1
Term-Time Withdrawals
We understand that sometimes a child may decide chess isn't for them. We offer a "settling-in" grace period:
-
Early Withdrawal: If a child wishes to discontinue the club, you may request
a refund for 50% of the total term cost. This request must be submitted in
writing within one week (7 days) of the first lesson of the term finishing.
-
Late Withdrawal: Once this one-week period has elapsed, no refunds or credits
can be issued for the remainder of the term, as coaching staff and resources have been committed
based on final numbers.
2
Cancellation of Individual Lessons
If CheckMates Chess is required to cancel a specific, pre-scheduled lesson (e.g., coach illness or internal scheduling conflict):
- Parents will be issued a pro-rata refund for the cost of that single lesson.
- These refunds are usually processed at the end of the term or credited toward the following term's fees, depending on your preference.
3
Force Majeure & External Factors
Sometimes, lessons must be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Red/Orange weather warnings or extreme weather conditions.
- School closures (e.g., heating failure, polling station use, or emergency repairs).
- National health emergencies or government-mandated restrictions.
In these instances, CheckMates Chess is not obligated to provide a monetary refund.
However, to ensure your child doesn't miss out on their chess development, we will provide a
supplementary online group session as a compensatory alternative.
4
Summary
| Scenario |
Refund / Action |
| Child leaves within 1 week of first lesson of term |
50% Refund of total term fee |
| Child leaves after the first week |
No refund |
| CheckMates cancels a single session |
Full refund for that session |
| Weather / School closure (Force Majeure) |
Online session offered in lieu |
5
Automatic Re-Enrolment Payments
Parents who have enabled the "Keep My Child Enrolled for Future Terms" option
agree to be automatically charged when a new term is opened for enrolment.
-
Automatic payments are processed at the start of each new term and are
non-refundable once the term has commenced, except as outlined in sections 1–3 above.
-
If you wish to turn off "Keep My Child Enrolled for Future Terms", you must do so before the end of
the current active term via your dashboard or by emailing us. Cancellation requests
received after a payment has already been processed will not entitle you to a refund of that
payment.
-
By leaving the "Keep My Child Enrolled for Future Terms" option enabled, you are confirming that you have read and
agreed to both these terms and the
Keep My Child Enrolled for Future Terms — Terms & Conditions.
If you believe you have been charged in error under the "Keep My Child Enrolled for Future Terms" option, please contact
us as soon as possible. We will review each case individually but cannot guarantee a refund
once a term has begun and places have been allocated.
6
How to Request a Refund
All refund requests must be sent via email to
admin@checkmates.uk.
Please include your child's name, school, and the reason for the request.
Refunds will be processed back to the original payment method within 5–10 business days.
Please note: By completing your termly payment, you are agreeing to the terms
outlined above. We thank you for your support and for helping us keep the game of chess
thriving in schools!
