Skiller.Zone™ — Refund Policy

Last Updated: September 3, 2026 Status: Working draft — requires review by qualified legal counsel before publication.

This Refund Policy explains when funds are returned to you on Skiller.Zone™, operated by [Skiller.Zone™ Operating Entity — legal name pending] ("Skiller.Zone™," "we," "us," "our"). It should be read together with the Terms of Use and Game Rules. By using the Platform, you agree to this Policy.

1. General Principle

1.1. Because Skiller.Zone™ is a real-money skill contest, wagers on completed and confirmed matches are not refundable — losing is not grounds for a refund.

1.2. Refunds are issued only in the specific scenarios below, or at Skiller.Zone™'s discretion where a dispute outcome requires it.

2. Refund Scenarios

2.1. Match Never Started

If a match is cancelled before it begins (no opponent joins, or the creator cancels before acceptance), the full stake is automatically returned to both players. No fee applies.

2.2. Accepted Match, No-Show (Match Discipline Rating applies)

If a match was accepted or started but one player fails to show up or ready up:

• If the no-show player is rated N/A or Disciplined (see Game Rules, Section 3): full refund to both players, no charge.
• If the no-show player is rated Not Disciplined: a charge equal to 100% of the applicable platform fee is deducted from the no-show player's stake and split — 50% to the affected opponent, 50% retained by Skiller.Zone™. The remainder of the no-show player's stake is refunded to them.

2.3. Match Unreported (60-Minute Timeout)

If neither player reports a result within 60 minutes of acceptance, the match is voided and treated per Section 2.2 above (full refund, unless attributable to a Not Disciplined no-show).

2.4. Verified Technical Failure

If a match cannot be completed due to a verified failure on Skiller.Zone™'s own systems, or a verified major outage of the third-party gaming platform/network used to play, the full stake is refunded to both players with no fee deducted. This requires clear evidence (e.g., video showing an inability to connect, or public confirmation of a major outage) and must be reported within 24 hours of the match. Player-side connectivity issues (your own internet, console, PC, or controller) are not covered — see Section 3.

2.5. Match Played, Then Voided by Dispute (Unproven Rule Violation)

If a match was played to completion (or to the point the outcome was effectively decided) and is later voided through the dispute process because a rule violation could not be shown to have decisively affected the score (Game Rules, Section 11.2, Variant B), both players' stakes are refunded minus the applicable platform fee, since moderation work was performed on a match that was actually played. If the violation is proven to have decisively affected the outcome, no refund applies — the win is awarded instead (see Game Rules, Section 11.2).

2.6. Dispute Resolution Generally

Where Skiller.Zone™'s moderation team determines a match result was invalid (e.g., proven cheating), the affected player may receive a refund, a reversed result, or both, depending on the circumstances. See the Game Rules for the applicable decision framework and the appeal process.

2.7. Duplicate Deposits

A technical error causing a duplicate deposit will be refunded — to the original payment method, or credited to your wallet, as applicable.

2.8. Unauthorized Transactions

If you believe an unauthorized transaction occurred on your account, contact support immediately. Following investigation, unauthorized transactions may be reversed.

3. Non-Refundable Scenarios

• Completed and confirmed matches, or matches resolved through dispute with a decisive result.
• Losses — losing is not grounds for a refund on a skill-based platform.
• Player-side technical issues: your own internet disconnection, device crash, or controller malfunction.
• Voluntary deposits — funds deposited to your wallet cannot be refunded simply because you changed your mind. You may withdraw your available balance at any time, subject to the withdrawal terms in the Terms of Use.
• The platform fee on a completed match.
• The 50% platform-retained portion of a Match Discipline charge (Section 2.2).

4. Refund Process and Timing

Withdrawals of an existing wallet balance are not refunds and follow the risk-tiered process described in the Terms of Use (Section 5) and the Antifraud/Withdrawal risk model — not the timelines above.

Refunds or reversals to external payment methods (crypto network, card, or local payment method via our on-ramp aggregator) may take additional time depending on network conditions or the payment processor.

5. Chargebacks

5.1. Card and local-method deposits are processed through a fiat-to-crypto on-ramp aggregator (currently planned: 0xProcessing and/or comparable providers). Card-funded deposits carry the same chargeback exposure as any card transaction.

5.2. You must contact Skiller.Zone™ support before filing a chargeback with your payment provider. Filing a chargeback without first attempting to resolve the issue through support is a violation of the Terms of Use.

5.3. Accounts that initiate a chargeback may be suspended pending investigation.

5.4. Where a chargeback is found to be fraudulent (i.e., not supported by a genuine unauthorized transaction or service failure), the account will be permanently terminated and any remaining balance may be forfeited, in addition to any applicable Strike under the Game Rules. Note (Session 10): this specific forfeiture is treated as recovery of a direct financial loss caused to Skiller.Zone™ by the fraudulent chargeback, not as a punitive consequence of the Strike System — it is therefore a distinct provision from, and not affected by, the removal of balance forfeiture from the general Strike 4 permanent ban (see Game Rules, Section 13, and Terms of Use, Section 11.3). Whether this narrower exception should also be revisited is an open question for the project owner, not yet decided.

5.5. Because deposited funds are converted and settled as crypto-backed custodial balance, a successful chargeback after funds have been withdrawn or wagered may result in a negative balance recovery process; repeated or high chargeback exposure on an account is a factor considered in our risk-scoring model for future withdrawals.

6. Wallet Balance Withdrawals

6.1. Withdrawing your available wallet balance is not a refund. Withdrawals are subject to:

• Identity verification (KYC) where required by our risk systems (see Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, Section 5).
• Minimum withdrawal amounts.
• Processing times determined by the risk-scoring tier of the request (instant / short step-up / manual hold).
• Any applicable network or processor fees.

6.2. Funds held in escrow for an active or disputed match cannot be withdrawn until the match is completed, cancelled, or the dispute (including appeal) is resolved.

7. Deposit Recommendations (Displayed on the Deposit Screen)

The following guidance is shown to users on the deposit page:

Minimum deposit: $10 USD. If your balance is at or near zero, we recommend depositing enough to comfortably cover at least 5 matches at your intended stake level — for example, $50 if you plan to play five $45-pool matches, or $500 for five $450-pool matches. Based on our data, roughly 1 in 8 matches goes to dispute. Disputes are reviewed within 24 hours. Until a disputed match is resolved, the balance tied to that match is held. We recommend keeping a comfortable buffer on your balance specifically to cover this kind of situation without interrupting your ability to keep playing. We always work to minimize the number of disputes, but the human factor can never be fully eliminated. Always yours, Skiller.Zone™.

This is product-facing UI copy, not a contractual refund guarantee; the binding terms remain Sections 1–6 above and the Game Rules' dispute process.

8. Modifications

We may modify this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on the Platform with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.

9. Contact

Support contact: [to be added]

Draft update (2026-09-21, not approved for publication): an initial match-dispute decision may be appealed once within 2 hours; the appeal may include an optional comment and new photo/video evidence. This filing window is distinct from the 24-hour first-review SLA. Existing issued deadlines are preserved.

Draft clarification (not approved for publication): disputed stakes remain held after the first decision until the final appeal decision or expiration of the two-hour filing window without an appeal. A timely appeal extends the hold until the final decision. Owner-confirmed exception: mutual LOSS reports retain the immediate 90% refund of each stake, without a contest-window hold.