SForest

CONFIDENTIAL — INTERNAL AND PSP USE ONLY

SLUMBERING FOREST LLC

SForest Platform

Refund Policy & Chargeback Response Guide

United States Edition

For Payment Service Provider (PSP) Use in Dispute Resolution

Version 1.0 | April 9, 2026

Document Type:PSP Chargeback Reference GuideEffective Date:April 9, 2026
Merchant of Record:Slumbering Forest LLC (SForest)Platform:SForest Platform (sforest.co)
Jurisdiction:United StatesDispute Contact:[email protected]

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This document is issued by Slumbering Forest LLC (trading as SForest, “we,” “us,” or “our”) for use by Payment Service Providers (PSPs), card networks, and acquiring banks as authoritative reference documentation in the chargeback and payment dispute process. It sets out SForest’s official refund policy for the SForest Platform, the refundability rules applicable to SForest Wallet transactions, and the evidentiary basis SForest will rely upon when responding to chargeback disputes.

SForest operates as the Merchant of Record for all transactions on the SForest Platform. All charges processed by SForest’s payment processors on behalf of SForest are subject exclusively to the refund policy set out in this document and in SForest’s Terms of Service.

This edition applies to users located in the United States. For users in other jurisdictions, refer to the applicable localized edition of this document.

2. DEFINED TERMS

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this document have the meanings given to them in SForest’s Terms of Service (available at sforest.co/terms, the “Terms of Service”), which users must accept before completing any purchase on the SForest Platform. In the event of any conflict between this document and the Terms of Service, the Terms of Service shall govern.

For convenience, the following terms are defined for purposes of this document:

Defined TermMeaning
SForest PlatformThe online game distribution platform operated by SForest at sforest.co, including the SForest Store, SForest Marketplace, and all associated digital services.
SForest WalletThe prepaid account balance associated with a user’s SForest account, as further described in Section 5.c of the Terms of Service.
Wallet Top-Up TransactionA transaction by which a user loads funds into their SForest Wallet using an external payment method (credit card, debit card, PayPal, or other accepted method). This is the charge that appears on the user’s payment statement.
In-Platform PurchaseA transaction by which a user applies SForest Wallet funds to purchase a Subscription, game, in-game item, virtual currency, or other digital content available on the SForest Platform.
SubscriptionHas the meaning given in the Terms of Service; includes games, digital content, in-game items, virtual currency, and recurring access plans.
Unused FundsThe portion of a Wallet Top-Up Transaction that has not been applied to any In-Platform Purchase at the time a refund request or chargeback dispute is submitted.
Spent FundsThe portion of a Wallet Top-Up Transaction that has been applied to one or more In-Platform Purchases.

3. SFOREST WALLET — ARCHITECTURE AND TRANSACTION TYPES

3.1 SForest Wallet

The SForest Wallet is a prepaid account balance associated with a user’s SForest account. It is not a bank account, payment instrument, or stored-value card. It functions solely as a prepaid credit balance that users may apply to purchase Subscriptions and other digital content on the SForest Platform.

The SForest Wallet operates as a two-step transaction system. This distinction is the foundation of SForest’s refundability framework and is critical to accurate chargeback adjudication:

StepTransaction TypeDescriptionRefundability
1Wallet Top-Up TransactionUser loads funds into their SForest Wallet via an external payment method. This charge appears on the user’s payment statement from SForest.CONDITIONALLY REFUNDABLE — see Section 4.
2In-Platform PurchaseUser applies SForest Wallet funds to purchase digital content within the Platform. No separate external payment charge is generated at this step.NON-REFUNDABLE — see Section 5.

The charge that appears on a user’s payment statement and that is the subject of a chargeback dispute is always a Step 1 (Wallet Top-Up Transaction). The refundability of that charge depends on whether, and to what extent, the corresponding Wallet funds have been applied to a Step 2 (In-Platform Purchase) at the time the refund is requested.

3.2 Wallet Balance Limits

Pursuant to the Terms of Service (Section 5.c), the SForest Wallet is subject to a maximum balance as determined by SForest from time to time, and a combined deposit and spend limit per twenty-four (24) hour period. These limits are disclosed to users at the time of account creation and at the point of each Wallet Top-Up Transaction.

4. REFUNDABLE TRANSACTIONS — UNUSED FUNDS

Unused Funds — the portion of a Wallet Top-Up Transaction that has not been applied to any In-Platform Purchase — are eligible for refund to the original payment method, subject to the conditions and time limits set out in this Section. The fourteen (14) calendar day refund window applies uniformly to all refund requests, including those involving partial use.

