Play Help Center. If Google Play’s policy directs you to contact the developer, contact the Company’s customer center, and the Company will review processing a refund through Google Play under the criteria in this policy.
4. When an App Marketplace Operator issues a refund, the relevant subscription ends at the time the refund is processed, and the Company updates your access rights according to the App Marketplace Operator’s notification.

5. Compensation for Service Failures

If you are unable to use a Paid Service for reasons attributable to the Company, the Company will provide compensation as follows in accordance with the Consumer Dispute Settlement Criteria. This applies regardless of payment channel. For app marketplace payments, the Company will provide compensation by whatever method is available, such as a free extension or a refund through the App Marketplace Operator.

1. If the Service is interrupted or fails for 4 or more consecutive hours without prior notice: the Company will extend your subscription free of charge by a period equal to 3 times the duration of the interruption or failure.
2. If the Service is interrupted for 3 or more consecutive days without prior notice, or the cumulative duration of interruptions or failures exceeds 72 hours in one month: you may terminate the contract and receive a refund of the full fee for the remaining period.
3. If the duration of an interruption or failure is disputed, it is calculated from the time you notified the Company.
4. Compensation does not apply to force majeure events such as natural disasters, problems with your device or network, scheduled maintenance announced in advance, or third-party services blocking VPN access.

6. Payment Failure and Suspension of Use

1. If a renewal payment fails, the Company will notify you in the app or by email and provide a grace period so that you can check your payment method.
2. For Web Payments, you can continue to use the Service for 3 days from the time the payment failed. If you do not change your payment method or the payment is not completed within that time, your use will be suspended.
3. App Store and Google Play payments are subject to the billing grace period and account hold policies set by each App Marketplace Operator. You can check your payment method in iPhone Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping or in Play Store > Payments & subscriptions.
4. Once payment is completed, your use resumes automatically. You will not be charged for the period during which your use was suspended.

7. Price Changes

1. Prices are set by the Company and may change. Changed prices apply to subscriptions newly purchased after the change.
2. If the Company increases the renewal price of an existing subscription, it will notify you individually of the amount of the increase, when it takes effect, how to refuse consent and how to cancel, at least 30 days before the increase, and will obtain your consent by the method prescribed by the E-Commerce Act. If you do not consent, your subscription will not renew at the increased price and will end at the end of the current billing period.
3. For subscriptions paid through an app marketplace, the notice and consent procedures of the relevant App Marketplace Operator also apply to price changes.
4. If the Company lowers a price, it will apply the lower price from the next renewal or, if this is not possible because of restrictions of the payment channel, explain how the lower price will be applied.

8. Payments by Minors

1. A minor under 19 years of age needs the consent of a legal representative to pay for Paid Services.
2. If a payment was made without the consent of a legal representative, the minor or the legal representative may cancel the contract and request a refund under the Civil Act (민법). The Company may request the minimum documentation needed for verification, such as a document proving the family relationship.
3. Cancellation may be restricted if the payment was made within the scope of property that the legal representative permitted the minor to dispose of, or if the minor used deceptive means to make it appear that the minor was an adult or had obtained consent.
4. Cancellation of App Store and Google Play payments is handled through the procedures of the relevant App Marketplace Operator, and the Company will cooperate with any necessary verification.

9. Billing and Termination for Business VPN

1. Fees, billing cycle, payment due dates, contract term, early termination and settlement for Business VPN are set out in the Business Contract concluded between the Company and the Business Customer. Where the Business Contract provides differently from this policy, the Business Contract prevails.
2. The Company issues invoices in accordance with the Business Contract and issues tax invoices and other supporting documents as required by applicable laws.
3. If a Business Customer does not pay fees by the due date, the Company may request payment by a specified deadline and, once that deadline has passed, may restrict use after giving prior notice.

10. How to Request Cancellation or a Refund

1. Ordinary cancellation: You can cancel directly where you manage your subscription for your payment channel (1).
2. Withdrawal or early termination refunds for Web Payments: Please submit a request through the subscription management screen in the app or by email to the customer center at support@stagevpn.com. Including your sign-up email, payment date, payment channel and the details of your request helps us verify it quickly. Do not send your full card number or password.
3. Customer center: [Customer center phone] ([Customer center hours])
4. Payment history and receipts: For Web Payments, see the “Payment method · receipts” menu in the app. For app marketplace payments, see the purchase history in each app marketplace.
5. If you disagree with how the Company has handled your request, you can seek help from the Korea Consumer Agency (한국소비자원) (call 1372, no area code needed), the E-Commerce Mediation Committee (전자거래분쟁조정위원회) or other bodies.

Revision history