1. Introduction
This Payment Policy explains how StemNest Academy collects, processes, and manages payments for its services. It applies to all purchases made through the StemNest Academy Platform at www.stemnestacademy.co.uk, operated by StemNest Academy Ltd, registered in England and Wales.
By making a payment through our Platform, you agree to this Payment Policy and our Terms of Use. For refund information, see our Refund & Cancellation Policy. Nothing in this Policy affects your statutory rights as a consumer under UK law.
2. Payment Provider
All payments are processed through Wise (formerly TransferWise), one of the world's most trusted international payment providers, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Wise enables fast, transparent, low-cost payments in multiple currencies across the globe.
For regions where Wise is not supported, payments may be processed through locally authorised banks and payment institutions approved by StemNest Academy. In all cases, your payment is handled by a regulated financial institution.
StemNest Academy does not operate its own payment processing infrastructure. By making a payment, you are also subject to the terms of the applicable payment provider.
3. Accepted Payment Methods
StemNest Academy accepts the following payment methods through Stripe:
- Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards
- American Express
- Apple Pay and Google Pay (where supported)
- Bank transfers (where available for your region)
Available methods may vary by country. If your preferred method is unavailable, contact us at payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk.
4. Card Security
StemNest Academy does not store your card details. All card information is entered directly into Stripe's secure, encrypted interface. We never have access to your full card number, CVV, or PIN. All payment data is transmitted using industry-standard TLS encryption.
If you have any concerns about the security of a payment, contact us immediately at payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk.
5. Pricing & Currency
All prices are shown in British Pounds Sterling (� GBP) and are inclusive of any applicable VAT where required by UK law. The price displayed at the point of purchase is the price you will be charged � we will never charge more than the amount shown without your prior consent.
For customers outside the UK, your bank may apply a currency conversion rate and/or international transaction fee. StemNest Academy is not responsible for any such charges.
6. Subscriptions & Recurring Payments
Some courses and session packages are offered on a monthly subscription basis. When you subscribe:
- Payment is collected automatically each month on the same date as your first payment;
- You will receive an email notification before each renewal;
- Your subscription continues until you cancel or StemNest Academy terminates it.
To cancel, email payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk at least 5 business days before your next billing date. StemNest Academy does not block payments � they are deducted automatically by Stripe at the pre-agreed time. If you believe a payment was taken in error, contact us directly before raising a bank dispute (see Section 12).
7. One-Off Payments
Some packages are available as a single one-off payment, charged at the time of purchase with no automatic renewal. Access to sessions or course materials will be activated within 24 hours of a confirmed payment. If you experience any delay, contact us at hello@stemnestacademy.co.uk.
8. Instalment Plans
Where an instalment option is offered:
- Refund eligibility is assessed from the date of the first instalment payment only � not subsequent payments;
- If an instalment fails, StemNest Academy may suspend access to sessions until the outstanding amount is settled;
- A processing charge of up to 5% may apply to refunds on instalment plans to cover non-recoverable bank fees.
9. Failed Payments
If a payment fails, we will notify you by email and may retry automatically. If the payment remains outstanding, StemNest Academy reserves the right to suspend access to scheduled sessions until it is resolved. To update your payment details, contact us at payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk.
10. Receipts & Invoices
A payment confirmation is sent to your registered email address after each successful payment. For a formal VAT invoice or copy of a previous receipt, contact us at payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk with your account details and payment date.
11. Refunds
Refunds are processed in accordance with our Refund & Cancellation Policy. Once approved, refunds are processed within 10 business days, with an additional 3�7 business days for funds to appear in your account depending on your bank. StemNest Academy is not responsible for delays caused by banks or payment processors once the refund has been initiated.
12. Payment Disputes
If you believe a payment was taken incorrectly, contact us directly first at payments@stemnestacademy.co.uk. Most issues are resolved quickly without a formal dispute.
Do not raise a chargeback with your bank without contacting us first. Doing so may result in:
- Additional dispute fees charged by your bank, which may be passed on to you;
- Suspension of your access to all StemNest Academy services for the duration of the dispute (up to 90 days);
- Forfeiture of any remaining session credits associated with the disputed payment.
We will always work with you in good faith to resolve any payment concern fairly and promptly.
13. International Payments
StemNest Academy serves students globally. If paying from outside the UK:
- Your payment is processed in GBP (�) and converted by your bank at their prevailing exchange rate;
- Your bank may charge an international transaction fee � please check before purchasing;
- Refunds are returned in GBP at the exchange rate applicable at the time of the refund, which may differ from the original rate.
14. Price Changes
StemNest Academy may update its pricing at any time. For existing subscriptions, we will provide at least 30 days' written notice by email before any price change takes effect. You may cancel before the effective date without penalty. One-off payments already made are not affected by price changes.
15. Contact Us
For all payment-related enquiries:
We aim to respond to all payment enquiries within 48 hours on business days (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).