When am I eligible for a refund on a seva?

Refund eligibility depends on the per-seva cancellation window shown on each seva before you pay (typically 24, 12, or 72 hours; some fixed-muhurta festival sevas are non-cancellable). Cancel inside that window and the full seva amount is refunded - only the platform fee is retained. Outside the window the seva is treated as committed and is non-refundable, unless the temple cannot perform it, in which case you receive 100% back including the platform fee. Contributions to causes are non-refundable except for a confirmed double-charge error.

How long does a refund take?

Once initiated, a refund typically reaches you within 7-10 business days, back to the same instrument used for payment. The exact time depends on your bank or card network. Refunds are processed through our payment aggregator Cashfree.

What if the partner cancels the seva?

You get a 100% refund including the platform fee, no questions asked. Partner-side cancellations (priest unavailable, weather, force majeure) automatically trigger a full refund within 7-10 business days from the date the cancellation is confirmed.

Can I get a refund for a cause contribution?

Cause contributions are generally non-refundable because the funds are disbursed to the institution. The only exception is a confirmed double-charge error from the payment gateway, which we refund in full.

How do I request a refund?

Email refunds@sevacart.com with your order ID and reason, or use the "Request refund" button on the order detail page in your profile. We acknowledge within 24 hours per IT Rules 2021.

Refund Policy · SevaCart

This page is provided in English as the authoritative version. Translations are for your convenience.

Effective from 19 May 2026 · Last updated 2026-07-03 · Governing law: India

A seva is a devotional act, not a returnable product. Once a temple priest accepts your sankalpa and begins preparations, the act cannot be undone. This page sets out exactly when a refund applies, how it is calculated, and how long it takes to reach you.

1. The principle

SevaCart is a technology bridge between devotees and partner institutions (temples, gauseva centres, gurukuls, registered NGOs). When you offer a seva, the temple priest blocks the time, arranges materials (flowers, milk, ghee, prasadam), and prepares to perform the ritual in your name. That commitment of time, material, and devotional intention is not reversible.

For that reason, sevas follow a no-refund principle once the offering window for cancellation has closed. The exceptions below are the only situations in which a refund is issued.

2. When refunds apply

2.1 Cancellation by the devotee

You may cancel a seva before the partner's per-seva cancellation window closes. The cancellation window is shown on every seva detail page _before_ you pay (typical windows: 24 hours, 12 hours, or "cancellation closed"). See the cancellation policy for the full mechanics.

2.2 Cancellation by SevaCart or the partner

If the temple is unable to perform the seva for reasons attributable to the temple or to SevaCart (temple closure, priest unavailability, civil disturbance, force majeure), we refund 100% of the contribution — including platform fee (and GST, when applicable). The refund is initiated within 1 working day of the cancellation being confirmed, and the bank credit reaches you in 7–10 business days.

2.3 Duplicate or failed transactions

If the payment gateway charges you twice for the same offering, or if your card is debited but the offering does not get recorded (technical failure), the duplicate or stranded amount is refunded within 5 working days from the date the gateway reconciliation confirms the duplicate.

2.4 Contributions to causes

Voluntary contributions to causes (gauseva, gurukul, orphan support, scholarship, temple renovation) are non-refundable once received by the partner institution. The exception is a duplicate transaction caused by a gateway error, which is refunded under §2.3 above.

2.5 Cash on Delivery (prasad only)

Cash on Delivery (prasad only). Cash on Delivery, where offered, applies solely to the physical prasad parcel; the seva itself is always paid online. The amount payable on delivery (the prasad price plus a cash-handling charge) is collected in cash by the institution's own courier. A cash-on-delivery prasad parcel that is refused, returned, or left undelivered is non-refundable, as the prasad is sanctified and perishable and is dispatched specifically for you. SevaCart does not handle the cash collected on delivery; it is collected and retained by the institution.

3. How the refund is calculated

The total you paid through the gateway is made up of two parts (a third applies once we are GST-registered):

Seva amount — money paid by you to the partner trust as a religious offering. Exempt from GST under Notification 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate).
Platform fee — service charge retained by Sevasannidhi LLP for running the platform.
GST @ 18% on the platform fee — _currently not applicable_. GST registration is in progress; GST is applied on the platform fee only once SevaCart is registered. Once registration is complete, the GST line will be added transparently on every receipt.

For devotee-initiated cancellations inside the partner's cancellation window, the seva amount is refunded in full. The platform fee is retained (it covers payment-gateway costs and infrastructure). Once GST registration is in place, the GST on the platform fee will also be retained on devotee-initiated cancellations.

For partner-initiated cancellations (§2.2 above) and for duplicate transactions (§2.3 above), the entire amount including platform fee (and GST, when applicable) is refunded.

3A. Currency of payment and refund

All payments on SevaCart are accepted in INR only. NRI / OCI devotees with NRO or NRE bank accounts, or with Indian-issued debit / credit cards, can pay and receive refunds normally — these are domestic INR transactions. Foreign-currency cards (cards issued by banks outside India) are not accepted at the gateway. Refunds are always credited back to the same instrument used for the original payment, in INR.

4. When you will see the money back

For an in-window cancellation, SevaCart initiates the refund within 1 working day to your original payment method. Once initiated, the bank credit typically reaches you within 7–10 business days; the exact time depends on your bank or card network.

Refunds are initiated through the same payment instrument used for the original transaction. We do not transfer refunds to a different bank account, card, or wallet — this is a Reserve Bank of India payment-aggregator requirement to prevent fraud.

5. How to request a refund

Open the order from your order history.
If the cancellation window is still open, you will see a "Cancel this seva" button with a live refund-preview showing exactly what you will get back. Use that to cancel — refund is processed automatically.
If the cancellation window has closed but you believe the seva was not performed, email support@sevacart.com with your order reference. We will investigate with the partner within 5 working days.
If your support request is not resolved to your satisfaction, escalate to the Grievance Officer at grievance@sevacart.com (acknowledgement within 24 hours, resolution within 15 days under DPDP Act 2023 §13 and IT Rules 2021 §3(2)).

6. What this policy does not cover

Refunds for sevas that were performed as described but that you were not satisfied with on devotional grounds. Devotional outcomes are subjective and are not warranted by SevaCart or by the partner.
Refunds for delays caused by force majeure events outside SevaCart's and the partner's reasonable control (natural disaster, government order, civil unrest, internet or power failure).
Refunds for sevas where the devotee provided incomplete or incorrect personal information (gothra, nakshatra, family details) and the seva was performed against the data provided.
Cancellation of recurring monthly Sankalpa contributions: future cycles can be paused at any time from your profile; already-charged cycles follow the same rules as one-off sevas.

7. Statutory rights

Nothing in this policy limits your statutory rights as a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and the Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules 2020. If you believe SevaCart has fallen short of those obligations, you may file a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) on 1915 or at consumerhelpline.gov.in.

8. Contact

SevaCart (Sevasannidhi LLP) General support: support@sevacart.com Refund queries: refunds@sevacart.com Grievance Officer: grievance@sevacart.com Postal address: No. 53, Mutaguppe Village Post, Soraba Taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka 577434