4.1 Eligibility Conditions

A Wallet Top-Up Transaction (or the Unused Funds portion thereof) is eligible for refund if ALL of the following conditions are met:

#ConditionDetail
1Funds Are Unused at Time of RequestThe Wallet funds from the disputed Wallet Top-Up Transaction have not been applied to any In-Platform Purchase at the time the refund is processed. Where funds have been partially spent, only the Unused Funds portion is eligible. See Section 4.2.
2Request Within 14 Calendar DaysThe refund request or chargeback is initiated within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date the Wallet Top-Up Transaction was processed. This 14-day refund window applies equally to fully unused funds and to the Unused Funds portion of a partially spent top-up. Requests outside this window may be declined except where a statutory right to refund applies (see Section 7).
3Account in Good StandingThe user’s SForest account has not been suspended or terminated for breach of the Terms of Service, fraud, or chargeback abuse prior to the refund request.
4No Refund Abuse PatternSForest reserves the right to decline refund requests from accounts exhibiting patterns consistent with refund abuse, as determined by SForest’s fraud detection systems.

4.2 Partial Use — Proration Rule

Where a user has applied a portion of the funds loaded in a Wallet Top-Up Transaction to one or more In-Platform Purchases, refund eligibility is prorated as follows:

Refundable Amount = Total Wallet Top-Up Transaction − Spent In-Platform Purchase Funds.

Only the Unused Funds are refundable. Spent Funds are non-refundable regardless of whether the underlying In-Platform Purchase is separately disputed. The 14-day refund window (Section 4.1, Condition 2) applies to the Unused Funds portion: the refund request must be initiated within fourteen (14) calendar days of the original Wallet Top-Up Transaction date, not within fourteen (14) days of the In-Platform Purchase.

4.3 Refund Method

Refunds of Unused Funds are returned via the original payment method used for the Wallet Top-Up Transaction. Where the original payment method is unavailable, no longer valid, or technically unsupported for refunds, SForest will credit the refund to the user’s SForest Wallet. Wallet credits are not exchangeable for cash.

4.4 Refund Processing Timeline

Refund ChannelProcessing Timeline
SForest-initiated refund (user request via Platform)Within 7 calendar days of SForest approval
Chargeback accepted by SForest (PSP-initiated)Within standard card network dispute resolution timelines (typically 30–45 calendar days)
Credit card / debit card3–7 business days after SForest initiates the refund
PayPal / digital wallet1–5 business days after SForest initiates the refund

5. NON-REFUNDABLE TRANSACTIONS — SPENT FUNDS

Spent Funds — Wallet funds that have been applied to an In-Platform Purchase — are non-refundable. Once digital content has been delivered and made accessible to the user, the corresponding Wallet spend is final and not subject to refund, chargeback, or reversal, subject only to the statutory exceptions set out in Section 7.

5.1 Scope of Non-Refundable In-Platform Purchases

The following categories of In-Platform Purchases are non-refundable once delivered:

Purchase CategoryNon-Refundability Basis
Games and Software ApplicationsNon-refundable once downloaded, installed, or accessed. Users provide express consent to immediate delivery and acknowledge loss of any applicable withdrawal right at the point of purchase (see Section 7).
In-Game Virtual Items and Virtual CurrencyConsumable and non-consumable virtual items and in-game currency are non-refundable upon delivery. These items exist solely within the SForest Platform and carry no real-world monetary equivalent.
Subscriptions (Used Billing Period)Non-refundable for any billing period in which the Subscription has been accessed or benefits used. Cancellation of unused future billing periods does not entitle the user to a refund of any amount already paid.
DLC and Downloadable ContentNon-refundable once downloaded or unlocked within the associated base game or application.
Promotional Credits and Bonus Wallet FundsSForest Wallet funds received as a promotional credit, bonus, or gifted amount are non-refundable and carry no cash value.

6. CHARGEBACK RESPONSE FRAMEWORK

6.1 SForest’s Position on Chargebacks

SForest treats chargebacks as a remedy of last resort and encourages users to contact SForest refund support at [email protected] before initiating a chargeback dispute. SForest will respond to all valid refund requests within seven (7) business days.

Where a chargeback is filed in respect of Spent Funds, SForest considers this to constitute an improper chargeback under applicable card network rules and will contest such chargebacks with full transaction-level evidence.

6.2 Chargeback Procedure

PSPs should apply the following decision framework when processing SForest chargeback disputes:

StepQuestionIf YESIf NO
1Was the disputed charge a Wallet Top-Up Transaction (Step 1)?Proceed to Step 2Not a SForest Wallet dispute — apply standard dispute rules
2Had ANY portion of the top-up funds been applied to an In-Platform Purchase at the time of dispute?Proceed to Step 3Proceed to Step 4
3Were ALL of the top-up funds applied to In-Platform Purchases?Funds are fully Spent → Chargeback is NOT VALID.Funds are partially Spent → Chargeback is PARTIALLY VALID.
4Was the Wallet Top-Up Transaction processed more than 14 calendar days before the dispute was filed?Outside refund window — SForest may contest on timeliness grounds (subject to statutory rights in Section 7).Within refund window — Process refund of Unused Funds.

