Should I worry about chargebacks with students paying for classes?

Seeking Help/Advice Forum
1

I used to run multiple e-commerce stores, so I know how chargebacks can cause problems. Now, I have a small business where I charge students through Stripe for joining classes. They pay for each class individually.

What happens if a student files a chargeback? How can I prove that I taught the class? Would it be better to switch to bank transfers instead?

Any advice would be great!

2

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3

Do you have a way to track when students join and leave classes?

4

Fox said:
Do you have a way to track when students join and leave classes?

I do have logs on my website, but I don’t know if they’d count as valid proof in a dispute.

5

It’s tough to deal with chargebacks. Stripe usually sides with the cardholder unless you can provide strong proof, like attendance records or signed agreements. Have you considered adding a policy for refunds and making students agree to it during registration?

6

@Sky
A signed agreement sounds smart. Maybe even have them agree to terms online before paying.

7

Bank transfers can reduce chargebacks, but they’re less convenient for customers. You could also try adding a non-refundable deposit policy to cover your time and effort if someone disputes a charge.

8

Stripe has a section where you can upload supporting documents for disputes. If you’re logging attendance and have email confirmations, upload those. You might also look into software that automatically tracks participation, like Zoom logs.

9

Chargebacks are common when people feel they didn’t get what they paid for. How clear is your class description and refund policy? Over-communicating those could help prevent disputes.

10

Neve said:
Chargebacks are common when people feel they didn’t get what they paid for. How clear is your class description and refund policy? Over-communicating those could help prevent disputes.

Good point. I’ll review my website and make everything more detailed. Do you think adding video recordings of the classes would help?

11

@EnterpriseExpert3
Yes, video recordings could be excellent proof. Just be sure to let students know they’re being recorded and get their consent upfront.