6.3 Evidence SForest Will Provide

Upon receipt of a chargeback notification, SForest may provide the following documentation within the applicable network response window:

Evidence TypeDescription
Transaction RecordItemized record of the disputed Wallet Top-Up Transaction, including date, amount, payment method, and transaction ID.
Wallet Spend LedgerComplete chronological record of all In-Platform Purchases drawn from the disputed Wallet Top-Up Transaction.
Terms of Service Acceptance RecordLog confirming user accepted the Terms of Service with timestamp and IP address.
Wallet Balance SnapshotData export of the user’s Wallet balance as at the dispute date, showing current balance, Spent Funds, and Unused Funds.
Digital Delivery ConfirmationConfirmation that purchased digital content was delivered to and accessed by the user’s account, including access logs.
Prior Refund HistoryRecord of any prior refunds issued to the same account, to evidence refund abuse patterns where applicable.
Customer Support CorrespondenceFull correspondence between the user and SForest customer support regarding the disputed transaction.

7. STATUTORY AND JURISDICTIONAL PROVISIONS — UNITED STATES

The refund policy set out in this document does not exclude, restrict, or modify any statutory right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable federal or state law. The following provisions apply to users located in the United States.

7.1 Federal Regulations

SForest complies with the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. §45) and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA, 15 U.S.C. §8401–8405) with respect to all online transactions. All material terms of purchase, including the non-refundability of Spent Funds and the limitations on Wallet Top-Up refunds, are clearly disclosed to users before the completion of any transaction. Negative option features associated with Subscriptions comply with the FTC’s Negative Option Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 425) and the updated 2024 Click-to-Cancel Rule.

7.2 California

SForest’s Terms of Service select California law as the governing law for the platform relationship. With respect to Recurring Payment Subscriptions, SForest complies with the California Automatic Renewal Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §17600 et seq.), including providing clear and conspicuous disclosure of automatic renewal terms, obtaining affirmative consent before charging, and providing a simple cancellation mechanism. SForest will process full refunds for any recurring charge where the required disclosures were not made or affirmative consent was not obtained.

7.3 Washington State

SForest’s principal place of business is located in Washington State. Washington does not impose a general statutory right to a refund for digital goods beyond what is contractually agreed. SForest complies with Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86 et seq.) in all dealings with users and will process refunds for unauthorized recurring charges in accordance with applicable law.

7.4 Other U.S. States

Several U.S. states impose additional consumer protection requirements for digital goods and automatic renewal subscriptions, including but not limited to New York (GBL §396-z), Illinois (815 ILCS 601), and Virginia (Va. Code §59.1-207.45). SForest monitors and complies with all applicable state-level auto-renewal and digital goods consumer protection statutes. Where state law mandates a refund right that exceeds the terms of this policy, SForest will honor that statutory right.

8. CHARGEBACK ABUSE AND ACCOUNT CONSEQUENCES

SForest considers it an improper chargeback where a cardholder disputes a Wallet Top-Up Transaction after having applied the corresponding funds to In-Platform Purchases. SForest may contest such chargebacks with full transaction evidence. Repeated improper chargebacks from a single account may result in account suspension, restriction of payment methods, and referral to card network abuse programs.

Where SForest determines that a chargeback has been filed improperly in respect of Spent Funds, SForest reserves the right to:

  • Suspend or permanently terminate the user’s SForest account and deny future account registrations
  • Restrict or block the associated payment method from use on the SForest Platform
  • Recover amounts improperly obtained through chargebacks from any future Wallet balance or account credit
  • Report the account to relevant card network fraud monitoring programs

These consequences are disclosed to users in the Terms of Service at Section 5.b (Responsibility for Charges) and apply regardless of the outcome of the chargeback dispute at the PSP level.

9. CONTACT AND ESCALATION

Contact ChannelDetails
PSP / Acquirer Dispute Team[email protected] — for chargeback evidence requests, dispute response coordination, and PSP liaison
Customer Support (End Users)[email protected] — for user-initiated refund requests before chargeback filing
Legal / Compliance[email protected] — for regulatory inquiries, statutory exception assessments, and escalated dispute matters
Response SLASForest will respond to PSP chargeback evidence requests within 5 business days. Expedited response available for disputes with <48-hour network deadlines upon request.

10. DOCUMENT HISTORY

VersionDateAuthorSummary
1.0April 9, 2026SForest LegalLocalized edition for United States. Derived from SForest Platform Refund Policy & Chargeback Response Guide v1.0 (March 1, 2026).

This document is reviewed on a rolling basis and updated as required to reflect changes to SForest’s Terms of Service, applicable law, or card network rules. The current version is always available at: sforest.co/psp-refund-policy. PSPs should ensure they are working from the current version when processing disputes.

DISCLAIMER

This document is intended solely for use by Payment Service Providers, acquiring banks, and card networks as reference documentation in the chargeback dispute process. It does not constitute legal advice. The refund policy summarized herein is subject in all cases to SForest’s full Terms of Service and to applicable mandatory consumer protection law in the relevant jurisdiction. In the event of any conflict between this document and the Terms of Service, the Terms of Service shall govern.